NEWSLETTER- ASIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY & MANAGEMENT (AITM) - Knowledge Village,

Khumaltar Heights,

Satdobato, Lalitpur, Nepal

Tel: 5548314, 5552375

Email: info@aitm.edu.np

Web: www.aitm.edu.np12th ISSUE, 9 April 2019

Dear Students, Alumni, Parents, Guardians, Faculty, Staff and Promoter Friends and other Friends and Well-wishers of Asian Institute of Technology and Management,

On the auspicious occasion of the Nepalese New Year 2076 BS, I wish the entire AITM family, as well as all friends and well-wishers a VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEPALESE NEW YEAR 2076 BS! May the New Year 2076 BS be better than 2075 BS in all aspects, study-wise, work-wise, health-wise, career-wise, both on the personal and professional fronts. Unfortunately, I will not be able to offer the New Year wishes to all of you all in person as I am still in Cambodia. Therefore, I am offering my wishes through this message.

I wish to take this opportunity of wishing all the best to the Grade XII students who are appearing for their Grade XII NEB final examinations, starting on 28 April. I would also like to wish the very best to the Grade XI students, who will be appearing for their NEB final exams, starting on 12 May. Grade XII and Grade XI students, please focus on your studies in the coming weeks and give your very best in the examinations. You will be very surprised

what can be achieved in a few weeks when one works hard and gives one’s best. What is most important is for all the students to give their very best. I also wish the very best to the Hotel Management and Biotechnology students, who are appearing in their various examinations, as well as to all those students who are appearing in their back papers. Success will come to the hardworking and those who are sincere, committed and persevering. Success is truly 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration.

In my message in the last quarterly newsletter, circulated on the occasion of the Gregorian New Year, I had stated and wish to reiterate that every New Year is always a good time to reflect on the achievements of the past year and set the targets – both personal and professional – for the coming year. While personally, all of us may be doing very well, AITM has not been doing well as we have not been successful in bringing new academic programs to replace the programs that we have phased out. The main reason for this is because the new Government straight-jacketed all the universities and put on hold all major decisions and reforms till the completion of the report and recommendations of the Education Commission. The report and recommendat ions of the Educat ion Commission have been received with mixed feelings. There is a perceptible and major shift towards conservative policies focusing inwards rather than outwards to encourage the colleges and universities to offer interesting academic programs in collaboration with reputed and prestigious international universities and to excel academically. When we should be doing everything to attract students to Nepal from all over the world, we seem to be doing everything to send our students to study all over the world.

In spite of this very frustrating and bleak scenario, we have not given up our efforts to bring in good engineering and other programs

to replace the AIT programs. We do hope that we will be able to share with you all the good news. I wish to request all the promoter friends for a little bit more patience. You all have been patient all these years. All I ask is for your patience for 6 more months, after which, if things don’t go the way we have planned, we will have to consider all available options.

Through this message, I wish to inform all promoter friends that we will be calling the long delayed AGM soon. We look forward to your participation and your valuable inputs.

Once again, I wish all of you and your loved ones the very best in the coming year.

Message fromThe Executive Chairman

Prof. Dr. Sriram Bhagut Mathe

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AITM ACADEMIC OPERATIONAL TEAMProf. Dr. Sriram Bhagut Mathe

Executive Chairman

Mr. Pramod PradhanBoard Representative

Mr. Bhupadas RajbhandariExecutive Director

Mr. Basant JoshiHead, School of Hotel Management

Dr. Rabindra Raj GiriHead, Dept. of Civil Engineering

Mr. Hari Krishna SaijuHead, Dept. of Biotechnology

Mr. Shyam MaharjanHead, +2 School

नव वष� २०७६

को हािदक� मंगलमय

शुभकामना

NEWS & EVENTSSCHOOL OF HOTEL MANAGEMENT

Year/ Semester Semester Start No. of Students Pre-Board Exam Board Exam

BHM IMI-VIII 4th December 2018 31 Internship report writing -

BHM IMI-VII 4th December 2018 44 - 17th March 2019

BHM IMI-V 11th December 2018 88 7th April 2019 5th May 2019

BHM IMI-III 4th December 2018 76 7th April 2019 5th May 2019

BHM IMI-I 9th November 2018 46 7th April 2019 5th May 2019

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CURRENT STATUS OF BHM CLASSES

PARENT DINING PROGRAMndOn 22 March 2019, students of AITM School of Hotel Manamgement organized “Parent Dining

Program” to make the parents and the guardians familiar with school’s standards and learning

ambience. In the program, parents and the guardians were invited for lunch with the school’s

executive team, other invited guests and the faculty members. During the program, students

enthusiastically served their parents as their guests. “Parent Dining Program” is a yearly co-curricular

activity of School of Hotel Management for students to showcase their skills and abilities. A total of 80

parents and guardians were present in the program. Mr. Bhupadas Rajbhandari, Executive Director of

AITM, highlighted on the theme of the program and its importance. The program was supervised by

Mr. Sugam Tamrakar, faculty of food and beverage service and Mr. Kedar Silwal, Executive Chef of the

School of Hotel Management.

