NEWSLETTER | | |  | | | | | | |
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| | As Nepal enters a new era of hope and change, we wish all our grantees, partners, and supporters a year filled with personal growth, professional success, and happiness. We look forward to our continued collaboration in promoting mutual understanding and cooperation between the United States and Nepal through educational and cultural exchange. A special welcome to USEF-Nepal’s new Honorary Board Chair, U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Scott Urbom. We thank him and the U.S. Embassy staff for their guidance and contributions to the success of our programs. |
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Reflections and New Beginnings: ETA Program Updates | On January 9, we marked the successful conclusion of Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETA) Bushrah Khan and Nelisha Gray’s ten-month assignments in Nepal. Their final check-in session provided an opportunity to assess their classroom experiences and community engagement. We wish them all the best as they return home equipped with new perspectives and skills gained during their time in Nepal. |
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| From left: ETA alumni Bushrah Khan and Nelisha Gray | In March, we welcomed new ETAs Sarah Sweirsz and Natalia Lalin to Nepal. Following a month-long orientation program that introduced them to Nepal’s education system, culture, language, and ETA program expectations, they will begin their assignments in April at Jana Udhar Secondary School in Budhanilkantha and Lalit Kalyan School in Patan, respectively. We wish them every success as they embark on their exchange journeys. |
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| From left: Incoming ETAs Sarah Swiersz and Natalia Lalin | | | Engaging Educators at the 30th NELTA International Conference | On January 30-31, Fulbright staff participated in the 30th National English Language Teachers Association (NELTA) International Conference, a gathering of more than 800 English teachers, teacher trainers, and education professionals from Nepal and other nations. The conference provided a platform for sharing ideas, strengthening professional networks, and exploring innovative approaches to English-language teaching across diverse educational contexts.
During the conference, they conducted a workshop to introduce secondary-level teachers to the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (FTEA) program, which each year provides an opportunity for Nepali teachers to experience the educational system in the United States. The session outlined the program’s academic and cultural components, its benefits, eligibility criteria, and the application process. The application window for next year’s program will open in January 2027. Teachers interested in applying should consult the USEF-Nepal website for further information. |
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| From Left: Sr. Program Officer Nishtha Rajbhandari Program Administrator Tina Lama at the NELTA conference | | | 2026 Enrichment Retreat: Exploring Landscape and Livelihoods | On February 23-24, we hosted an enrichment retreat for this year’s Fulbright US Scholars and Students. The gathering at Namobuddha Resort in Kavre district provided an opportunity for participants to share updates on their research projects and collectively reflect on their experiences. In addition, they had the opportunity to visit Sanskriti Farms and Research Centre, where the retreat’s theme of “Landscape and Livelihoods” came alive in practice. We extend our sincere appreciation to Shree Krishna Dhital, Director, for sharing his generous knowledge and long-term vision. |
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| | U.S. Student Researcher Brenna Prevelige presenting to the group | | |  |
| Shree Krishna Dhital, Director of Sanskriti Farms and Research Cente, welcoming retreat participants | | |  |
| Retreat participants at Namobuddha Resort | | | Grantee Perspective: Myth, Memory, and Multidisciplinary Making in Nepal | by Anooj Bhandari, US Student Researcher, AY 2025
As an artist and writer, I find myself attracted to magical realism and creative non-fiction, two genres that intertwine quite similarly to the way mythology embeds itself in the daily life of Nepal and specifically within my grant’s focus, the Kathmandu valley. Through a combination of writing for page, stage, and film, my work here has focused on embedding patterns found in the changing ecology of the Kathmandu valley into human relationships that show up in stories. Recently, I finished a draft of my poetry anthology titled How to Disarm a Nuclear Bomb, within which magical, mythical, and mystical moments weave their way into past memory to reimagine geographical boundary lines within South Asia and beyond. I am currently working to translate the first draft of my play, We Could See It From the Window, a collection of stories for the stage set in Nepal that each touch on a different pattern in life here from the division of family homes, to changes in sugarcane harvest, to shifts in the way traditional Newari puppets are used to portray a story about a puppeteer whose magic puppets allow his window to transform into a portal back on to the streets of his childhood.
