Kathmandu, Nepal – The Unleashing Asia Summit – a B2B Summit for Education & Industry
Leaders successfully concluded at The Plaza, Jhamsikhel, on 31 st Jan, bringing together 330+
influential leaders from education, corporate sectors, and international organizations. The event,
organized by Skill Lab Asia, provided a powerful platform for thought leaders to explore and
form strategic initiatives around innovations in education, workforce development, and future-
ready skills.
The summit featured representatives from 6 countries, 110+ academic institutions, 57
industry leaders, from 14 cities across the 6 provinces of Nepal, 15 local governments and
20 development partners. It fostered critical discussions on the evolving education landscape
and its alignment with workforce demands. There were over 330 attendees at the summit.
Key Highlights:
Opening Remarks & Keynote Speeches: The event commenced with insights from
Nanda Kishor Mandal, Founder/Director of Skill Lab Asia, alongside esteemed
speakers Dileep Agrawal (WorldLink Communications) and Dr. Tara Prasad
Upadhyaya (Lumbini Banijya Campus).
Keynote Insights: Distinguished speakers Laxman Basnet (SecurityPal), Matthias
Meier (Embassy of Switzerland to Nepal), and John B. Park (former Head – Product
Management, Google) shared perspectives on fostering an education system that meets
industry needs.
Official launch of ASPIRE, a cutting-edge education magazine that will serve as an
ecosystem builder, bringing together educational innovations, policy discussions, and
best practices in teaching and learning, from across Nepal, Asia, and the larger global
education ecosystem.
Panel Discussions: Engaging sessions covered:
Reimagining Education for Transformed Workplaces, featuring experts from
UNESCO, Presidential Graduate School, Premier International IB
Continuum School, and Asia Pacific University.
o Bridging the Education-Employment Gap, with insights from WorldLink
Communications, Indonesia Career Center Network, National Career
Development Center Association (NACDA), and ProgramizPro.
o Policy Instruments – Career Guidance as a Tool for Success, highlighting experts
from Asia Pacific Career Development Association, Civil Service Psychology
Profession Organization (HIMPSI), Swiss Agency for Development and
Cooperation, and Sanskriti International School.
Strategic MoU Exchanges: Strategic partnership MoUs were exchanged between
Skill Lab NACDA, Malaysia and again between Skill Lab and Indonesia Career
Center Network signifying international partnerships and access to knowledge between
Nepal and the larger ASEAN community.
Career Service Adoption:The Summit also highlighted the relevance and the need of
adopting Digital Career Service Center into the universities, colleges and schools, which
remains the core product of Skill Lab across 70 schools and colleges in Nepal, The
Philippines and now into Malaysia and Indonesia.
Networking & Collaborations: The event facilitated discussions on future partnerships
between national and international organizations, strengthening Nepal’s role in the global
education ecosystem.
Impact & Future Prospects:
The summit emphasized the need for future-ready education models, industry-academia
collaboration, and policy reforms to bridge skill gaps. It also paved the way for new strategic
alliances, setting the stage for long-term impact on Nepal’s educational and economic
landscape.
Quotes from Leaders:
“Career services can be a bridge between academia and industry.” – Matthias Meier,
Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Switzerland to Nepal
“Student agency is students taking charge of their learning instead of being told what to
do.” – John B. Park, Former Head – Product Management, Google
The Unleashing Asia Summit will continue to serve as a catalyst for innovation in education
and industry collaboration, with future editions promising deeper engagement and expanded
international participation.