STUDENT AMBASSDOR VISIT

International Management Institute, IMI, Switzerland had invited the students from AITM to join the “Student nd thAmbassador Program” at IMI’s own campus in Luzern, Switzerland from 2 February to 9 February 2019. in

the program student from across the globe were invited and given an opportunity to experience the unique IMI

campus environment as well as the finest attractions of the Switzerland. From AITM, Ms. Roshni Chand and Mr.

Sumit Shahi of semester III attended the program. Ms. Sujata Shakya, Academic Coordinator from AITM

accompanied the students during their visit.

In this week-long program, students attended various hospitality and culinary skill classes offered by IMI and

had interaction sessions with the members of the academic team. Students also participated in Luzern city tour,

five star hotel visit, chocolate factory visit, organic farm visit and cheese and wine session organized by IMI.

YOUNG CHEF CHALLENGE 2019

School of Hotel Management organized the “Young Chef

Challenge 2019”, an in-house culinary competition for the thfifth semester students on 10 of March 2019. A black box

style of competition was organized where the students were

given the full bucket of ingredients and asked to prepare two

course meal consisting of an appetizer and main course

with their own creativity. After the cooking, the participating

students were judged on the basis of the quantity, quality

and the presentation of meal. Students were also evaluated

on the basis of planning, healthy choice of ingredients,

hygiene and sanitation at work place.

The program was judged by three eminent professional

chefs Mr. Kedar Silwal, Executive Chef of AITM, Mr. Govinda

Narshing K.C., former Executive Chef of Hotel Everest and

Hotel Annapurna and Mr. Krishna Kaji Basnet, Executive

Chef of Himalaya Hotel. The judges were impressed with the

quality and presentation of the food prepared by the

participating students. In the program, Dinesh Shrestha,

Prachin Pradhan and Ngima Lhamu Sherpa won the title of

Young Chef Competition 2019.

NEWS & EVENTSSCHOOL OF HOTEL MANAGEMENT

WELCOME PROGRAM 2019

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Student from the third semester were given an

opportunity to visit and experience the real time

working environment of district level court for th thtwo days from 18 to 19 February 2019. During

this visit, Prof. Dr. Shambhu Khanal, faculty of

hospitality law at AITM led the student to different

court rooms where the students observed the

administrative activities and procedures of legal

hearings. Further, the student were also guided and counseled by Honb'le Judges

Mr. Churaman Khadka and Mrs. Abani Mainali.

th thAs part of curriculum, students of BHM Semester VII recently hosted "STATE BANQUET THEME" on 7 and 8 March 2019. A state banquet is a formal, ceremonial dinner

hosted for the Heads of States, especially when renewing or celebrating the ties. The event focused on providing detailed knowledge and skills to the students in handling

the state dinner theme in various situations. Students were supervised by Chef Kedar Silwal and Faculty of Food and Beverage Service, Mr Sugam Tamrakar.

In the program, Mr. Rukwangat Singh Katawal, Former Chief of Army staff of Nepal, Mr. Avishek Bikram Shah, General Manager of Chandragiri Hills, Dr. Roshan Rathi,

COO of LCCI Global Qualification and Mr. Tek B. Mahat, Chief Operating Officer of Hotel Association Nepal were invited to observe and encourage the students’ activities.

RD3 SEMESTER STUDENT OF BHM VISITED LALITPUR DISTRICT COURT

stThird Semester students of BHM organized a welcome program on 1 March 2019 for newly enrolled student of semester-I. Program comprised of lots of cultural shows,

songs, dances, and other performances. During the program, the semester topper students were awarded. Similarly, the awards were also given in different titles such as

the winner of flower arrangement, winner of rangoli competition, winner of young chef challenge competition and winner of the best grooming for the academic session

2017/2018. During the program, seven passed out students who are involved in different entrepreneurship activities in Hospitality business in Nepal were felicitated with

the outstanding entrepreneurship award 2019. In the program, Mr. Pramod Pradhan, Board of Director and Mr. Basant Prasad Joshi, Head of School welcomed the

students.

