Kathmandu–The Unleashing Asia Summit – a B2B Summit for Education & Industry Leaders successfully concluded at The Plaza, Jhamsikhel, on 31 st Jan, bringing together 330+ influential leaders from education, corporate sectors, and international organizations. The event, organized by Skill Lab Asia, provided a powerful platform for thought leaders to explore and form strategic initiatives around innovations in education, workforce development, and future-

ready skills. The summit featured representatives from 6 countries,

110+ academic institutions, 57 industry leaders, from 14 cities across the 6 provinces of Nepal, 15 local governments and 20 development partners. It fostered critical discussions on the evolving education landscape and its alignment with workforce demands. There were over 330 attendees at the summit.

Key Highlights:

 Opening Remarks & Keynote Speeches: The event commenced with insights from Nanda Kishor Mandal, Founder/Director of Skill Lab Asia, alongside esteemed speakers Dileep Agrawal (World Link Communications) and Dr. Tara Prasad Upadhyaya (Lumbini Banijya Campus).

 Keynote Insights: Distinguished speakers Laxman Basnet (Security Pal), Matthias Meier (Embassy of Switzerland to Nepal), and John B. Park (former Head - Product Management, Google) shared perspectives on fostering an education system that meets industry needs.

 Official launch of ASPIRE, a cutting-edge education magazine that will serve as an ecosystem builder, bringing together educational innovations, policy discussions, and best practices in teaching and learning, from across Nepal, Asia, and the larger global education ecosystem.

 Panel Discussions: Engaging sessions covered:

Reimagining Education for Transformed Workplaces, featuring experts from UNESCO, Presidential Graduate School, Premier International IB Continuum School, and Asia Pacific University.

Bridging the Education-Employment Gap, with insights from World Link Communications, Indonesia Career Center Network, National Career Development Center Association (NACDA), and Program Pro.

o Policy Instruments - Career Guidance as a Tool for Success, highlighting experts from Asia Pacific Career Development Association, Civil Service Psychology Profession Organization (HIMPSI), Swiss Agency for Development and

Cooperation, and Sanskriti International School.

 Strategic MoU Exchanges: Strategic partnership MoUs were exchanged between Skill Lab NACDA, Malaysia and again between Skill Lab and Indonesia Career Center Network signifying international partnerships and access to knowledge between Nepal and the larger ASEAN community. 

 Career Service Adoption: The Summit also highlighted the relevance and the need of adopting Digital Career Service Center into the universities, colleges and schools, which remains the core product of Skill Lab across 70 schools and colleges in Nepal, The Philippines and now into Malaysia and Indonesia.  

 Networking & Collaborations: The event facilitated discussions on future partnerships between national and international organizations, strengthening Nepal’s role in the global education ecosystem. Impact & Future Prospects:

The summit emphasized the need for future-ready education models, industry-academia collaboration, and policy reforms to bridge skill gaps. It also paved the way for new strategic alliances, setting the stage for long-term impact on Nepal’s educational and economic landscape. 

Quotes from Leaders:

 “Career services can be a bridge between academia and industry.” – Matthias Meier, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Switzerland to Nepal

 “Student agency is students taking charge of their learning instead of being told what to do.” – John B. Park, Former Head - Product Management, Google The Unleashing Asia Summit will continue to serve as a catalyst for innovation in education and industry collaboration, with future editions promising deeper engagement and expanded international participation.