Another opportunity for international academic exchange opened earlier this month when a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Nevada System of Higher Education and Tribhuvan University (TU) in Kathmandu, Nepal, was signed.

College of Engineering Dean Erick Jones, who facilitated the initial conversations to realize the MOU, traveled to Nepal to represent the University for the document signing.

The MOU states that the University and TU will contribute to cooperative relationships between the two institutions. The assistance to be provided by each of the parties will be teaching, research, exchange of faculty and students, cultural exchange and staff development, as deemed beneficial by the two institutions.

“The agreement was signed on behalf of President Sandoval and Provost Thompson by Vice Provost Shintani to connect UNR with one of the top universities globally,” College of Engineering Dean Erick Jones said. “It will create opportunities for all majors, including those in science, the medical school and the College of Engineering.”

The five-year MOU became effective on Jan. 2, 2023 when it was signed by Dr. Dharma Kanta Baskota, TU vice-chancellor, at his office. Dean Jones delivered the document, which had already by signed by Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education David Shintani and Student Information and Operations Manager Cairn Lindloff.

“We are excited about the College of Engineering’s partnership with Tribhuvan University,” Shintani said. “These types of collaborations are key to the University’s strategic goals of expanding our global presence and internationalizing our campus community.

“By inviting and embracing Nepalese students and scholars, we will enrich the academic experience of all students at UNR,” he continued. “Furthermore, our partnership with Tribhuvan University will provide unique study and research opportunities for our students and faculty in Nepal.”

This advancement in international academic cooperation is welcomed by Mukesh Gautam, who completed his Ph.D. in electrical engineering at the University in December. Gautam earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering at TU before moving on to the University of Nevada, Reno, for doctoral studies.

"It’s fantastic to learn than UNR and Tribhuvan University have signed a memorandum of understanding,” Gautam said. “As a result, qualified and interested students from TU would be able to obtain specific facilities, such as a student exchange, summer internship or project internship at UNR and vice-versa.”

This College of Engineering also has an MOU with a university in Portugal as well as exchange agreements with universities in Germany, Spain and Poland. In addition, the College has cooperative education program agreements with two universities in China.

College’s global outreach includes international exchange program

Today’s engineers often are called upon to solve problems with global impact. As part of the College’s mission to prepare the engineers of the future, international MOUs and similar academic exchange agreements are increasingly important.

In addition, the College of Engineering offers its own international exchange programs in the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and South Korea. Summer study and research opportunities are available in Germany, Mexico, South Korea and Spain.