STATE BANQUET THEME

GUEST LECTURE ORGANIZED FOR BHM SEMESTER - III

thOn the 18 January 2019, School of Hotel

Management invited Mrs. Sarita Khanal, lecturer

at Law Campus to offer her valuable experience to

the students of Semester-III. Mrs. Khanal spoke

about hospitality Law and entrepreneurship. She

shared many interesting anecdotes of her own

personal journey as a lawyer and encouraged the

students to understand and practice the theories

of hospitality legislation during their impending career in hospitality industry.

stOn the occasion of the welcome program of the school on 1 of March 2019, seven passed out students of

AITM SHM were awarded with the “Outstanding Entrepreneurship Award 2019”. In the program, Ms. Nira

Shrestha, Co-founder of Victory Lounge, Durbarmarg, Mr. Sanjog Kharel, Director of Adarsha Banquets and

Adarsha School of Hotel Management, Birtamode, Mr. Saroj Tuladhar, Founder of the Kasi Launge, Kirtipur,

Mr. Chhedup Pakhrin, Co-founder of Utopia Restaurant, Jawalakhel, Ms. Kushum Rajthala, Founder of Loaf

Bakery, Lokanthali, Ms. Keshika Basnet, Founder of the Garage Lounge, Jawalakhel and Mr. Bijaya Gurung,

Founder of Grgs Bakery, Lalitpur were awarded with medals. During the program, Ms. Nira Shrestha and Mr.

Saroj Tuladhar shared their experience to the students.

OUTSTANDING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD 2019

DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

CURRENT STATUS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY CLASSES

THSEMINAR OF 8 SEMESTER STUDENTS

th thThe final seminar of 8 semester students was conducted by Depar tment of Biotechnology on 11 Jan 2019. The seminar carries 1-credit hour in the syllabus of 8

semester of B. Tech in Biotechnology. The department invited Mr. Shyam Prasad Dhakal, Senior Seed Specialist at National Potato, Vegetables and Spices Development

Centre, Khumaltar under Department of Agriculture as experts to evaluate the seminars. The seminar topics were related to agriculture and recently developed

technologies in Biotechnology. Six students presented seminar on their selected topics. The topics presented by the students were interesting, informative and

impressive. The seminar was conducted by Mr. Rabin Shrestha, DHoD in presence of Mr. Hari Krishna Saiju, Head, Department of Biotechnology, AITM, Dr. Mahesh

Kumar Adhikari, Senior Mushroom Expert of Nepal, Lecturer Mr. Binod Mishra and Research Assistant Mr. Abhishesh Bajracharya. Finally, Mr. Hari Krishna Saiju, Head

of the Department concluded the program with his remarks.

The student participated in the seminar and their presentation topics are given in the following table.

Semester / Batch Semester Start No. of Students Mid Term Exam Pre-Board Exam Board Exam

VII Semester / 2015 23rd Dec 2018 20 11th Feb 2019 8th April 2019 26th April 2019

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NEWS & EVENTS

THFINAL PROJECT WORK DEFENCE BY 8 SEMESTER STUDENTS

thThe Final Project Work defense of 8 semester B. Tech. in Biotechnology students was conducted by

Department of Biotechnology, AITM on 24 January 2019. Mr. Rabin Shrestha, Deputy Head, Department of

Biotechnology convened the program. Altogether there were 2 project works by 6 students. The students

presented their project works in presence of two External Evaluators from Nepal Academy of Science &

Technology (NAST), Dr. Jyoti Maharjan, Senior Scientific Officer, Molecular Biotechnology Unit and Dr. Jay

Kant Raut, Facuty of Science at Bio-resource Unit along with Project Supervisors Dr. Mahesh Kumar Adhikari ,

Dr. Pramod Aryal, Mr. Hari Krishna Saiju, Head, Department of Biotechnology, AITM, Lecturer Mr. Binod Kumar

Mishra and Research Assistant Mr. Abhishesh Bajracharya were present in the defense sessions. Mr. Hari

Krishna Saiju, concluded the program by thanking External Evaluators and the Project Supervisors for their

comments and suggestions to the students. The Project Work carries 8-credit hours in their final semester.

S. No. Project Title Name of students

1

DRUG REPURPOSING AND DNA MARKER INDENTIFICATION AGAINST W. H. O. PRIOTIZED PATHOGENS: AN IN SILICO APPROACH.

Prithivi Jung Thapa, Richa Khatiwada and Sahil Shakya

2

STUDY ON MOSQUITO LARVICIDAL EFFICIENCY FROM EXTRACT OF AMANITA SPECIES.

