18th N.E.W.S. Conference & Vice Chancellors' Symposium

The conference opened with registration, the lighting ceremony and a Buddhist invocation (Panchaseela, Trisarana Gamana and meditation), followed by a welcome from the Registrar and the inaugural addresses. Prof. Basanta Bidari spoke on the significance of Lumbini; Prof. Katsuhiko Hirasawa delivered the keynote on human resources and IT; the LBU indexed journal "Dhammachakka" was launched; and keynote remarks were offered by Prof. Upendra Kumar Koirala and Prof. Triratna Manandhar. The session closed with remarks by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Subarna Lal Bajracharya.

Parallel academic session on integrating compassion, wisdom and skilful means into contemporary leadership and human resource practice, chaired by Prof. Gitu Giri with co-chair Mr. Indra Prasad Kafle.

Parallel academic session exploring AI, automation and digital transformation in human resource development, chaired by Dr. Hari Sharan Chakhun with co-chair Dr. Kul Prasad Khanal.

Parallel academic session on student mobility, international exchange and cross-border collaboration in higher education, chaired by Prof. Binod Prasad Dhakal.

Parallel academic session on institutional roles in human resource management, public accountability, financial literacy and the future of work.

Special symposium on "Higher Education for the 4th Industrial Revolution: Global Mobility, Buddhist Wisdom, and Academic Collaboration", chaired by Prof. Triratna Manandhar and moderated by Prof. Upendra Kumar Koirala, with the symposium introduced by Dr. Manik Ratna Shakya. Panelists addressed the internationalisation of Buddhist wisdom, connecting higher education to the world of work, and ethics in academic leadership.

Vice Chancellors' Symposium on "Challenges and Opportunities of Higher Education in Nepal, incorporating Global Mobility, Buddhist Wisdom, and Academic Excellence", chaired by Prof. Bed Raj KC and moderated by Prof. Dhurba Kumar Gautam. Panelists discussed AI and digitalisation, internationalisation, sustainable education policy and skill-based learning.

Session on mainstreaming alternative medicine in Nepal aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, chaired by Dr. Pradip Gyawali and moderated by Dr. Sagar Neupane. Topics included Sowa-Rigpa, yoga and meditation in modern healthcare, and Buddhist psychology and mental well-being.

The conference concluded with a summary of key takeaways and the declaration of the 18th N.E.W.S. Conference by Dr. Kul Prasad Khanal, a vote of thanks by Dr. Manik Ratna Shakya, and final reflections by the Conference Chair, Prof. Subarna Lal Bajracharya. Lumbini Buddhist University signed Memoranda of Understanding with several visiting universities, and Prof. Katsuhiko Hirasawa of Nihon University handed over the presidency of the next N.E.W.S. Conference to the Vice-Chancellor of LBU.