School of Arts | Kathmandu University

The KU-NCCS is a research institute under Kathmandu University School of Arts (KUSoA). It is an entity brought under the umbrella of Kathmandu University by the 594th meeting of the Executive Council (EC) held on February 16, 2020. Nepal Centre for Contemporary Studies (NCCS), a Kathmandu-based think tank established in 1995, was working on research and publication in contemporary socio-economic and political issues of South Asia. With an objective to initiate and strengthen research-based social science knowledge, the NCCS will now entirely be a part of KUSoA as per the understanding between its founders and the university.

NCCS, in a relatively short span of time, had established itself not only as an institution contributing to human resource development in social science research but also as an influential think tank providing policy inputs to state organizations through a wide network at local, national and regional (South Asia) levels. Its activities included residential workshops, networking, policy dialogues, publications, and training to young social scientists. It provided training to 196 scholars, approximately half of whom were female, representing different parts of the country. The trained youths were provided opportunities to develop project management skills, upgrade academic and professional careers, including several who later earned Ph.D. degrees from various universities.

Residential workshop programmes expanded NCCS’s network at local, national and regional levels. Altogether 440 distinguished personalities, including 44 foreign scholars from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, participated in the last 11 workshops as resource persons. Contributors from Nepal included academics, political leaders, parliamentarians, and representatives from civil society and ethnic movements. Dialogue with members of the Constituent Assembly (2008–2015) demonstrated NCCS’s contribution to Nepal’s constitution-drafting process.

The Centre engaged people from different walks of life on issues of national and geopolitical importance through local dialogues, seminars, and international events. With a record of 15 books, 30 issues of its biannual Nepali Journal of Contemporary Studies, and 44 quarterly Occasional Papers, NCCS made a lasting contribution to setting agendas for restructuring the Nepali state and strengthening democracy. The university is committed to upholding NCCS’s legacy under KUSoA.

KU-NCCS Team

The Executive Council of Kathmandu University, in its 636th meeting held on September 10, 2021, formed a three-member Management Committee to establish the centre at KUSoA and enacted KU-NCCS guidelines for smooth operation.