In collaboration with Kausi Theater, I have been leading theater and playwriting workshops, developing collections of short nonfiction pieces with an ensemble of artists, as well as new plays rooted in solar punk aesthetics. We held our first public performance in January and will launch another workshop next month. Partnerships with LUMA Studios and 144.ktm have expanded our practice into a multidisciplinary collaboration, bringing together animators, cinematographers, and woodworkers to create work that reflects the layered, living textures of the Kathmandu Valley. |
|  | Fulbright US Student Researcher, Anooj Bhandari (top right) with Kausi Theater team | | | | | Nepal Spring Roadshow 2026 Expands Education USA’s Outreach Across the Country | USEF-Nepal hosted the Education USA Nepal Spring Roadshow 2026 during January 30 to February 7, connecting representatives from 25 US colleges and universities with more than 3,700 students at high schools in Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan. These in-person engagements provided students with valuable, accurate information about higher education opportunities in the United States, helping to demystify the application process and academic pathways.
A highlight of the program was the U.S. college fair held at USEF-Nepal’s Educational Advising Center in Kathmandu. Along with the opportunity for students to meet college and university representatives, the event featured a student visa information session led by Consular Officers from the U.S. Embassy, who offered guidance on legitimate visa processes and requirements. You can find a short video on the Kathmandu event here. |
|  | | | College Information Session Highlights Student Life in the U.S | On February 17, Education USA hosted an information session titled How a Campus Can Feel Like Home featuring Anna Bradford from Ball State University and Sam Salvatori from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). The session offered insights into the international student experience, emphasizing the importance of belonging and community on campus. Presenters discussed key elements that contribute to student success, including academic mentorship, hands-on learning opportunities, comprehensive support services, and engagement beyond the classroom.
A highlight of the session was a series of testimonial videos from Nepali students currently studying in the United States. Their firsthand accounts provided authentic perspectives on academic life and campus culture, helping attendees better visualize their own potential journeys. Here are some student videos:
A #DayInALife video of a Nepali student at Stanford University A #DayInALife video featuring Prabas Dahal studying at University of Kentucky |
|  | Presenters and participants at the “How a Campus Can Feel Like Home” session | | | Outreach Expands Access to U.S. Higher Education Information | On February 26, EducationUSA advisers conducted an information session for 70 A-Level students at Little Angels’ College. The session introduced the 5 Steps to Study in the United States, providing a comprehensive overview of the U.S. higher education system. Advisers guided students through key components of the application process, including selecting universities, preparing required documents, understanding standardized tests, and exploring scholarship opportunities. They also shared information about the upcoming Opportunity Funds Program application cycle, encouraging eligible students to apply. The session was highly interactive, with students demonstrating strong interest and asking thoughtful questions. Building on this engagement, advisers conducted another outreach session on March 18 for 30 students at Little Sisters Fund. |
|  | Participants at the session at Little Sisters' Fund | | |
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| | | | Freedom 250 is a U.S. presidential initiative marking America’s 250th anniversary. As part of this initiative, throughout 2026, USEF-Nepal is organizing or supporting activities that highlight American culture, innovation, and leadership. |
| Freedom 250 Get Inspired Session Showcases Alumni Impact | On March 19, EducationUSA advisers conducted a Get Inspired session featuring Opportunity Funds alumni Asmod Khakurel (Kenyon College), Hem Narayan Chaudhary (MIT), and Laxman Bista (Dartmouth College). The speakers shared stories from their academic experience, highlighting how U.S. education fosters critical thinking, leadership, and global networks. Nepal. The event was attended by guidance counselors and administrators from 24 schools in Kathmandu. |
|  | Amod Khakurel, Hem Narayan Chaudhary, and Laxman Bista address participants at the Freedom 250 Get Inspired Session | | | Freedom 250 Talk Explores AI for the Public Good | On March 27, 2026, Fulbright staff, in collaboration with the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies (ANHS), conducted a thought-provoking session titled AI for the Public Good? How Civil Societies are Using AI, featuring current Fulbright-Nehru Fellow Dr. Abhishek Bhati, Associate Professor of Political Science at Bowling Green State University.
