Seminar on Entrepreneurship

1. Executive Summary & Institutional Context
Siddhartha Vanasthali Institute (SVI) hosted a three-day international seminar on entrepreneurship and digital literacy in Kathmandu, Nepal, held over 20–23 January 2025. The event formed a key dissemination milestone for NEWSTEP, an ERASMUS+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) project co-funded by the European Union, and brought together educators, academic leaders, students, and regional entrepreneurs from across the consortium.
The seminar's principal objective was to connect established European frameworks for entrepreneurship education with the realities of Nepal's regional enterprise landscape. Founded in 1951 and marking its golden jubilee in 2024, SVI — now home to approximately 300 staff — hosted this international delegation as a reflection of the Institute's continued commitment to integrating modern technology into higher education and supporting sustainable development across Nepal.
This report was prepared by students of the Bachelor of Business Studies (BBS) program at SVI, who attended the seminar as delegates and observers, with the support of NEWSTEP partner institutions Sindhuli Multiple Campus (SMC), Sindhuli Community Technical Institute (SCTI), and Sindhuli Academy (SA), alongside Turku University of Applied Sciences (Finland) and the Universitat Politècnica de València (Spain).

2. Proceedings & Inaugural Session (Day 1 — 20 January 2025)
The seminar opened with a formal inauguration, including the presentation of ceremonial SVI mufflers to the visiting professors and students and the singing of Nepal's national anthem. The Principal of SVI, Mr. Rupak Rajbanshi, welcomed attendees and spoke to the intersections of creativity, cross-border collaboration, and modern entrepreneurship, extending a warm invitation to foreign delegates to explore Nepal's UNESCO World Heritage Sites and broader cultural heritage.
Vice Principal Mrs. Sunita Singh further contextualized Nepal's cultural diversity, natural landscapes, and agrarian traditions as a foundation for niche market innovation, while outlining SVI's legacy and impact on the national education ecosystem since its establishment in 1951.
Following a photo session, Mr. Prashanta Dhakal, Coordinator of the NEWSTEP Initiative, outlined the institutional framework governing Work Package 6 (WP6), under which SVI is responsible for disseminating a specialized digital literacy and entrepreneurship curriculum designed to reach 100 students annually. The initiative runs from autumn 2023 through spring 2026, combining hybrid and online learning modes. Student Reflection: Observing the opening proceedings, it became clear that executing a cross-continental hybrid curriculum successfully requires more than infrastructure alone. For the student body, the shift toward globalized learning calls for a shift in academic discipline—from passive listening toward proactive, self-regulated digital engagement. SVI's stewardship of WP6 places direct responsibility on students to act as the primary testers and pioneers of this curriculum. As students, we also gained a broader understanding of digital literacy beyond everyday technology use, recognizing the importance of information evaluation, online collaboration, digital safety, and lifelong learning. The session encouraged us to take greater ownership of our learning and actively engage in digitally enabled educational environments.

3. Thematic Sessions
3.1 Global Perspectives on Digital Literacy & Pedagogical Coaching
The academic sessions introduced frameworks developed by the European partner institutions:
● Policy & Capital — Prof. Maria Rosario Perello Marin (Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain) presented an analysis of the policy, finance, and human-capital structures required to sustain an entrepreneurial ecosystem.
● Instructional Design — Mr. Nicolas LeGrand (Turku UAS, Finland) presented Work Package 4 (WP4), advocating a shift from traditional lecturing toward active team coaching that guides students through problem-solving and workplace ethics.
● Digital Competence — Dr. Marjo Joshi (Dean of Wellbeing and Culture, Seinäjoki UAS, Finland) introduced the European Union's Digital Competence Framework, covering information literacy, content safety, and problem-solving in online collaborative settings.
In break-out group discussions, teachers and students worked together to identify strategies for collaborative learning, including task allocation and problem-solving. Students proposed practical measures for improving online learning — such as organizational support, group study sessions, and self-regulation techniques — while teachers identified a need for further training in managing culturally diverse online environments. Student Reflection: The transition from ‘teachers’ to ‘coaches’ highlighted a gap in traditional learning approaches. Break-out discussions among students revealed that while participants are highly active on digital social platforms, formal competence in technical collaboration, data safety, and digital project management remains underdeveloped. Closing this gap will require sustained engagement from both faculty and students. As students, we found the session particularly valuable in helping us understand the practical dimensions of digital literacy and collaborative learning. It encouraged us to become more responsible digital learners and better prepared for modern academic and professional environments.