Abhishek Ghimire, Roshan Baskota and Subashna Gurung

DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

INDUSTRIAL VISIT OF B. TECH IN BIOTECHNOLOGY STUDENTS

th th thThe students of 8 semester (2014 Batch) and 7 semester (2015 Batch) of B. Tech in Biotechnology went for industrial visit in the eastern region of Nepal from 27 st January to 1 February 2019. Nineteen students were accompanied by our faculty members Mr. Binod Mishra and Mr. Rabin Shrestha. The team left Kathmandu for the

thvisit on Sunday 27 January 2019.

thOn 28 January 2019, the students visited Animal Breeding Center, Lahan. The students were briefed by Binaya Kumar Ratna, Live Stock Officer about the procedures for thartificial insemination and its importance in improved animal breeding. On 29 January 2017, the students visited Rijal Tashi Industries (DRUK), Itahari. In DRUK they

thwere briefed about processing and packaging of different types of food like jam, ketchup, prickles etc. On 30 January 2019, the students visited Kanyam Tea Factory, thKanyam. The students were briefed by Mr. Tej Man Rai, Senior Technician of the factory about tea processing in the factory. On 31 January 2019 the students visited

Cardamom Development Centre at Fikkal, Ilam. The students were briefed by Mr. Padam Prasad Adhikari, Senior Cardamom Development Officer on tissue culture of stcardamom and different diseases that could be possible on cardamom. On 1 February 2019, the Team returned back to Kathmandu.

NEWS & EVENTS

INVITED LECTURE AT NEHHPA

Nepal Herbs and Herbal

P r o d u c t s A s s o c i a t i o n

(NEHHPA) is an umbrella

organization of Nepalese

h e r b a l p r o d u c e r s ,

manufacturers and traders in

t he Non- t imbe r Fo res ts

Products sector particularly

cove r ing Med ic ina l and

Aromat ic P lants. I t was

established in 2002. NEHHPA

is associated with Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry th st rdsince 2006. NEHHPA organized the 8 Expo from 1 to 3 March 2019 at Chhaya

Centre. Thamel, Kathmandu. Minister for Forests and Environment, Mr. Shakti

Bahadur Basnet inaugurated the Exposition. Mr. Hari Krishna Saiju delivered a rdguest lecture “Quality of Herbs and Herbal Products” on 3 March 2019. He

highlighted on the importance of quality of herbs and herbal products for

sustainable commercialization of these commodities.

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REFRESHERS TRAINING ON TISSUE CULTURE TO GOVERNMENTHORTICULTURISTS AND PRIVATE POTATO TISSUE CULTURE COMPANY PERSONNEL

National Potato, Vegetable and Spice

Development Center, Department of

Agriculture, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal

had requested AITM to organize

Refreshers Training to Government

Horticulture Officers and individuals

of Private Potato Tissue Culture

C o m p a n y . D e p a r t m e n t o f

Biotechnology, AITM organized a nd rdtwo-day refreshers training for twenty two persons on 22 and 23 January

2019. The training imparted on the topics: tissue culture laboratory layout,

laboratory equipments, chemicals, nutrient medium preparation, tissue culture

technique and incubation of cultured flasks for in vitro plant production. The

training emphasized on transfer of tissue culture technology from laboratory to

land. Mr. Hari Krishna Saiju, Head, and Mr. Abhishesh Bajracharya, Research

Assistant, Department of Biotechnology were involved in the training program.

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

AITM ATTENDED THE KICK-OFF WORKSHOP OF “PBL SOUTH ASIA” PROJECT IN FINLAND

NEWS & EVENTS

The kick-off workshop of “PBL South Asia” project was organized in Aalto University, Finland, from 04 to 08 Feb 2019. All the partner universities/higher education

institutions (HEIs) from Europe (Finland, the Netherland and Lithuania) and South Asia (India, Nepal and Bhutan) attended the workshop. Two participants from each

partner University/HEI participated in the workshop. Ms. Lena Sthapit (Deputy Head of Civil Eng. Dept., Faculty and the project coordinator from AITM) and Dr. Rabindra

Raj Giri (Head of Civil Eng. Dept. and Faculty) from AITM attended the workshop. The two AITM faculties departed from Kathmandu on 2nd Feb to Helsinki to participate

in the workshop and returned to Kathmandu on 10 Feb 2019.

