Fourth NRN Regional Conference
May 28-30, 2010
Houston Marriott Westchase Hotel
2900 Briarpark Dr., Houston, TX 77042, USA
Day 1: Room 1
Workshop on
Open and Distance Education in Nepal
Invitation
| Information for Participants
| Workshop Schedule
| People Bio
| Photos from the Program
| Resolution of Workshop
| NRNA Houston Decleration (
NRNA
|NepalAustralianNews
| NepaliPost
)
| Press Release and coverage (
Official
| JanaPukar
| Nepalnews
| eKantipur
| NepalArab.com
| NepalDalitInfo
)
| Pre-event News Coverage (
ICDE
| 01
| 02
| 03
| 04
| 05
)
Venue (
Address
|
Map
| Rates and Reservation
| Reserve
| More
)
Event Schedule
New tools, technologies, and paradigms of learning that evolved in recent decades are unfolding new opportunities in promoting higher education among rural, remote and marginalized populations. In this context, Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) and Canada Foundation for Nepal (CFFN) have joined hands to partner with other international partners to help Nepal establish Open University of Nepal (OUN). This workshop is organized by NRN SKI Task Force to bring together prominent academics and institutional thinkers to deliberate the academic, management, and business aspects of creating the OUN. (Read more ...)
| Friday, May 28, 2010 | |
|---|---|
| 8:00 | Refreshments and Informal Introductions |
| 8:30 | Welcome remarks by Mr. Dev Man Hirachan, President of NRNA |
| 8:40 | Introduction to the Workshop by Workshop Organizers |
| Session I: | Opening and Positioning of the Proposal |
| Chair: Dr. Renu Khator, University of Houston | |
| 8:45 | Opening Remarks by Chair |
| 9:00 | "Perspectives on Open and Distance Education in the Developing Countries", Dr. Fritz Pannekoek, ICDE and Athabasca University |
| 9:15 | Open University of Nepal: A Proposal |
| Presenter | Dr. Pramod Dhakal, NRN-SKI, NRN-Canada, CFFN, Carleton University |
| Discussants |
Dr. Alok Bohara, University of New Mexico Prof. Madhavi Karki, Strayer University Dr. Murari Suvedi, Michigan State University Dr. Shiva Gautam, Harvard University |
| 10:15 | Open Forum Q&A |
| 10:30 | Nutrition Break |
| Session II: 10:45 | Resource Mobilization and Business Plan |
| Chair: Dr. Mohamed Ally, IFTDO, IAML, Athabasca University | |
| Presenter | Dr. Ambika Adhikari, NRN-SKI, NRN-USA, Arizona State University |
| Discussants |
Dr. Carl Stokton, University of Houston Dr. Mahendra Lohani, Heifer International Dr. Prahlad Pant, University of Cincinnati Dr. Upendra Mahato, Non-resident Nepali Association |
| 11:45 | Open Forum Q&A |
| 12:00 | Lunch Break |
| Session III: 12:15 | Keynote Address and Lunch |
| 12:15 | Introducing the Speaker - Organizing Team |
| 12:20 | Developing a New Open University: Lessons from the Past Dr. Frits Pannekoek, President, ICDE and Athabasca University |
| Session IV: 13:15 | Academic Development, Content, and Delivery |
| Chair: Dr. Shankar P Sharma, Nepalese Ambassador to USA | |
| Presenter | Dr. Drona Rasali, NRN-SKI, NRN-Canada, CFFN, University of Regina |
| Discussants |
Dr. Gokul Bhandari, University of Windsor Dr. Kalyani Rai, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Dr. Mohamed Ally, Athabasca University |
| 14:15 | Open Forum Q&A |
| 14:30 | Nutrition Break |
| Session V: 14:45 | Governance, Management and Administration |
| Chair: Dr. Bhoj Raj Ghimire, Nepalese Ambassador to Canada | |
| Presenter | Dr. Jeetendra Joshee, California State University |
| Discussants |
Dr. Bidya Nath Koirala, Tribhuvan University Dr. Nalini Chhetri, Arizona State University Dr. Nanda Raj Shrestha, Florida A&M University |
| 15:45 | Open Forum Q&A |
| 16:00 | Nutrition Break |
| Session VI: 16:15 | Skills, Knowledge and Innovation (SKI) Exchange |
| Chair: Dr. Upendra Mahato, NRNA | |
