Eighth ECAN Education Fair Begins in Pokhara

Pokhara — The ‘Eighth ECAN Education Fair’ organized by the Kaski branch of the Nepal Educational Consultancy Association (ECAN) began in Pokhara on Friday. Sponsored mainly by Times Educational Consultancy, the grand educational fair started at City Square Banquet, Neurod, Pokhara.

During the inauguration, Gandaki Province’s Minister for Social Development, Youth, and Sports, Bindukumar Thapa, said that ECAN has played an important role in connecting students with prestigious educational institutions worldwide. He stated, “The fair will directly introduce thousands of students and parents to the right information, opportunities, and possibilities.”

He emphasized that Nepal’s education sector is the backbone of national development and that high-quality education is essential to keep pace with the globally changing knowledge and skills. Highlighting the provincial government’s policies, he added, “The government’s priority is to expand high-level educational opportunities within the country, promote technology- and skill-based education, and ensure a convenient, transparent, and safe environment for students who wish to study abroad.”

He also informed that the procedures for registration, renewal, and cancellation have been streamlined under the educational consultancy guidelines and advised students to strengthen their language and professional skills before going abroad.

Om Prakash Gaire, President of ECAN Kaski, expressed happiness that the fair, which had been postponed for several years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, could now continue. He thanked the member institutions and centers of ECAN and said, “Our desire is for Nepali students to pursue higher education in the country. However, many students are considering going abroad to secure their future.”

He emphasized the need for truthful and factual counseling and parental guidance for students planning to study abroad. He added, “Before going abroad, students should have complete information about policies, visa procedures, and colleges there. We are here to meet this need.”

Rajendra Baral, President of the Nepal Educational Consultancy Professionals Federation, said that activities like these, which used to start only in Kathmandu, are now being organized in various provinces and districts. Regarding the guidelines issued by the Gandaki Province government, he emphasized that laws are stronger when stakeholders are consulted during policy formulation.

Sheshraj Bhattarai, ECAN’s central president, said that while celebrating ECAN’s 29th foundation day in Kathmandu, the association has been working not only on enrolling students in top foreign colleges but also on efforts to bring them back to contribute to Nepal’s development. He suggested creating a separate act for the educational consultancy sector and consulting stakeholders while formulating policies. He also said that the private sector and consultancy centers could help make Pokhara an educational ‘hub.’

Outgoing ECAN President Prakash Pandey highlighted that the Pokhara ECAN Fair has become a key destination providing comprehensive information about career counseling, admissions, and visa procedures. He stated, “The two-day fair helps students avoid having to visit multiple consultancy centers.”

He also emphasized that the guidelines should include provisions to encourage good practices among professionals and penalize mistakes. Former central president Deepak Gurung urged students to apply only through ECAN member consultancy centers, assuring that ECAN would assist in case of any issues.

ECAN’s central vice president Bhuwan Bahadur Kshetri informed that currently 720 consultancy centers across Nepal are registered with the Ministry of Education, and reliable services can be obtained from these institutions.

“ECAN members are not only sending students abroad but also running campaigns to bring them back to Nepal after their studies,” he said. “Seeking opportunities is a natural human trait, yet ECAN is actively encouraging students to return to Nepal.”

Prem Subedi, Managing Director of Times Educational Consultancy, pledged continued support to make the fair grand. He urged students, parents, and other stakeholders to take advantage of the fair, which will feature expert counselors.

The fair was organized with permission from the Educational Consultancy and Certification Branch of the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology. Organizers claim it is the largest educational fair in Gandaki Province. The fair will continue until Saturday.

The fair hosts representatives from colleges and universities in the USA, Australia, Canada, and the UK, ECAN member institutions, and the British Council, with a total of 65 stalls. Participating students will have a chance to win attractive prizes, including laptops, tablets, mobile phones, and movie tickets, through a lucky draw.

The British Council Nepal is collaborating with the fair. The ‘Powered by’ section features the University of Worcester and York St John University in the UK. The Platinum sponsor is Grace International, the Gold sponsor is Churchill Institute of Higher Education/IIE, and the banking partner is NMB Bank.

The opening ceremony was welcomed by Santosh Shahi, fair coordinator and ECAN Kaski vice president, while the program was conducted by ECAN Kaski secretary Surendra Baral.