University cooperation as a development tool in poor countries

Abstract

This paper describes the development of Kathmandu University (KU) and how the vision of three Nepali university entrepreneurs have been realized in an academic institution that has the development of the social and economic conditions in the country as its foremost goal. KU's development strategy has been to seek cooperative partners from developed countries, and to utilize the considerable number of development agencies and donors that have sought partners in Nepal to its advantage. Another important part of KU's strategy has been to motivate its young Nepalese staff to train for advanced degrees at internationally renowned universities as an opening for full professorship at the institution. Through an NGO, a link to the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, was established and a mutual cooperation between KU and NTNU was developed, as well as cooperation with a number of other universities. The paper describes this cooperation between a university in an industrialized country and a start-up university in a poor country and highlights it as the most effective means for north-south cooperation, motivated by the attitude that wealthy countries have a moral obligation to support poor countries in their struggle to improve the social and economic well-being of their citizen. An aim of balance and symmetry in the cooperation is regarded as ethically important.