CQUniversity has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nepal's National Planning Commission (NPC), taking advice from the national body on the priority of topics for the developing nation...

This consolidates more than a decade of relationship building between the University and Nepal.

Deputy VC Prof Hilary Winchester farewells Dr Phul Subedi on the eve of his latest visit to Nepal, where he will return with the signed MOU

The NPC sets national priorities, and the MOU provides a link to this umbrella body for feedback on research proposals.  For example, AusAid has boosted its funding allocation to Nepal (approx. $35 million in 2012) for projects and postgraduate training.

"An NPC stamp of approval will improve the chances of our projects being funded," says Professor Kerry Walsh, Director of CQUniversity's Institute for Resource Industries and Sustainability (IRIS).

CQUniversity already engages with Nepal with projects including:

- Nursing student support for remote health clinics;

- an AusAid-funded waste-reduction project associated with fresh fruit and vegetable markets and chicken production; and

- an AusAid-funded project on improved supply chain management in mandarin production.

Meanwhile, the NPC has recommended preparation of a project that addresses conservation issues in the ‘Churia' (mid hills) region.

Dr Phul Subedi is welcomed to Nepal by citrus traders and growers during a recent visit

CQUniversity researcher Dr Phul Subedi, who has been a linchpin in the developing CQUni-NPA relationship, says the University has developed a range of links with Nepal, providing depth of knowledge of the Nepalese context.

"Several Nepalese scientists have visited CQUniversity's Centre for Plant and Water Science (CPWS) for short-term hands-on training in post-harvest horticulture and supply chain management under a Crawford traineeship award," Dr Subedi says.

"Currently more than dozen Nepalese students are enrolled in PhD and Master degrees by research programs in the CPWS. Half of them are involved in horticulture-related research projects for their thesis. It is expected that after completion of their studies, they will return home to their own country and organisations, although some scientists have continued as CQUni Postdoctoral Research Fellows."

Prof Kerry Walsh is welcomed to a village in Nepal

Dr Subedi says Nepal is well known as a mountainous country.

"In our mandarin project, one of the activities is to establish 'agro-eco-tourism' in mandarin growing areas and to encourage citrus growers, traders and professionals from Australia to visit these villages as a tourist to share ideas," he says. 

Back in 2011, CQUniversity's Nepalese postgraduates were proud to present project updates to visiting Nepalese NPC representative Ram Sharma, with topics including 'bioethanol potential of Agave tequilana', 'biochar application for improving soil health and plant growth', 'food security and agriculture in the Nepalese villages of Dhankuta District of Nepal'; 'selection of native species, and development of establishment techniques for revegetation of disturbed sites in Queensland', 'implication of forest carbon payments on the well-being of people and climate change mitigation'; 'oxygation in different soil types, emitters depths and crop rooting morphologies', and 'a goal-based architectural style for wireless sensor networks'. 

Agro-eco-tourism is on the agenda