Senior figures from the University of Chester have returned from Nepal after a week of high-level talks that promise to deepen research ties, expand international study routes and strengthen global health collaboration.
The delegation – led by Vice-Chancellor Professor Eunice Simmons – met university leaders, policymakers and healthcare partners across the country in a visit designed to turn long-standing relationships into concrete action.
New Research Centres and Long-Term Health Study Launched
Two major research initiatives were formally launched during the trip.
The first, a British Academy-funded Evidence Synthesis Centre known as “NICE Nepal”, brings together UK universities, Kathmandu University and the Nepal Health Research Council. The centre will train 29 Policy Fellows in evidence review and policy writing, helping to bridge the gap between academic research and government decision-making.
The second project – the Nepal Longitudinal Study – will track the health and demographic data of 10,000 people in Nagarjun Municipality, Kathmandu. Researchers say the dataset will offer unprecedented insight into how population health is changing in Nepal and inform future public health planning.
Both initiatives are expected to contribute to the UK’s Research Excellence Framework in 2029 and generate long-term impact case studies.
Expanding Education and Medical Links
The visit also focused on strengthening transnational education partnerships and exploring new postgraduate opportunities. Meetings were held with leaders from medical colleges across Nepal, where discussions covered research supervision and potential new MSc programmes.
Detailed policy discussions were organised by Green Tara Nepal, an NGO delivering healthcare to remote communities, giving the Chester team insight into frontline public health challenges.
An engagement event with recruitment partners, alumni and parents of current students highlighted the university’s growing presence in Nepal and its ambition to widen access to international study.
High-Level Talks and National Media Spotlight
The visit concluded with a senior roundtable hosted by the Nepal Health Research Council, attended by vice-chancellors from five Nepali universities, Ministry of Health representatives and UK academic partners.
Professor Simmons delivered the keynote address, reaffirming the university’s commitment to sustained collaboration.
“Our visit to Nepal reaffirmed the deep commitment shared by our partners to advancing education, research and public health,” she said. “The collaborations we have strengthened represent powerful examples of how universities can work across borders to address global challenges.”
The trip attracted significant national media attention in Nepal, including television interviews and features in leading publications.
For the University of Chester, the message was clear: international partnerships are no longer symbolic – they are central to its strategy, research ambition and global impact.
