KATHMANDU: Minister for Education, Science and Technology Sasmit Pokharel held a courtesy meeting with Australian Ambassador to Nepal Simon Ernst at the ministry in Singha Durbar on Friday.

During the meeting, the two discussed Nepal-Australia relations, education cooperation, and development partnership.

Talks also focused on the possibility of collaboration between the two countries in transnational higher education management and academic partnerships.

Minister Pokharel said the government was positive about cooperation and partnership in quality Australian higher education programmes and expressed confidence that legal arrangements would be initiated to facilitate such collaboration.

He stressed the need for policy reforms to ensure world-class education is available within Nepal and said the ministry was interested in working with Australia in school education reforms, similar to cooperation with other development partners.

Ambassador Ernst expressed interest in transnational higher education management and conveyed Australia’s willingness to collaborate on quality higher education programmes.