Kathmandu Forestry College Applied Appreciative Inquiry Approach for Strategy Plan Preparation

Kathmandu forestry college (KAFCOL) was established on 2003 in Koteshwor Kathmandu. Nepal Argo-Forestry Foundation (NAAF) was the founder of this college. This was first college ever established in Nepal by the collaborative efforts of the NGO and individuals. From the establishment to till now it has created remarkable benchmarks in quality education, institutional development, human resource development, employment generation, government revenue generation and community mobilization. The government of Nepal, Tax department has regarded the college as one the best tax paying academic institutions of the country. NAFF and other 188 individuals are the shareholder members of this college.

From 2003 to now, it has produced 500 bachelor graduates; 400 diploma graduates; and 50 master’s graduates in Forestry. This is unparalleled compliment for the government to produce the skilled human resource. The trained human resources have been providing services to the government of Nepal, local community and private sectors and some of them are studying and serving in abroad. The college is a successful example of the NGOs and individual collaboration. The other NGOs of the country can learn from NAAF experiences. This college is providing world class quality education in nominal fees, which have been making the education accessible for the lower middle class of the country.

According to the founding principal Dr. Bishnu Hari Pandit, the main objective of the college establishment was to make the accessible quality education in forestry with nominal fees. He thinks, the college has met the initial objective and now it is high time to shift the college for another big goal that really creates the positive impacts in Nepalese as well as global education system.

To review the college progresses, achievement and redesign the vision, two days strategy plan preparation workshop was organized on 30th  August and 1^st September 2018 in Dhulikhel. Total 35 participants representing the management committee, shareholders, faculty members, administrative staff members and experts were participated in the planning  w

workshop. The Eastern Research Institute of Positive Science (ERIPS) has provided the technical support for designing and facilitation the workshop. The workshop was designed on Appreciative Inquiry Summit Methods. Dr. RC Lamichhane, on behalf of the ERIPS facilitated the workshop.

During the discovery phase, all the workshop participants engaged to discover the major learning, successes and strengths of the college. The exercise has given a glimpse of all positive achievements of the past 13 years. Initially, the college was conducting the B.Sc. forestry and now it has been conducting the Master’s and Diploma level education in forestry. Now it has become one of the destinations for forestry education of the students. The KAFCOL has fulfilled the vacant of forestry education in Nepal. Mr. Pasang Tamang, the college graduate said, “had there not been Kathamdu Forestry College many government rangers and forest officer could not pursued the Bachelor and Master’s Degree in Forestry, The KAFCOL is a blessed for us”. He thinks KAFCOL has provided opportunity to continues higher education in forestry in nominal fees for many government officers.

In addition of the academic program; it has been regularly conducting the training programs and talk programs in the contemporary issues. Students involvement in research work and publish their reports in the international journal as well as achievement of students in Fulbright scholarship and reputed universities of the world, and entry in the government and international organizations have been proving the quality of the education, said the principal Dr. Ambika Gautam.

The outcomes have been inspiring its’ members to move forward with the trans-formative goal. Dr. Ramji Neupane, the founding president of the college reflected 

that such big achievement within this duration is commendable and these have been encouraging them to move forward for something big and ideal goal for next 12 years.

Dr. Bharat Pokharel, one of the shareholders reflected his satisfaction with the college achievement and emphasized for further betterment with the clear goal. Mr. Shambhu

Dangal, one of the board members of management committee highlighted on further scope of forestry education to produce the skilled human resources in forestry sector for proper management of the country’s forest. Dr. Pem Kadel, the new shareholder focused on the scope of the forestry education in the changing global, national and local context. Prof. Dr. Ram Chhetri highlighted on the scope of the public sectors on forestry education in the country’s changed contexts. This college is the example of the participation of local farmers as a college promoter said Apsara Chapagain, the college board member. The model adopted for this college is the major strengths and can be replicate in all sectors.

To design the ice-breaking vision the team engaged to explore the major potential, opportunities and scopes of the forestry education and forestry college. After the careful review of the learnings, successes, strengths, potential, opportunities, scope and desires the new vision of the college is developed. Based on the vision new mission, goal for 2030 and objectives were set out. The new goal for 2030 is to upgrade the KAFCOL as a

university was unanimously agreed by all participants. A task force among the participants was formed to develop the major program areas, strategies and policies to achieve the goal 2030.

The workshop facilitation process has opened the various new avenues for the further development of the college. The facilitation process has unleashed the various innovative ideas of all participants to develop the college as the dynamic institution. Because of the whole system approach, every nock and corners of the college were reviewed and redesigned. The process also helped to visualize the upgrade of college as university by 2030. The whole workshop was very much entertaining and enlightening, which always inspire for the innovative and creative ideas for further betterment said the management chairperson Dr. Bishnu Hari Pandit in his closing remarks.