Tribhuvan University (TU) has officially established the UNESCO Chair in Mountain Cryosphere and Water, marking a historic milestone as the first UNESCO Chair ever hosted by the University. The Agreement was signed by the Director-General of UNESCO and formally co-signed by the Rector of Tribhuvan University. The Chair will remain valid until 30 June 2030, with the possibility of renewal.

The UNESCO Chairs Programme (UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme), launched in 1992, promotes international inter-university cooperation and networking to strengthen institutional capacity through knowledge sharing, collaborative research, and academic exchange. UNESCO Chairs serve as hubs of excellence that integrate research, teaching, training, and community engagement in priority areas aligned with UNESCO’s global mandate.

The newly established Chair at Tribhuvan University aims to promote an integrated system of interdisciplinary research, advanced teaching and training, policy engagement, and science communication. Its objectives include advancing research on cryospheric change and water systems; building regional and local capacity through field schools and technical training; engaging communities through citizen science and participatory monitoring; and contributing open-access knowledge to global initiatives such as UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP),the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (IYGP 2025), and the Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences (DACS 2025–2034). Through this initiative, Tribhuvan University strengthens its international academic visibility and reinforces its leadership role in addressing cryosphere and water challenges in the Himalaya region. The University looks forward to close collaboration with UNESCO UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks worldwide.

The Chairholder is Dr. Dhiraj Pradhananga, an Associate Professor at Tribhuvan University and a hydrometeorologist and cryosphere researcher with extensive experience in water, climate, and environmental sciences, making significant contributions to education, research, and advocacy for climate resilience. He is also a Vice President of the International Commission of Snow and Ice Hydrology (ICISH) of IAHS (2023–2027).

Photo 1: Signing of the Agreement of the UNESCO Chair in Mountain Cryosphere and Water at Tribhuvan University by Professor Khadga KC, Rector of Tribhuvan University in the presence of Prof. Vishnu Prasad Pandey, Executive Director, Centre for International Relations, Tribhuvan University, and Dr. Dhiraj Pradhananga, Chairholder, UNESCO Chair in Mountain Cryosphere and Water. (Photo by: Dr. Dhiraj Pradhananga).