Feature image caption: SOI Asia Director Professor Keiko Okawa met Prof. Sushil Bahadur Bajracharya, Dean of the Tribhuvan University Institute of Engineering in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The first APIE Camp held in Nepal, from 25 to 30 October 2026, also provided an opportunity for SOI Asia to reconnect with Tribhuvan University (TU), one of its long-standing partners since 2004.
Prof. Keiko Okawa, Director of SOI Asia, joined the camp at TU’s Institute of Engineering (IoE), Pulchowk Campus, where she met with university leadership, faculty members, and students to reflect on more than two decades of collaboration and discuss opportunities for continued cooperation.
More Than Two Decades of Collaboration
TU joined SOI Asia in 2004 and has since contributed to various educational and research activities across the network. In June 2009, the university hosted an AI3/SOI Asia joint meeting in Kathmandu, bringing together members of the regional community to discuss Internet infrastructure, research, and educational collaboration.
During the recent visit, Prof. Okawa had several opportunities to meet with Prof. Sushil Bahadur Bajracharya, Dean of the Institute of Engineering, who expressed strong interest in further strengthening collaboration with SOI Asia and expanding educational opportunities for students.
The visit also brought a warm reunion with Prof. Baburam Dawadi, a former SOI Asia intern who is now Assistant Dean of the Institute of Engineering. His journey reflects the lasting personal and professional connections built through the network over the years.
An Active Partner Across SOI Asia Programs
In recent years, TU has become one of the most active partners in the Asia Pacific Internet Engineering (APIE) Program, with students regularly participating in online courses, intensive camps, and other learning activities. The university has also contributed teaching assistants and alumni who support new generations of learners.
Hosting APIE Camp #11 in Nepal marked another milestone in this collaboration. The camp welcomed 24 participants from 10 institutions across eight economies for hands-on Internet engineering education, supported by TU faculty, local teaching assistants, and members of the wider APIE community.
Beyond Internet engineering, TU students have also participated in CBR Seed activities, extending the partnership into community-based research and interdisciplinary learning. During the visit, Prof. Okawa met in person for the first time with Prof. Dr. Arun Kumar Timalsina, one of the CBR Seed supervisors at TU.
Through the Digital Humanities Asia and Science Hub (DHASH), TU researchers have also collaborated on preserving traditional Nepali music and instruments using digital technologies. Following APIE Camp #11, a two-day DHASH workshop on open science for cultural heritage was held on 1–2 November 2026, led by Dr. Goki Miyakita, Dr. Eliko Akashi, and Sushant Chalise.
These activities show how the collaboration has expanded over the years, connecting technical education with research, cultural preservation, and community engagement.
Continuing the Partnership
The visit provided an opportunity to renew personal connections, recognize TU’s contributions to SOI Asia, and explore further opportunities for collaboration.
From hosting regional meetings to supporting new learning and research initiatives, Tribhuvan University continues to play an active role in the SOI Asia community. More than two decades after joining the network, the partnership remains an important part of SOI Asia’s efforts to connect universities and create opportunities for students and researchers across the Asia Pacific.