From Surviving to Thriving: How Nepal Must Retain Talent & Build an Innovative Ecosystem |Bidur Acharya| Sarthak Shikshya

In this video of Sarthak Sikhsya,  Bidur Acharya, CEO and founder of Edusanjal and an assistant professor at Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS), provides a unique perspective on recent Gen Z movement and the evolving trajectory of higher education in Nepal.

Drawing on his 14 years of experience with Edusanjal and his close observation in the education sector, Acharya explains how the protest highlights youth aspirations for meaningful opportunities, rather than simply political protest. Considering Nepal’s youth unemployment rate has surpassed 20 %, he explains how economic insecurity fuels desire for systemic change over simply political change. 

Acharya probes the rising trend of Nepali students seeking opportunities abroad, noting how economic insecurity, disillusionment with local education institutions, and a lack of entrepreneurial pathways push young people overseas. Sharing how many education consultancies inadvertently encourage brain drain by promoting foreign education as superior, he emphasizes the need to balance quantity of educational institutions with strict quality assurance, transparent data disclosure (such as exam pass rates and placements), and clear accountability on the part of universities and regulators.

Looking ahead, Acharya discusses potential remedies rooted in economic reform, support for entrepreneurship, and long-term structural investment. He emphasizes on establishment of business incubators, and system-level changes designed to better serve Nepal's 7 million students. He also stresses on the necessity of acknowledging mistakes and collaboratively working towards improvement rather than blaming others. In order to stop outward migration, he views that Nepal must become a place where talent can thrive, not just survive, by aligning education with market needs, incentivizing innovation, and cultivating a national ecosystem that retains hope at home.