Australia Awards South and West Asia

Twenty-three Australia Awards Scholarship alumni who recently completed their studies in Australia received a warm welcome back home in Nepal on 19 September. The occasion was a Welcome Home and Reintegration Workshop, held in Kathmandu. Kavitha Kasynathan, Head of Development at the Australian Embassy, greeted the new alumni at the event and congratulated them on their achievements.

During her welcoming remarks, Ms Kasynathan reminded the participants how alumni are making a positive change in Nepal. She said, “Our alumni are the essence of what we are trying to achieve through Australia Awards, because they represent an investment in the future of the country.” To continue this legacy, Ms Kasynathan encouraged the new alumni to think about how they could contribute to Nepal’s development aspirations. She said, “We are keen to hear your great ideas for Nepal and your efforts to bring about that change, which is much needed in a context where Nepal plans to graduate from Least Developed Country status in 2026, but also grapples with multiple and complex development challenges.”

Ms Kasynathan addressing the participants during the workshop.

Ananta Poudyal, President of the Association of Nepalese Alumni from Australia, also delivered welcome remarks, calling upon the alumni attending the workshop to give back to the community. Sharing his expectations, he said, “We eagerly look forward to witnessing the contributions you will make—whether through innovation, leadership or by inspiring others to follow in your footsteps.”

Ananta Poudyal delivering his speech at the workshop.

The event was equally an opportunity for the alumni to reflect on their Scholarship journey. They spoke highly about the great academic ambience, support system, friendly culture, well-managed public transport systems and public spaces of Australia.

Selena Malla, Country Program Manager for Australia Awards – Nepal, acknowledged the reality of reverse culture shock. She urged the alumni to accept it as a natural reaction that will fade away over time.

The event also incorporated a career-building session to help the newly returned alumni reintegrate successfully into the job market. During the first part of the session, three alumni were invited to share their reintegration experience. Alum Pradeep Pariyar, Joint Secretary at the Government of Nepal, advised the new alumni to focus on “skillsets and integrity” to succeed in their professional careers. Sharing his experience of being promoted directly from a Section Officer to a Joint Secretary position, he recommended that the aspiring public service officials “utilise their day-to-day assignments as the best on-the-job learning opportunity”. Similarly, alum Thakur Thapa Magar, Country Director for Renewable World, encouraged the new alumni to go beyond their comfort zones and not be afraid to seek support from others. Alum Nisa Singh, Knowledge Management Manager at Aasaman Nepal, advised the new alumni to build a meaningful network and make the most of it.

The new alumni engaging and sharing their thoughts at the workshop.

The second part of the career-building session was run by industry experts and focused on helping alumni present themselves appropriately in the job market. Kalpana Basyal, a Human Resources and Operations Manager at an international non-governmental organisation, shed light on what employers look for from an applicant. She advised the participants to pay attention, when applying for a job, to the requirements of the role and ensure that they meet them. Should the alumni lack any of the core competencies required by an employer, she encouraged them to enrol in relevant online courses.

Samir Shrestha, a Talent Acquisition Expert, shared tools and techniques for alumni to enhance their CVs and cover letters. He said that an applicant’s CV and cover letter are their ‘marketing documents’: they do not guarantee a job, but they can help an applicant to gain one. Therefore, he advised participants to prepare them carefully, highlighting relevant professional achievements and competencies. He also discussed making the most out of LinkedIn for career growth.

Australia Awards is a flagship program of the Australian Government in Nepal. Over the past five years, 108 Nepalis have received Australia Awards Scholarships, with 30 scholars currently pursuing postgraduate studies in Australia. In total, more than 1,200 Nepalis have benefited from Australia Awards Scholarships, Fellowships and Short Course opportunities since diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1960.