Kathmandu, July 16 – The 18th Senate Meeting of Lumbini Buddhist University (LBU) was held on Wednesday at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister and Chancellor KP Sharma Oli. During the meeting, a budget of NPR 495.9 million for the upcoming fiscal year was approved. The budget was presented by the University’s Registrar, Dr. Tilak Ram Acharya. The meeting also endorsed the university’s annual policy and programs.
It was also informed that the university’s current unsettled financial irregularities (beruju) stand at only 0.5 percent.
A major highlight of the meeting was the decision to establish an Academic Credit Bank. This initiative will allow students who have studied at any university but left their studies midway to accumulate their earned academic credits in the bank and later complete the remaining credits to obtain a degree. The university will formulate and implement the necessary regulations for this system.
Other decisions made during the meeting included the establishment of a School of Law and the implementation of the Devdaha Education Development Project’s Master Plan. Several amendments to existing university regulations were also approved, according to Member Secretary and Registrar Dr. Acharya.
Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Oli emphasized the importance of integrating Buddhist philosophy into various academic disciplines. He stated that all programs of the university should reflect the essence of Buddhist thought.
Co-Chancellor and Minister for Education, Science, and Technology, Mr. Raghujī Pant, stressed the need to design academic programs that position Lumbini as a global center for Buddhist studies. He emphasized that Lumbini Buddhist University should stand apart from other universities and become a hub attracting global scholars interested in Buddhist philosophy.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Subarna Lal Bajracharya shared that the university’s academic policies are focused on attracting international students, offering dual degree programs, and prioritizing student-centered academic infrastructure. He added that academic programs would be conducted with a focus on Buddhist-centered research and studies.
He further revealed that the university has begun constructing infrastructure in Devdaha to accommodate 20,000 international students, which is designed to serve the university’s needs for the next 50 years. The Senate granted approval to proceed with infrastructure development and called upon donor agencies for support.
According to the report presented, the university currently operates two faculties, one school, two constituent campuses, and maintains affiliations and collaborations with 14 other campuses. A total of 2,922 students are presently enrolled.