Cutting the Political Cord: Ending the Prime Minister’s Chancellorship in Nepal

Universities around the world are undergoing significant governance transformation, with institutional autonomy, state involvement, academic freedom, funding, and public accountability now at the center of higher education policy debates. Nepal is no exception, as these issues feature prominently in recent policy and academic arenas. One of the headline-making reform proposals seeks to amend the law governing universities, particularly the provision designating the Prime Minister as Chancellor. It has sparked intense debate among policymakers, academics, and the wider public. Education Minister Mahabir Pun has advocated removing the Prime Minister from the chancellorship and establishing a governing board or council as part of broader governance reform. It has been reported that an expert committee, chaired by the University Grants Commission (UGC) head, has been tasked with preparing a report incorporating these recommendations, which, as Pun noted at a Nepal Higher Education Foundation (NHEF) meeting, originated in discussions with university vice-chancellors.