Logbook

our activities so far

Kick-Off Meeting

The project was officially inaugurated with invited delegates and educational experts from the partner institutions, formally launching NEWSTEP in Nepal.

Physical and Virtual Workshop on Digital Pedagogy

Forty teachers from partner institutions joined a workshop on digital pedagogy and innovative teaching methods supported by Turku University of Applied Sciences. Monthly online sessions have followed, benefiting an estimated 600 students.

Seminar on Entrepreneurship – SVI

From 20–23 January 2025, Siddhartha Vanasthali Institute hosted a four-day NEWSTEP seminar for educators, students, entrepreneurs and policymakers, combining entrepreneurship and digital pedagogy training with a public seminar.

SMC-NEWSTEP Hackathon – Winter Week 2025

On 30 January 2025, Sindhuli Multiple Campus hosted the SMC-NEWSTEP Hackathon during Winter Week. Teams from six institutions tackled the challenge topics and presented a range of innovative solutions.

Course Display to TUAS & UPV Experts

Sindhuli Academy teachers presented their digital course to visiting TUAS and UPV experts during the Seminar on Entrepreneurship, showcasing the institution’s progress in digital pedagogy.

Panel Discussion – Seminar on Entrepreneurship

The seminar’s flagship panel brought together Prof. Dr. Sangeeta Singh, Dr. Silu Shrestha and Ms. Ekata Tandukar to discuss digitalisation, entrepreneurship in the curriculum and sustainability in Nepal’s education ecosystem.

Entrepreneurial Activities and Digital Skills

The project explored opportunities for fostering entrepreneurship within Nepalese institutions. Partner institutions have begun developing entrepreneurship courses that align student skills with market needs.

Capacity Building

Teachers are applying the digital skills and pedagogical strategies learned in training, building online courses on Google Classroom and Moodle. Pilot runs show that students enjoyed and benefited from the experience.

Course Implementation at SMC

Sindhuli Multiple Campus students worked in group activities during the pilot course implementation, applying the digital pedagogy and course materials developed under NEWSTEP.

Workshop on IoT for Nepal – SVI

On 22 July 2026, Dr. Manzoni and Dr. Blanc of Universitat Politècnica de València led a two-day IoT for Nepal workshop at SVI, Kathmandu. Six SVI teachers and four from the Sindhuli partner institutions took part.

SMC BBA Students in Action

SMC BBA students completed an intensive stretch of hands-on entrepreneurship learning — business plan presentations, industrial visits, INNOVEX, investor education, a chess competition and a guest entrepreneur talk.

Training on Pedagogical Approaches – Sindhuli Academy

On 15–16 February 2025, Sindhuli Academy (NEWSTEP) and the Lions Club of Sindhuli trained sixty teachers of Kamalamai Municipality at Hotel Sindhuli Inn, through group project work, presentations and structured peer feedback.

Nursing Volunteer Placement at Sindhuli Hospital

On 7 March 2026, Sindhuli Academy (NEWSTEP) welcomed its Finnish partner to Sindhuli to discuss placing a nursing volunteer at Sindhuli Hospital, covering the scope of the placement and the support to be provided.

Future Plan

Launch the ecosystem platform connecting Nepalese partner institutions with international partners (WP3).
Roll out entrepreneurship-based course design and active-learning curriculum across all partner institutions (WP4).
Pilot and finalize the online/blended courses developed under Digital Pedagogy (WP2), with mentoring from Turku UAS, then train colleagues in the new skills.
Hold the Seminar on Digital Pedagogy, sharing best practices across the consortium (WP6).

