ABSTRACT
Established in 1959, the Tribhuvan University (TU) is the oldest, and was the only, university in Nepal until 1991, when Kathmandu University (KU) was established under an Act of parliament using a public–private partnership modality. While the private higher education sector created new kinds of opportunities and accelerated some innovation, it has also introduced a wide array of problems in Nepalese higher education. This chapter examines the process of hidden privatization and possibilities for regulating private higher education in Nepal, which has surpassed the public sector in many ways. Taking the case of social work education and the nature of its privatization, this chapter argues for higher education sector reforms and political will to restructure higher education. The strategies should include monitoring and developing a robust, ethical private sector that is driven not only by profit but that plays a crucial role in ensuring quality and access, and contributes to the overall goals of higher education of Nepal.
