Geofinity - 90,000 Graduates, One Nation: Will Nepal Retain Its Talent or Export Its Future?

On December 25, 2025 (Poush 10, 2082), Nepal witnessed a historic academic milestone at the 51st Convocation held at Dasarath Stadium, Kathmandu. With over 16,000 students attending in person and nearly 90,000 graduates across Bachelor’s, Master’s, M.Phil, and PhD programs, the event was a powerful symbol of intellectual capital.

The presence of Nobel Laureate Prof. Takaaki Kajita of Japan as Chief Guest — a first in Nepal’s convocation history — reinforced a crucial message:

Education must translate into societal development.

But this raises a difficult and urgent question:

How many of these 90,000 graduates will actually contribute to Nepal — and how many will leave?

Graduate Retention: What the Numbers Really Suggest

Based on past migration, education, and labor trends, a realistic projection of the fate of these graduates looks like this:

Estimated Distribution of the 90,000 Graduates

Conclusion:

More than half of Nepal’s educated workforce is likely to leave the country within 1–3 years of graduation.

Where Do They Go? Major Destination Countries

Top Destinations by Purpose

For Higher Education

🇦🇺 Australia

🇨🇦 Canada

🇺🇸 United States

🇯🇵 Japan

🇬🇧 UK & Europe

For Employment

🇦🇪 UAE

🇶🇦 Qatar

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia

🇰🇷 South Korea

🇯🇵 Japan

This pattern reflects a painful paradox:

Nepal educates its youth — and other countries reap the benefits.

Why Nepal Is Losing Its Graduates

1. Limited Quality Employment

1. The economy cannot absorb tens of thousands of graduates annually.
2. Most available jobs are low-paying, insecure, or unrelated to academic qualifications.
3. Skilled graduates often find better dignity and compensation abroad, even in unrelated roles.

2. Weak Entrepreneurship Policy (Execution Gap, Not Ideas)

Nepal has policies, but lacks effective execution:

1. Startup funds are difficult to access.
2. Bureaucratic hurdles discourage innovation.
3. Risk-taking is culturally and financially penalized.
4. Universities produce graduates, not entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurship is treated as a fallback, not a career pathway.

3. Education–Industry Disconnect

1. Curriculum remains theory-heavy.
2. Limited exposure to real projects, industry mentors, or commercialization.
3. Research output rarely converts into startups, patents, or products.

The Cost of Talent Drain

1. Loss of public investment in education
2. Reduced innovation capacity
3. Shrinking tax base
4. Slower economic growth
5. Over-dependence on remittances

Remittances keep households afloat — but they do not build nations.

Where Nepal Must Focus Now

1. Government: From Policy to Performance

Key Priorities

1. National Graduate Retention Strategy
2. Sector-focused job creation (IT, Green Energy, Agritech, Health, Tourism Tech)
3. Research commercialization funds
4. Tax incentives for graduate-led startups
5. Fast-track regulatory frameworks for SMEs

Critical Shift Needed: From managing migration to creating reasons to stay.

2. Industry: Become Talent Anchors

Private Sector

1. Invest in graduate training programs
2. Co-create curriculum with universities
3. Fund innovation labs and R&D
4. Offer competitive career growth, not just salaries

Public Sector

1. Modernize recruitment and HR systems
2. Introduce innovation-linked public procurement
3. Digitize services to absorb tech talent

3. Academia: From Degree Factories to Innovation Hubs

Universities must:

1. Embed entrepreneurship in every discipline
2. Establish incubators and accelerators
3. Encourage faculty-industry collaboration
4. Support student startups with credits and funding

4. Public–Private Collaboration: The Missing Link

Nepal urgently needs:

1. Industry-backed internship mandates
2. Startup procurement from government
3. Co-investment platforms
4. Diaspora mentorship without permanent migration

Retaining Talent Is Not About Stopping Migration

Migration is natural.

Talent loss is not.

The goal is not to stop graduates from going abroad — but to ensure:

1. They can build careers at home
2. They can return with dignity
3. They can create jobs instead of chasing them

Final Reflection

The 51st Convocation was not just a celebration — it was a national audit of potential.

If Nepal fails to retain even half of its 90,000 graduates:

The real graduation will be of talent — out of the country.

But with bold reform, coordinated action, and trust in its youth, Nepal can turn brain drain into brain circulation — and education into economic transformation.

1. Pie Chart – Graduate Retention vs Migration

Shows the scale of talent outflow at a glance

“Less than 40% of Nepal’s graduates are likely to remain in the country.”

2. World Map (Bar Representation) – Major Destination Countries

Highlights where Nepal’s educated youth go

“Nepali graduates increasingly choose Australia, North America, Japan, Korea, and the Gulf. Trend in 2023”