An interaction event between IIT Madras and Kathmandu University was held in Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, on April 6, 2022. Prof. Raghunathan Rengaswamy, IITM Dean for Global Engagement, headed the IITM delegation. Prof. Mahesh V. Panchagnula, Prof. Preeti Aghalayam, Prof. Sachin S. Gunthe, and Ms. Snigdha Sharma were part of the team. Mr. K.V. Rajan, the previous Indian Ambassador to Nepal, was also part of the delegation. The event was moderated by Dr. Uddhab Pyakurel, Associate Director, Global Engagement Division, KU.

A brief presentation on KU was delivered by the Registrar Prof. Dr. Subodh Sharma, the presentation included a brief overview of the programs offered and planned by the university, the guiding philosophies, future objectives, and critical hurdles to its growth imperatives. Similarly, Prof. Preeti Aghalayam, representing IITM, gave a brief description of the university, its research fields, and the cutting-edge programs IITM wants to provide in the South Asia Region.

Former Indian Ambassador K.V. Rajan emphasized the same interests of the two prestigious institutions. He expressed his enthusiasm for future collaboration and expressed his hope that mutually beneficial collaboration might take place soon. He also spoke on the special relationship that exists between India and Nepal, as well as the future unpredictability and the necessity to equip human resources to deal with it.

Prof. Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma, KU's founding Vice-Chancellor, recalled the assistance KU received from several academic institutions during its creation period, which helped KU lay a solid basis for its mission to become Nepal's top higher education institution. Similarly, Prof. Raghunathan Rengaswamy stressed that IITM would be looking for a mutually beneficial partnership and informed that IITM would not be limited by the partner’s strength and would be providing all the support in moving the cooperation forward.

Prof. Dr. Bhola Thapa provided a brief note on the role of KU in enhancing the higher education system of Nepal. He also highlighted the need of moving forward with the collaboration with IITM as soon as possible, exploring the mutual strengths for the betterment of higher education via research in the South Asia region.