Nepal’s educational system continues to undergo significant changes, and the need to connect academic knowledge with real-world experience at a local level has never been more critical. Industry placements are gradually emerging as a crucial bridge, allowing students to gain essential practical skills while enabling businesses at all levels to access a fresh talent pool that enhances productivity and innovation. Despite this growing recognition of student value, placements in Nepal face several challenges that must be addressed to unlock this untapped potential. This article explores the current gap in student placements in Nepal, why these placements are essential, the challenges involved, and the promising outlook for the future.
The Current State of Industry Placements in Nepal
Student internships and industry placements have started to become more common nationwide, particularly in the information technology, business, and hospitality sectors. However, many local colleges and universities still lack formal programmes to support students in securing careers or job placements. As a result, students often rely on institutional placements, family connections, or informal networks to find internships, which can put some students at a disadvantage. Many sectors, such as tourism, banking, and agriculture, offer placement opportunities, but these often lack a structured framework to guide students or mentors; they are essentially just jobs. This lack of a systematic approach is a key concern, making it challenging for students to secure meaningful placements aligned with their career goals. One significant challenge is the absence of a recordable systematic approach in which industries and educational institutions collaborate to ensure internships are mutually beneficial for students. Action is needed to bridge this career gap and ensure all students have equal opportunities for placements across Nepal.
Why Industry Placement Matters
Industry placements are not merely brief stints in the workplace; they play a vital role in helping students apply classroom learning to real-world situations. This is particularly crucial for students studying business, hospitality, or computer degrees, as well as in professional courses like MBA and EMBA, where bridging theoretical knowledge with practical applications is essential. Industry placements enable students to develop and refine skills in problem-solving, project management, and teamwork. These experiences not only make students more employable but also prepare them for the realities of a working environment. Placements enhance students’ competitive edge, and employers increasingly seek graduates with strong academic qualifications combined with hands-on experience.
For instance, Abhishek Shah, a student at The British College, found that completing an IT internship helped him develop technical skills and gain confidence for the professional world. “It was a crucial step for me,” he says. “The internship gave me insights into the industry and helped me understand what employers expect.” His experience illustrates how practical learning opportunities can transform students across various fields.
Challenges in Industry Placement
Despite the apparent benefits of student placements, there are several challenges in the marketplace. One major hurdle is the lack of process or knowledge infrastructure within established organisations to support student interns. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are the backbone of Nepal’s economy, often lack the resources to mentor students or establish structured internship programmes. This limitation makes it difficult for students to connect learned knowledge with the job role, leading to a poor placement experience. Another challenge is the misalignment between academic curricula and industry needs.
Many employers feel that students or graduates are unprepared for the evolving demands of workplace culture, a mismatch seen globally but especially stark in Nepal, where industries are evolving rapidly, and foreign direct investments are increasing. In urban centres like Kathmandu, students tend to have more internship opportunities, while those in rural areas often struggle due to limited placement availability. This inequality means many talented students outside of Kathmandu miss out on valuable work placements.
The Role of Educational Institutions
Educational institutions play a crucial role in addressing these challenges. By adopting a proactive approach, colleges and universities can assist students in accessing internships that align with their academic and career goals. For example, some institutions have dedicated career departments that work closely with companies to secure internships for students. These placements typically last for a specific period, allowing students to apply their theoretical knowledge in real-world settings. If more institutions in Nepal standardised and streamlined their internship processes, students would have better access to opportunities, and industries would benefit from a consistent supply of qualified interns.
The Role of Industry
For companies, internships are not just about giving back – they are a strategic investment in the future workforce. By offering placements, businesses can reduce recruitment costs, identify potential future employees, and benefit from students’ fresh perspectives. While some of Nepal’s larger companies recognise the value of internships and have strong ties with educational institutions, smaller businesses are often more hesitant. SMEs, in particular, may lack the formal structures needed to support internships or worry about the resources required to mentor students. However, shorter, project-based internships could be a practical way for these businesses to engage with students, allowing them to benefit from new talent without a long-term commitment.
Government and Policy Support
Government intervention is also essential to building a stronger ecosystem for student placements. While some programmes aim at youth employment, they often do not explicitly focus on internships or industry placements. A more robust policy framework is needed – one that incentivises businesses to offer internships and provides clear guidelines for the fair treatment and development of student interns. Straightforward regulations regarding stipends, working conditions, and the responsibilities of students and employers would ensure that placements benefit all parties involved. Currently, many internships are informal, leading to inconsistency in the quality of experiences students receive.
Learning from Global Best Practices
Nepal can look to international examples for inspiration. Countries like the UK have long embraced ‘sandwich courses’, where students spend a year in industry as part of their degree programme. Similarly, cooperative education programmes in countries like Canada allow students to alternate between academic study and paid work, ensuring they graduate with practical experience. Adapting these models to Nepal’s context could give students the exposure they need to succeed in a competitive job market. By integrating structured internships into academic programmes, institutions can help bridge the gap between education and employment.
The Digital Transformation of Internships
The Covid-19 pandemic has reshaped work and education, with remote internships becoming more common, particularly for students in rural areas. Nepali students now have the chance to work for international companies and gain global experience without leaving home, breaking down barriers and expanding horizons. This shift also underscores the importance of digital skills, as more work moves online. Students must be proficient in digital tools and remote working platforms to succeed in today’s job market, and academic curricula should continue to evolve in this area.
Success Stories and Future Prospects
Institutions with robust placement programmes demonstrate what can be achieved when industry and education collaborate. Students who secure placements with top companies often find these internships lead directly to job offers upon graduation, showcasing the power of structured programmes in creating career pathways. Looking forward, industry placements will become even more critical as Nepal’s industries grow and the demand for skilled graduates rises. Innovation in this space will be essential; for example, entrepreneurship placements could foster a culture of innovation, while short-term, project-based internships could meet SMEs’ needs while providing students with valuable experience. Industry placements are a vital component of higher education, equipping students with the skills they need to succeed in the job market.
While Nepal’s placement system is still developing, there is great potential for strengthening it. By fostering closer collaboration between industries and educational institutions, increasing government support, and learning from global best practices, Nepal can build a robust system that benefits students, businesses, and the economy alike.
(The author is a PhD in Global Value Supply Chain. He is Deputy Principal of The British College.)