What You Get from Capacity Building

Teachers trained in Innopeda innovative pedagogy and online teaching tools (itslearning platform), building both digital and pedagogical competency.
Students gain hands-on entrepreneurial and hospitality skills through real workshops and company visits, improving career and internship prospects.
Partner institutions develop concrete sustainability strategies - clean energy, water and sanitation, and digital-literacy initiatives - aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Photo Gallery

Physical and Virtual Workshop on Digital Pedagogy

NEWSTEP partners and speakers at the Seminar on Entrepreneurship, Siddhartha Vanasthali Institute, January 2025 — NEWSTEP partners and speakers at the Seminar on Entrepreneurship, SVI

Panel discussion on digitalization, entrepreneurship and sustainability at the NEWSTEP Seminar on Entrepreneurship, SVI, January 2025 — Panel discussion on digitalization, entrepreneurship and sustainability at the Seminar on Entrepreneurship, SVI

SMC students presenting their student-led "Emergency Blood Provider" blood donation app initiative — Student-led initiative: SMC students demonstrating their blood donation app

Sindhuli Academy teachers displaying their course to visiting TUAS and UPV experts during the Seminar on Entrepreneurship — Sindhuli Academy teachers presenting their course to TUAS and UPV experts during the Seminar on Entrepreneurship

Sindhuli Multiple Campus (SMC) students engaged in group activities during course implementation — SMC students engaged in group activities during course implementation

External evaluator meeting with NEWSTEP project representatives at the SMC office — External Evaluator at SMC (NEWSTEP) office

Group photo of participants after successfully conducting the Seminar on Entrepreneurship at SVI — Photo session after successfully conducting the Seminar on Entrepreneurship

TUAS and UPV partners seated among the audience during the Seminar on Entrepreneurship — TUAS and UPV partners during the Seminar on Entrepreneurship

SMC chairman with UPV and TUAS partners during the Innopeda digital pedagogy training — SMC chairman with UPV and TUAS partners during Innopeda Training

“Leading Institutions in Healthy Choices” course session at Sindhuli Academy

recycle, recirculate, share-555645.jpg — Waste Paper Recycling Initiative Turns Sustainability into Action at SVI

eco friendly, recyclable, sustainability-6638779.jpg — National Paddy Day 2025: SCTI Students Champion Food Security

Piloting of Online Course at Sindhuli Academy (SA)

Participant feedback notes from a NEWSTEP training workshop

TUAS partners visit to Nepalese institution

NEWSTEP Mobility – partner exchange visit

UPV Design Factory Global Network presentation to NEWSTEP partners, Valencia, May 2025 — UPV Design Factory Global Network presentation to NEWSTEP partners, Valencia

NEWSTEP delegation visiting the Hyperloop UPV student team lab, Valencia, May 2025 — NEWSTEP delegation visiting the Hyperloop UPV student team lab, Valencia

NEWSTEP partners meeting UPV's Centro de Cooperación al Desarrollo on the ADSIDEO Internet of Things for Nepal programme, Valencia, May 2025 — NEWSTEP partners meeting UPV’s Centro de Cooperación al Desarrollo on the ADSIDEO IoT programme, Valencia

Teachers engaged in group project work during the training.

External trainers honoured with a token of love.

Participants giving feedback to each other through a game.

Teachers presenting their group work at the training.

Welcoming the Finnish partner to Sindhuli.

Discussion on the nursing volunteer placement at Sindhuli Hospital.

A Finnish guest welcomed with a traditional Nepali scarf.

SMC-NEWSTEP Hackathon, Winter Week 2025.

Student teams collaborating during the SMC-NEWSTEP Hackathon.

Hackathon teams working on their solutions.

Workshop on IoT for Nepal at SVI, Kathmandu.

Teachers at work during the IoT for Nepal workshop.

Participants of the IoT for Nepal workshop at SVI.

SMC BBA students presenting their business plans.

Investor Education and Awareness Program with Citizens Capital Ltd.

Guest speaker session on the Entrepreneurial Journey.

Meetings

From our very first meeting split across small video call tiles to sitting shoulder to shoulder around the same table, this has been a five-year journey rather than the three we first set out to complete. Between 2022 and 2026, the NEWSTEP team kept meeting — online through the early, uncertain months, and increasingly in person as the partnership grew — planning, troubleshooting, celebrating small wins, and working through every hurdle a real partnership eventually faces. We started this journey a little younger and a little less certain of ourselves; we look back on it now more experienced, more connected, and genuinely proud of what this consortium has built together. The photographs below are a small window into that shared history, year by year.