3.2 Experiential Leadership & Team Dynamics (Day 2 — 21 January 2025)
Led by Prof. Jose-Luis Poza Lujan (UPV, Spain), the second day of the seminar translated theoretical frameworks into practical application, focusing on twenty-first-century professional skills, and on the balance between technical expertise (hard skills) and interpersonal ability (soft skills). The session applied the “Skill Box” methodology — a structured cycle of Inspiration, Action, and Reflection — demonstrated through a blindfolded teamwork exercise designed to simulate real-world leadership constraints.
The day also included a demonstration of digital tools supporting online learning, including Google Classroom and the NEWSTEP application, giving attendees a practical introduction to the platforms underpinning the hybrid curriculum.
Student Reflection: The blindfolded teamwork exercise proved a turning point in the seminar, serving as a clear metaphor for market uncertainty. When team members cannot see the full picture, technical skill alone is of limited value without clarity in communication, trust, and direction. Effective leadership was understood not as command, but as establishing a shared line of sight when the path forward is unclear. From a student perspective, the activity reinforced the value of teamwork, adaptability, and interpersonal communication. It demonstrated that leadership involves listening, collaboration, and supporting others in achieving a common objective, highlighting the growing importance of soft skills alongside technical expertise.

3.3 Industrial Spotlights & the Nepalese Entrepreneurial Landscape (Day 3 — 22 January 2025)
Moderated by SVI alumnus Mrs. Sauriya Khanal, with Mayor Mr. Upendra Kumar Pokharel of Kamalamai Municipality attending as Chief Guest, the final day shifted from academic theory to practical experience within the Nepalese economy. The morning session formally introduced the NEWSTEP Initiative and its aim of equipping students with the skills needed for entrepreneurial success in Nepal.
Morning Session: Key Presentations
● Alba Prieto Gonzalez (UPV, Spain) — highlighted NEWSTEP's role in extending digital literacy to Nepal's remote areas and the importance of bridging the digital divide.
● Ekata Tandukar, Founder, Jina Alchemy — shared the non-linear path of building a local startup, noting that resilience and perseverance are as critical as initial capital when converting an idea into a functioning venture.
● Roman Burlakoti, Manager, ING Skill Academy — encouraged participants to view Nepal's infrastructure gaps as market opportunities and positioned the country as a hub for entrepreneurial growth.
● Pranav Pradhan, Founder, Green Bamboo Creation — spoke on aligning passion with social purpose, and on leveraging traditional materials and sustainable practice to build a modern, eco-conscious brand.
Participant Reflection: Hearing from local leaders including Ekata Tandukar and Pranav Pradhan provided a valuable counterpoint to the European academic models presented earlier in the seminar. While international frameworks offer structured roadmaps for digital competence, local entrepreneurs emphasized that the Nepalese market rewards adaptability: a business model cannot simply be imported, but must be shaped to solve a real, practical need within the local context. As students, we found these entrepreneurial journeys particularly inspiring, as they demonstrated that perseverance, innovation, and a willingness to learn from setbacks are often more important than initial resources. The session motivated us to explore entrepreneurship as a means of addressing local challenges while creating sustainable social and economic impact.
Afternoon Session
● Marianna Renvall (Turku UAS, Finland) — presented the “Four-Wheel Drive Model,” integrating learning agreements, training sessions, reading circles, and live business activity, and noted that the model has supported over 500 students since 2011.
● Maria Rosario Perello Marin (UPV, Spain) — spoke on fostering entrepreneurship within academic environments, stressing the value of institutional support systems and hackathons in encouraging creative, student-led solutions.
Panel Discussion: The Role of Digitalization in Entrepreneurship
The seminar concluded with a panel discussion featuring Ekata Tandukar, Prof. Dr. Sangeeta Singh, and Dr. Silu Shrestha, who addressed the role of digitalization in shaping entrepreneurship, the importance of practical education in Nepal, the link between sustainability and innovation, and the need for strong infrastructure and policy frameworks to support enterprise development.
Closing remarks were followed by the presentation of tokens of appreciation to speakers and panelists by SVI's Principal and Vice-Principal, and a group photograph with the visiting delegates marking the conclusion of the three-day program.

4. Strategic Outcomes & Way Forward
The Entrepreneurship Seminar at SVI underscored the growing need for entrepreneurship and digital literacy education in Nepal. By fostering new ideas and collaborative initiatives, the seminar established a foundation for continued partnership between educational institutions, entrepreneurs, and digital innovators. Three actionable priorities were identified for the consortium going forward:
● Curriculum Integration: full deployment of the NEWSTEP hybrid learning platform to meet the target of training 100 students annually.
● Pedagogical Coaching: transitioning SVI faculty into role-based coaches, supported by tools such as Google Classroom and the NEWSTEP application.
● Cross-Border Collaboration: establishing ongoing mentorship pathways between European partner institutions, local entrepreneurs, and SVI students.

5. Further Information & Contacts
Official NEWSTEP website: https://newstep-nepal.edu.np/
NEWSTEP on X (Twitter): https://t.co/UoP4Ihxl6s

Author: Ankit Paudel and Ankit ADhikari

Date: 2025-02-10