Team building exercises, presentations by each partner University/HEI and presentation by Aalto University on “Aalto’s PBL Courses” were major highlights of the first

day of the workshop. Similarly, presentations by TU Delft on “Embedding Sustainability into Innovation and Recent Research on PBL Methods in Teaching”, by IIT

Bombay and IISc. Banglore (India) on “PBL Methods and Design Thinking” and by Aalto University on “PBL Methods for Global Sustainable Development: Next Steps?”

were the highlights of the second day. The focus of the third day was on “The Students’ First Pilot Case Study in Nepal”. In the beginning, AITM delivered a presentation

on the proposed students’ first pilot case study at Dhungentar, Nuwakot, Nepal followed by presentations of four groups of Aalto University students who are involved in

different students’ case studies in Africa and Asia including the one group which is participating in the Dhungentar case study in Nepal. Later on the day, Kaunas

University of Technology (KTU), Lithuania, conducted a session on “Quality Plan for the Project” followed by another interactive session on “How to Teach PBL Courses

in Practice?”. The fourth day of the workshop focused mainly on issues like “Project Administration”, “Finances”, “Communication and Dissemination” and “Planning

Next Workshops”, and the representatives of the partner institutions visited different centers of Aalto University later on the day. The project management team meetings

and bilateral meetings of PBL South Asia partner institutions took place on the fifth/final day and the workshop was concluded.

AITM AND LOCAL PARTNER NGO SUBMITTED CONCEPT NOTE PROPOSAL TO P4G

AITM and Friends Service Council Nepal (FSCN), a local NGO based on Mahalaxmi Municipality, Imadole,

Lalitpur, had earlier agreed to develop joint research proposals in “Sustainable Eco-Tourism” sector and apply

for necessary financial support/fund to donor agencies. In this regard, a team of faculties/staff from the both

institutions visited Lankuri Bhanjyang located at the South-West edge of Kathmandu valley in Mahalaxmi

Municipality-09 on 14 January 2019. The objective of the field visit was to observe Lankuri Bhanjyang and its

surroundings and assess the possibility of earthquake rehabilitation and tourist promotion activities in the

area. The team observed Lankuri Bhanjyan picnic spot at the top of the hill, nearby villages and Patle

Community Forest User Group during the field visit.

After the field visit, AITM and FSCN jointly prepared a concept note entitled “Partnership for Climate Resilient

Sustainable Eco-Tourism Business” and submitted to “Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goal” (P4G)

on 14 January 2019 for financial support. The main goal of P4G funding is to bring governments, businesses

and civil society to a common platform for innovative solutions to humanitarian needs in the fields of food and

agriculture, water, energy, cities and circular economy through public-private partnership. Once the concept

notes are reviewed, the short-listed ones will be asked to submit detail proposal within May-July 2019. The

P4G can provide up to USD 100,000.0 funding in the start-up phase of the project.-6-

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

PBL SOUTH ASIA: STUDENTS’ FIRST PILOT CASE STUDY CONDUCTED AT DHUNGENTAR, NUWAKOT, NEPAL

NEWS & EVENTS

Aalto Global Impact (AGI) of Aalto University, Finland, is the lead partner of a

recently launched project “Strengthening Problem Based Learning in South

Asian Universities”. After the kick-off workshop of the project held from 04 to 08

Feb 2019 in Aalto University, the next event of the project was organized in Nepal

from 18 February to 01 March 2019. The event in Nepal included students’ first

pilot case study at Dhungentar, Nuwakot, bilateral meetings of the partner

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Nepal with Aalto project coordination

team, faculty workshop in Kathmandu University, and project dissemination

event in Hotel Greenwich Village in Lalitpur organized by Sagarmatha

Engineering College.

A multidisciplinary team of seven graduate students (Arts, Business and

Engineering fields) and two mentors from Aalto University and five

undergraduate students (Engineering, Biotechnology & Hotel Management

fields) and one mentor from Asian Institute of Technology & Management

(AITM) was involved in the first pilot case study conducted at Dhungentar. The

involved students in the pilot case were selected based on different criteria.

Interest in the pilot case study, available time to get involve in the pilot case,

communication skill and academic performance were some of the criteria

utilized in selecting students from AITM. After the selection, the students in Aalto

and AITM discussed on their interests, ideas and possible themes of their

projects at Dhungentar several times both in group and individual levels through

skype/zoom meetings. The students exchanged their cultural backgrounds,

interests, background information of Dhungentar field as well as other personal

information through the zoon/skype meetings before they met face to face later

in Kathmandu. The mentors in Aalto and AITM guided the students whenever

needed during and after the pilot case. “Social cohesion before and after the

2015-earthquake at Dhungentar” and “Entrepreneurship business potential of

cement stabilized earth blocks (CSEB) by Dhungentar local residents” were the

two themes chosen by the students for the pilot case study.

