Plan to Transform Purbanchal University into an ‘Education-Centered Hub’

Professor Dr. Sujanbabu Marhatta has assumed the role of Vice Chancellor at Purbanchal University. Appointed on Asar 19, 2083 BS (July 3, 2026) by the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the university, Balen Shah, Dr. Marhatta officially took charge on Monday. Before leading Purbanchal University, Professor Marhatta was serving as the Director of the Medical Education Commission and is a seasoned public health professor.

After taking charge, Dr. Marhatta spoke with reporter Hari Adhikari regarding his vision for the university. Below is an edited excerpt of that conversation:

Q: You have taken the leadership of Purbanchal University (PU). What are your plans for advancing the university?

A: I have clearly defined a road map (vision and mission) to reform the university. Primarily, I will focus on streamlining three key areas: teaching and learning, research, and service. In academic affairs, we will remodel the curriculum to meet the global market demands of the 21st century. The upcoming educational system will be competency-based, which will enable students to acquire skills necessary to perform effectively. To achieve this, we plan extensive improvements in modern, technology-friendly teaching methods and evaluation systems.

On the research front, the focus will be to link research with production and innovation. We intend that research should not remain confined to papers but make a substantial impact on society. In the service domain, we will organize our affiliated campuses, hospitals, and agricultural farms to benefit communities directly.

Embracing the new political consciousness and momentum across the country, I aim to foster an academic environment that supports this positive change. We will operate the university according to the examination system and academic calendar guidelines. My priority is to fully digitize the examination system to eliminate delays in publishing results. Regarding the academic calendar, we will synchronize it strictly with the standards prescribed by the University Grants Commission.

Economically, the university will not solely depend on student fees and government grants. We have introduced the concept of an Endowment Fund. This fund will include Nepali expatriates and alumni, ensuring long-term sustainable development.

Q: How will you manage political interference and strike actions within the university?

A: Politics in itself is not detrimental, but self-serving politics within the university has harmed the institution. I am committed to implementing policies that prevent party politics and self-interested political activities from the employee level up to the faculty level. My focus is to cultivate an academic atmosphere that embraces the new political awareness and to operate beyond the influence of partisan politics.

Q: There seems to be some confusion regarding whether the university’s central office is in Gothgaun or Biratnagar. Could you clarify?

A: There is no ambiguity on this matter. The central office and the official workspace of university administrators are located in Gothgaun. Biratnagar hosts only a few liaison offices and examination units. I urge everyone not to be misled on this point.

Q: Historically, political considerations have influenced appointments of officials. How was your appointment conducted?

A: The process by which I was appointed was completely transparent and based strictly on merit and qualifications. My credentials and experience are publicly available. Within the university, I am dedicated to establishing a meritocracy system grounded in transparency and ability. The approach I followed for my appointment will be the standard I implement across the university.