Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh will be the first university in the UK to offer a British degree delivered face-to-face in Nepal.
As the result of a ground-breaking and innovative collaboration Queen Margaret University, students in Kathmandu will be offered the opportunity to complete a UK degree course whilst continuing to study in Nepal.
Following the successful course validation last week, staff at the Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management (SMHS) will now provide a UK degree in International Hospitality and Tourism to some 120 students each year at their campus in Kathmandu.
The Queen Margaret University programme will enable SMSH diploma graduates to continue with their studies for an additional year, in Kathmandu. Following successful completion they will be awarded a BA degree in International Hospitality and Tourism Management.
Dr Christine Bovis-Cnossen, Dean of School of Arts, Social Sciences & Management, at Queen Margaret University, said: ”As Nepal is an emerging economy and a post-conflict country, the transnational educational partnership between QMU and SMSH is a significant achievement that demonstrates the instrumental role and vision of a small Scottish university in the delivery of higher education. We are delighted to be working with an established Nepali partner in developing educational provision for young people, contributing to the status of the hospitality and tourism sector within the country and beyond and collaborating with an institution which has a growing reputation for excellence throughout Asia.”
She continued: This collaboration clearly reflects the industry-relevance of Queen Margaret University’s curriculum, as well as the international strategic focus of its operation.”
Trevor Laffin, Senior Lecturer in Hospitality Management is the Queen Margaret University representative leading the project. He said: “Silver Mountain shares much of the same ethos as Queen Margaret University, in that it strives to serve the community it is based in and to produce students who are equipped to make a difference to society. For both institutions, hospitality and tourism is central to the economy of the country in which they are based. There is great enthusiasm for this project and the QMU team is looking forward to supporting Silver Mountain in the delivery of the programme.”
Mr Samir Thapa, Principal of SMSH, said: “This is an historic occasion for SMSH and indeed for Nepal. Queen Margaret University has a long tradition in the provision of hospitality and tourism management and their graduates are highly regarded in the international hospitality and tourism industry. We are delighted that they share our vision for the potential that exists in Nepal and the tremendous opportunities that this partnership will bring to our young people.”
He added: “Our graduates are already sought after, both within Nepal and internationally, and this will only add to our reputation. We have been striving for the past 10 years to carve out our niche in Nepal as the leading hotel school, and Queen Margaret University’s support will raise us to a new level.”
The first graduation ceremony from this programme will take place in 2012 in Kathmandu.