Dhungentar is a hillside settlement of about ninety-six households of poor and

marginalized low-caste people located at about 50-km North-West of

Kathmandu in Bidur Municipality of Nuwakot district, Nepal. Almost all the

houses at Dhungentar were completely damaged by the 2015 earthquakes in

Nepal. International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in

association with National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), Nepal and support

from International Development Research Center (IDRC) launched a project of

constructing low-cost resilient houses for the Dhungentar residents from April

2016 to September 2018. A joint team of Aalto and AITM students had

conducted a field research entitled “The Relation between Communication

Practices and Knowledge Adoption of Sustainable Solutions in Nepal” at

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Dhungentar reconstruction site previously in March 2018. The Dhungentar field

site was chosen for the “PBL South Asia: Students’ Pilot Case Study” also owing

to the students’ interest in a reconstruction field site and their familiarity with the

Dhungentar reconstruction site.

The Aalto PBL South Asia team together with Aalto students landed in

Kathmandu on 17 Feb 2019. Then the students and mentors of both Aalto and

AITM met at AITM physically for the first time on 18 Feb, introduced to each

other, discussed and worked together on their themes for the students’ first pilot

case study at Dhungentar and finalized the contents. A half-day seminar was

organized at AITM by the Aalto and AITM students on their pilot case study on 19

Feb before going to the Dhungentar field. Participants from other Nepalese

par tner HEIs (Kathmandu University, Nepal Engineering College and

Sagarmatha Engineering College) and Shakuntala Acharya from Indian Institute

(IISc.), Banglore also attended the seminar. The students presented their cases

(e.g., background information of the field site, their study themes,

methodologies, plans and expected results) in the seminar, while the

participants commented on their presentation.

Then the multidisciplinary team of twelve students, three mentors and

Shakuntala Acharya as an observer travelled to Dhungentar on 20 Feb 2019.

The team stayed in the multi-purpose community center constructed at

Dhungentar by the ICIMOD project from 20 to 26 Feb and conducted their field

works. The daily activities of the students and mentors included planning for the

day’s activities in the morning, going to the fields and carrying out activities as

planned in the day time, discuss on the day’s activities and summarize outcome

of the day in the evening. The data were collected through structured

questionnaires, interviews with community members and other stakeholders,

focused group discussions, photography and videography. Total 37 interviews

and 6 focused group discussions were conducted, and over 3,000 photographs

and 3-hour long videos were shot during the students’ field work at Dhungentar.

The team travelled back to Kathmandu on 26 Feb 2019. Then the students

compiled, analyzed and interpreted the collected data on 27 Feb. The students

presented the preliminary results of the field works in an information

dissemination event at Hotel Greenwich Village, Lalitpur on 28 Feb organized by

Sagarmatha Engineering College. All the partner HEIs from Nepal and Bhutan

attended the event in Greenwich Village. Participants from other academic

institutions in Kathmandu were also invited in the dissemination event while

Shakuntala Acharya was connected to the event through a video link.

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

PBL SOUTH ASIA: MEETING HELD BETWEEN AALTO PROJECT COORDINATION TEAM AND AITM MANAGEMENT TEAM

Aalto Global Impact (AGI) of Aalto University, Finland, is the coordinator of a recently launched

project “Strengthening Problem Based Learning in South Asian Universities”. After the kick-off

workshop of the project held from 04 to 08 Feb 2019 in Aalto University, the next event of the

project was organized in Nepal from 18 February to 01 March 2019. The event in Nepal include

students’ first pilot case study at Dhungentar, Nuwakot, bilateral meetings of partner Higher

Education Institutions (HEIs) in Nepal with Aalto project coordination team, faculty workshop at

Kathmandu University, and dissemination event of the project in Hotel Greenwich Village at

Bakhundole, Lalitpur.

The bilateral meeting between the project coordination team of Aalto University and AITM

management team was held in the second half of 19 February 2019. Ms. Riina Subra (Senior Manager, Aalto Global Impact) led the Aalto University team in the meeting

while Mr. Pramod Bhusal (Faculty, Aalto University) and Mr. Avinash Dhital (Project Specialist, Aalto University) were other two members of the Aalto team. AITM

coordinator for the “PBL South Asia” project Ms. Lena Sthapit led the AITM team in the meeting while Mr. Pramod Sagar Singh Pradhan (Board Director), Mr. Bhupa Das

Rajbhandari (Executive Director), Dr. Rabindra Raj Giri (Head of Civil Engineering Department), Mr. Basanta Prasad Joshi (Head of School of Hotel Management), Mr. Hari

Krishna Saiju (Head of Biotechnology Department) and some faculties were other members of AITM team in the meeting. Ms. Shakuntala Acharya from Indian Institute of

Science (IISc.), Banglore, India also attended the meeting as an observer.