| 16:20 | S&T Investment in Education - The SKI Strategy and Approach - Dr. Raju Adhikari |
| 16:30 | Education in Natural Resources Sector - A North American Perspectives - Dr. Rajendra K Shrestha |
| 16:40 | New Frontiers of Collaborative Formal Education: Distance Learning and Double Degree Master's Programs - Dr. Krishan C Prasad |
| 16:50 | Shortfall in Health Services in Nepal and NRN initiatives - Dr. Hari Dhakal, et.al. |
| 17:00 | Communication and Information Technology in Short Term Skill Training - South Asian Perspective - Kamal P Adhikari |
| 17:10 | NRN Scholarly Community: A Nepal Study Centre Experience - Dr. Alok Bohara |
| 17:20 | Open Forum Q&A |
| Session VII: 17:30 | Conclusion and Summary Session |
| Chair: HE Gyan Chandra Acharya, Nepalese Ambassador to UN | |
| Presentation of Key Findings | |
| Facilitators |
Dr. Mahendra Lohani, Heifer International Naresh Koirala, Nepal Library Foundation Dr. Padam P Sharma, Empower Nepal Foundation Dr. Tara Niraula, New School University Dr. Tulsi Dharel, George Brown College Jiwan Giri, Himanchal Educaiton Foundation |
| Rapporteurs |
Bishnu Maya Pariyar, EDWON Hari Paudel, NAH Ichha B Nepali, NRN-Canada Dr. Narayan Pokharel, NECASE Uttam Babu Shrestha, University of Massacheuttes Geeta Thapa, CFFN Govinda Singh Rawat, (Press) Ben Wood, CFFN (Multi-media) |
| 18:00 | Dinner |
| 19:15-21:15 | Special Session |
| A Nepal Cultural Evening | |
| Brought to You by: Nepalese Association of Houston | |
Program Format:
On each topic, there will be an introductory presentation. Some three or four discussants will summarize their written and verbal critiques and provide suggestions. A round table discussion to collect the participant inputs in writings, flip-charts, and recordings of conversations will be done. Any contributions can be made in writing in advance by May 15, 2010, so that the suggestions could be incorporated in the final proposal by the core proponent team for OUN.
This is an academic forum of open format and not a lecture and question–answer type. The speakers will set the theme for the debate, the chair will moderate and keep time, the discussants will critique the presentations and all present will participate in questions and answers.
About the Core Proponent Team:
NRN SKI Task Force has taken a number of key initiatives to help Nepal. Promoting mass access to higher education through open and distance learning opportunities is one of those initiatives. A major part of this is the establishment of Open University of Nepal (OUN). Dr. Pramod Dhakal (Lead), Dr. Ambika Adhikari and Dr. Drona Rasali constitute the core proponent team for the proposed OUN.
For further queries on the workshop please contact:
Dr. Pramod Dhakal - 613-596-6692 - pdhakal[at]cffn[dot]ca
Dr. Ambika Adhikari - 480-735-4429 - ambika[at]alum[dot]mit[dot]edu
Dr. Drona Rasali - 306-584-0639 - d_rasali[at]yahoo[dot]ca
| This is an NRNA Conference and CFFN is partnering with NRNA in Open University of Nepal initiative. For further information related to the conference, please visit the following websites: | |
|---|---|
| Information on NRNA: NRN.org.np | |
| Conference Information: nrnusa.org | |
| Co-host of the Conference: nrn-canada.org | |
| Other Inquiries: | |
| Mr. Ratan K. Jha, Secretary General Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Coordinator 4th Regional NRN Conference Email: ratanjha [at] gmail [dot] com URL: http://nrnusa.org Dr. Hemant Dabadi, Executive Director Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Secretariat FNCCI Building Pachali Shahid Shukra FNCCI Milan Marg, Teku PO Box 269, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: (+977-1) 4215247/4262061 Fax: (+977-1) 4215247 Email: nrn [at] nrn [dot] org [dot] np URL: http://www.nrn.org.np |
|
Copyright © Canada Foundation for Nepal 2006-2010. All Rights Reserved.