NAS-IT leads new industry-driven IT curriculum in Nepal, Students to gain real work experience from first year

KATHMANDU: In a major step toward addressing Nepal’s growing IT skills gap, the Nepal Association for Software and IT Services Companies (NAS-IT) has initiated the development of a new bachelor-level IT curriculum aimed at producing industry-ready graduates equipped with practical and future-focused skills.

The initiative comes at a time when nearly 10,000 IT graduates enter Nepal’s workforce annually, yet many still struggle to meet the practical and technical expectations of employers. Industry stakeholders have long pointed to a widening disconnect between academic institutions and market requirements, forcing many graduates to undergo additional training before becoming employable.

To bridge this gap, NAS-IT — the umbrella body representing Nepal’s software and IT service companies — is designing what could become Nepal’s first higher education IT curriculum developed under direct industry leadership.

The program is being developed with financial and technical support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Swisscontact, with a focus on aligning higher education with the rapidly evolving needs of Nepal’s digital economy and global technology market.

Industry-Led Curriculum to Address Skills Gap

According to NAS-IT President Gaurav Pandey, the new curriculum aims to solve one of the sector’s most persistent challenges: the mismatch between academic learning and industry requirements.

“Graduates often do not possess the skills the industry is looking for,” Pandey said. “That is why we are now building a curriculum based on market needs. This is possibly the first time the industry itself is taking the lead in designing an academic course.”

The curriculum is expected to focus on practical competencies and employability, ensuring students graduate with skills that match real workplace demands.

Strong Focus on AI and Future Technologies

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) reshapes industries worldwide, NAS-IT says the new degree program will extend beyond conventional coding-based education.

The curriculum is being designed to strengthen students’ capabilities in problem-solving, data literacy, critical thinking, and AI-assisted work environments, helping them adapt to rapidly changing technology ecosystems.

Emerging and in-demand technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science, Blockchain, Cloud Computing, and Cybersecurity, will be integrated into the course structure, according to Dr. Bhoj Raj Ghimire.

Swisscontact believes the initiative can significantly reduce the disconnect between academia and industry while contributing to the development of a more skilled and globally competitive workforce in Nepal.

Partnership With Nepal Open University

NAS-IT has partnered with the Nepal Open University to jointly develop and operate the four-year bachelor’s degree program.

The curriculum is currently being designed in alignment with Nepal’s National Qualification Framework (NQF), involving collaboration among IT professionals, academic experts, educators, and other stakeholders.

According to NAS-IT, the degree will be future-oriented and tailored to evolving labor market demands and emerging global technologies.

Students to Work in Industry From First Year

One of the most notable features of the proposed program is its work-integrated learning model, which will allow students to engage directly with the IT industry from the beginning of their academic journey.

Unlike traditional university education, where students primarily focus on classroom learning, this model will enable students to gain hands-on industry experience from the first year itself.

By graduation, students are expected to possess both academic credentials and substantial practical experience, potentially making them more competitive in Nepal’s IT sector and international markets.

The initiative is also expected to strengthen collaboration between universities and industry, reduce unemployment among IT graduates, and support Nepal’s ambition of building a highly skilled digital workforce capable of competing globally.