The meeting began with introduction of the participants. Senior Manager of Aalto Global Impact Ms. Riina Subra then highlighted on the aims and objectives of the “PBL

South Asia” project, and obligation of the partner HEIs in Nepal and Bhutan in implementing problem-based learning approach in their university curricula. Then, Mr.

Pramod Sagar Singh Pradhan and Mr. Bhupa Das Rajbhandari shed light on the present status of AITM and the possible pathways for implementing/integrating the

problem-based learning method in AITM at different levels. After the discussion was over, the meeting concluded with a high tea.

NEWS & EVENTS

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PBL SOUTH ASIA: AITM FACULTIES ATTENDED ONE-DAY WORKSHOP IN KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY, DHULIKHEL

Aalto Global Impact (AGI) of Aalto University, Finland, is the lead partner of a recently launched project “Strengthening Problem Based Learning in South Asian

Universities”. After the kick-off workshop of the project held from 04 to 08 Feb 2019 in Aalto University, the next event of the project was organized in Nepal from February

18 to March 01, 2019. The event in Nepal included students’ first pilot case study at Dhungentar, Nuwakot, bilateral meetings of the partner Higher Education Institutions

(HEIs) in Nepal with Aalto project coordination team, faculty workshop in Kathmandu University, and project dissemination event in Hotel Greenwich Village, Lalitpur.

Faculties from the partner HEIs in Nepal and Bhutan involved in implementing Problem Based Learning (PBL) participated in the one-day workshop conducted on Feb.

27, 2019 in Kathmandu University (KU), Dhulikhel. Ms. Riina Subra and Mr. Avinash Dhital from Aalto University, Finland, conducted the workshop while Ms. Shakuntala

Acharya from Indian Institute of Science (IISc.), Banglore, and Ms. Laura Jankauskait-Jurevičien from Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Lithuania joined the

workshop via video links. About thirty-five faculties from the PBL South Asia partner HEIs of Nepal and Bhutan participated in the workshop.

The program began with welcome speech and a highlight on the ongoing PBL-type courses and experiences in Kathmandu University by Prof. Dr. Bhola Thapa (former

Dean and Registrar, KU) and Mr. Dhiraj Shrestha (Assistant Professor, Computer Engineering Dept., KU) followed by another highlight by Ms. Riina Subra (Senior

Manager, Aalto Global Impact and Lead Coordinator, PBL South Asia) on the needs of PBL in Nepalese and Bhutanese HEIs, gaps and learning priorities, possible

curriculum changes, hopes and risks. The second half of the workshop focused on group works on lessons learned from the recently concluded students’ first pilot case

at Dhungentar, achieving the planned institutional project goals and the next students’ cases in Nepal and Bhutan in three separate sessions. Ms. Shakuntala Acharya

(IISc. Banglore) commented and gave her feedbacks on the group works in the faculty workshop.

NEWS & EVENTSHIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL

CLASS & STREAM-WISE DISTRIBUTION OF STUDENTS

Grade

Stream

Class Start

No. of classes to be delivered until the

end of session

No. of Students

Pre-Board Exams

Board Exams

XI Science &

Management 24th July

2018 156 86

3rd-12th April 2019

12th -22rd May 2019

XII Science &

Management 1st July 2018

151 77 6th-17th March 2019

28th April- 9th May 2019

THE RESULT OF SECOND TERM EXAMINATION

CLASS RESUMED AFTER THE SECOND TERM

thThe second term exam of NEF-CCN concluded on the 4 January and a long winter vacation had been thgiven, the classes started on 20 of January. However, the classes in initial days could not be conducted

thso effectively due to extreme cold weather. After a week classes went on smoothly from 27 of January.

ndThe result of the second term exam was distributed to the students along with their guardians on 2 of

February. More than 85% parents as well as guardians were present to receive the result and discussed

about the performance of their children. They met the subject teachers to ask about the aptitude of their

children and other remedial measures to improve their performance in the coming days.

As per HISSAN schedule, the Pre board examination of thgrades XII commenced from 6 March 2019 and ended on

th17 March 2019.

HOTEL VISITED BY GRADE XI AND XII HOTEL MANAGEMENT STUDENTS

To provide intensive practical experiences, AITM conducted practical classes for grade XI & XII Hotel st stManagement students at Hotel Ratnagiri, Nagarkot on 31 January and 1 February 2019 respectively. In

the visit, grade XI students learned different types of room’s facilities, methods of serving different types

of food and beverages to the guests. Similarly, grade XII students experienced hotel services, room

facilities, bed making procedures as well as preparation methods of cocktails and mock tails. Mrs. Nil

Badan Suwal (Subject teacher) and Mr. Dipendra Deshar(Discipline counselor) were present in the Hotel

visit.