Drawing on his research, Dr. Bhati discussed how nonprofits and civil society organizations, particularly in resource-constrained settings, are leveraging artificial intelligence to address inequality, mobilize communities, and enhance their impact. The session offered participants a deeper understanding of how emerging technologies driven in part by U.S. innovation and academic research can support inclusive development and strengthen community-based initiatives. |
|  | | | Dr. Abhishek Bhati addresses participants at the Freedom 250 AI for the Public Good session | Articles by and Featuring our Alumni |
| Deconstructing development in an age of crisesArticle by Kunda Dixit in Nepali Times (Fulbright Master’s Program, AY 1984) Planning for the year 2100Article by Sujeev Shakya in The Hindu (Humphrey Program, AY 2002) अब एआईले घरमै ल्याइदिन्छ डिग्रीको प्रमाणपत्र, कसरी चलाउने एआईInterview with Prof. Dr. Nir Kshetri featured on Shilapatra (Fulbright US Scholar, AY 2025)
Who Benefits More from AI?Interview with Prof. Dr. Nir Kshetri on NTV World Insight (Fulbright US Scholar, AY 2025) समृद्धिको नयाँ अवशर: ब्लकचेन, क्रिप्टो र एआईInterview with Prof. Dr. Nir Kshetri featured on Bindu Post (Fulbright US Scholar, AY 2025) तपाईँको नागरिकता र शैक्षिक प्रमाणपत्र अब ब्लकचेनमा – Cryptocurrency, blockchains and AIInterview with Prof. Dr. Nir Kshetri on Bindu Post (Fulbright US Scholar, AY 2025) How hardships and hashtags combined to fuel Nepal’s violent response to social media banArticle by Prof. Dr. Nir Kshetri in The Conversation (Fulbright US Scholar, AY 2025) काव्य स्नानले भिज्यो भूषिताको ‘पलेँटी’Poetry recitation by Bhushita Bhattarai on Onlinekhabar (Fulbright Master’s Program, AY 2022)
People’s powerArticle by Kunda Dixit in Nepali Times (Master’s Program, AY 1984) |
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EducationUSA
Friday Group Advising
April 24, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.
Ask an Adviser April 28, 2026 at 2 p.m.
AI in Complex Systems and Societies April 28, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
Orientation on The Standardized Tests – Graduate
April 27, 2026 at 2 p.m.
Resume Writing
May 5, 2026 at 11 a.m.
Finding Best-fit College
May 6, 2026 at 11 a.m.
Orientation on The Standardized Tests – Undergraduate
May 7, 2026 at 1 p.m.
Friday Group Advising
May 8, 2026 at 10 a.m.
Tips on Writing an Application Essay
May 20, 2026 at 11 a.m.
Effective Communication
May 21, 2026 at 2 p.m. |
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| Fulbright
Fulbright Foreign Student Masters Program Application Open
Deadline May 31,2026
Apply at usefnepal.org
Fulbright Specialist Program Application open for 2026/27 projects
Apply at usefnepal.org
Information session on Fulbright Specialist Program April 30, 2026 Register at usefnepal.org
Next upcoming opportunity: Hubert H. Humphrey Program Visit usefnepal.org for latest updates |
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USEF-Nepal / Fulbright Commission / EducationUSA Advising Center |
| Aakriti Marg, Maharajgunj, 44600, Kathmandu |
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