New TU Engineering Campus Planned in Madhesh, Classes Expected Within Three Years

KATHMANDU: The government is preparing to establish a new campus of Tribhuvan University’s Institute of Engineering (IOE) in Madhesh Province, aiming to expand access to technical education and allow more students to study engineering closer to home.

Education and Sports Minister Sasmit Pokharel said the proposed campus is intended to reduce the need for students from Madhesh to travel to Kathmandu or other provinces for engineering studies.

The government is currently working on identifying a suitable location for the new campus.

Students May No Longer Need to Leave Madhesh for Engineering

A large number of students from Madhesh travel to Kathmandu and other provinces every year to pursue engineering education.

For many families, this means additional expenses for:

• Accommodation

• Food and daily living

• Transportation

• Relocation

• Other education-related costs

The proposed IOE campus is expected to reduce some of these financial and practical burdens by bringing engineering education closer to students in Madhesh.

Location Selection Process Underway

According to Minister Pokharel, the government has started the process of identifying a suitable location for the campus.

A special study committee will be formed to assess possible locations, with the final site expected to be selected based on the committee's recommendations.

The government has not yet fixed a detailed construction and operational timeline.

However, preparations are being made with the goal of starting academic programmes within the next three years.

New Campus to Focus on Research and Innovation

The proposed campus is not expected to focus only on conventional classroom-based engineering education.

The government plans to develop it as a centre for:

• Scientific research

• Technology

• Innovation

• Invention

• Practical engineering applications

• Research-based learning

The focus on research and innovation is intended to create an environment where students can work on practical technological challenges while studying.

Expanding Engineering Education Beyond Major Cities

The establishment of an IOE campus in Madhesh would expand the geographical reach of engineering education under Tribhuvan University.

Currently, IOE operates constituent campuses in:

• Pulchowk

• Thapathali

• Dharan

• Chitwan

• Pokhara

A new campus in Madhesh would add another major location to the network.

What the New Campus Could Mean for Madhesh

The government expects the new campus to create more opportunities for students to receive quality technical education within their own province.

It could also help create a local ecosystem for engineering research, technological development and innovation, potentially allowing students and researchers to work on issues relevant to Madhesh and surrounding areas.

For students who currently have to leave the province to pursue engineering, the proposed campus could eventually mean less travel, lower living costs and greater access to technical education closer to home.