HISSAN PRE- BOARD EXAM

The students of Grade XI organized a grand farewell thprogram for the students of grade XII on 19 of March,

2019 in the Prabidhi Auditorium of AITM. Almost all the

students from both grades were present. The students had

slotted the program into two halves. The first half of the

program was the formal one chaired by Mr. Pramod Sagar

Singh Pradhan, Board Member of AITM, Mr. Basanta

Prasad Joshi, Dr. Rabindra Raj Giri and Mr. Hari Krishna

Saiju from Deparment of Hotel Management,Civil

Engineering and B.Tech in Bio-Technology respectively.

Mr. Shyam Krishna Maharjan, head of plus two school

welcomed the guests while the chair of the program

Mr. Pradhan addressed the formal session giving inspiring

tips for the outgoing students. The formal program was

hosted by Ms. Prerana Devi Masal and Ms. Ekata Maharjan

of Grade XI. The second half of the program was full of

entertainment. The students as well as the teachers, staff

and other invitees enjoyed the program very much.

FAREWELL PROGRAM (MARCH 19, 2019)

Practical Board Exam of Grade XII Science/Management nd thcommenced from 22 March to ended to 25 March 2019.

NEB PRACTICAL BOARD EXAM OF GRADE XII

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AITM Sports Meet 2019

Like in the previous years, AITM organized this year’s annual sports event “AITM Sports Meet-2019” from February 20 to 27, 2019 jointly coordinated by

Mr. Binod Kumar Mishra (Faculty, Biotechnology Department) and Mr. Dipendra Desar (Faculty, Plus Two Program). About three hundred AITM students

participated in the event, while basketball, volleyball, football, cricket, badminton, table tennis and chess games were included in the event. The annual

event was inaugurated by handing over a basketball to the referee of the game by Dr. Rabindra Raj Giri (Head of Civil Engineering Depar tment) and Mr.

Shyam Krishna Maharjan (Head of Plus Two Program) organized on AITM basketball ground on the first day of the event. The table below shows a snapshot

of the events, participants and winners of the “AITM Sports Meet-2019”.

AITM Sports Meet-2019: Summary of Events & Winners (Feb. 20 to 27, 2019)

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S.N. Game Participants Winner Runner -up

1 Football 4 Teams BHM Plus Two

2 Cricket 4 Teams BHM Plus Two

3 Volley Ball 4 Teams BHM (5 th Sem.) BHM (3 rd Sem.)

4 Basket Ball (Boys) 5 Teams BHM Plus Two

5 Basket Ball (Girls) 3 Teams BHM Biotechnology

6 Badminton (Boys

single ) 31 Participants Kushal Khadka (BHM) Prajwal Khadka (BHM)

7 Badminton (Girls

single ) 28 Participants Nisha KC (Plus Two) Dipa Rai (Plus Two)

8 Table Tennis (Boys

single ) 17 Participants Kiran Kharel (BHM)

Sanjog Raj Silwal

(Biotechnology)

9 Table Tennis (Girls

single ) 10 Participants

Lakpa Yangi Sherpa

(BHM) Pramisha Dangol (BHM)

10 Chess (Boys) 12 Participants Sanjog Raj Silwal

(Biotechnology)

Avibind Khaniya

(Biotechnology)

Mr. Rohit Giri (BHM), Mr. Rajesh Jimee (Plus Two), Mr. Kushal Khadka (BHM) and Mr. Pwajwal Khadka (BHM) were declared as the best players of football,

basketball, cricket and volleyball games respectively in the “AITM Sports Meet-2019”.

The prizes of “AITM Sports Meet-2019” were distributed to the winners in a program organized in AITM conference hall on March 28, 2019. Most of the

AITM students, staff and faculties including Executive Director and Heads of Departments were present in the prize distribution program on the day. The

Executive Director of AITM, Mr. Bhupa Das Rajbhandari, highlighted on the importance of discipline and sports activities in life in the beginning of the

ceremony. Then, prizes were distributed to the winners by the Executive Director and Heads of Depar tments (Dr. Rabindra Raj Giri, Department of Civil

Engineering; Mr. Basanta Prasad Joshi, School of Hotel Management; Mr. Hari Krishna Saiju, Biotechnology Department and Mr. Shyam Krishna Maharjan,

Plus Two Program) one after another. The program ended with group photographs with the prize winners.