Jakarta, Indonesia | June 2026: Glocal Pvt. Ltd. and Times Higher Education (THE) have entered into a strategic collaboration MoU during the Global Sustainable Development Congress (GSDC) 2026 in Jakarta, Indonesia, marking a significant step toward advancing Nepal’s higher education landscape and strengthening its global engagement.

The agreement was formally signed by Mr. Asish Thakur, Chairman of Glocal Pvt. Ltd., and Ms. Mei Mei Lim, President, APAC, Times Higher Education, on behalf of their respective organizations.

The collaboration aims to leverage THE’s global expertise in higher education intelligence, rankings, impact assessment, policy advisory, and institutional development, together with Glocal’s extensive experience in education, youth development, skills ecosystems, and stakeholder engagement in Nepal and South Asia.

Areas of Collaboration

Supporting Nepalese Universities and Government Institutions

The collaboration seeks to support institutions in enhancing quality, international visibility, global benchmarking, impact measurement, and strategic development.

Advancing the Study in Nepal Agenda

Recognizing Nepal’s growing potential as an international education destination, Glocal and Times Higher Education will jointly explore opportunities to promote the Study in Nepal agenda globally.

Building on previous collaborations and international dialogues, both organizations will work to showcase Nepal’s higher education strengths, encourage international academic engagement, and support efforts to position Nepal as an emerging hub for quality education, research, and transnational education in South Asia.

These initiatives will focus on strengthening higher education systems, workforce development, employability, institutional transformation, skills ecosystems, and policy innovation.

Statement from Asish Thakur

Speaking following the signing ceremony, Mr. Asish Thakur, Chairman of Glocal Pvt. Ltd., said:

“Nepal’s higher education sector is entering an important phase of transformation. We believe meaningful progress requires stronger international collaboration, access to global expertise, and the ability to connect local aspirations with global opportunities. Through this partnership with Times Higher Education, we hope to contribute towards strengthening Nepal’s universities, advancing the Study in Nepal movement, and creating new pathways for institutional growth, innovation, and international engagement.”

Statement from Mei Mei Lim

Ms. Mei Mei Lim, President, APAC, Times Higher Education, welcomed the partnership and highlighted the importance of engaging emerging higher education markets and ecosystems across the Asia-Pacific region.

She noted that Times Higher Education looks forward to working closely with Glocal to explore opportunities that support institutional excellence, international collaboration, capacity development, and greater global visibility for Nepal’s higher education sector.

She further emphasized the importance of building stronger connections between universities, governments, industry, and global knowledge networks to create meaningful and sustainable impact in education.

A Shared Vision for Nepal

The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to supporting Nepal’s higher education ambitions through knowledge exchange, international partnerships, strategic advisory services, and innovative initiatives that can enhance the country’s educational competitiveness and global presence.

As Nepal seeks to expand its role within the regional and global education ecosystem, the partnership between Glocal and Times Higher Education is expected to contribute towards creating new opportunities for universities, policymakers, students, and industry stakeholders alike.

About Glocal Pvt. Ltd.

Glocal Pvt. Ltd. is a Nepal-based organization working in education, employability, skills development, entrepreneurship, youth engagement, and international collaboration. Through initiatives such as Glocal Teen Hero, Skill Week, Glocal After School, Youth Dialogues, and various national and international partnerships, Glocal has positively engaged thousands of young people across Nepal and South Asia.

About Times Higher Education

Times Higher Education (THE)⁠ is one of the world’s leading higher education intelligence, data, rankings, and insights organizations, supporting universities, governments, and institutions globally in driving excellence, impact, and innovation in higher education.