Mid-West University (MU) is an autonomous and public institution of higher learning with the mission to serve the people of Nepal and enrich the global learning community by extending the advantages of higher education. Established by the Government of Nepal with a Parliament Act on June 17, 2010 AD under the concept of a multi-university system in the country, Mid-West University is a Federal University in Nepal. The University aims to promote the advancement of learning and dissemination of knowledge for the overall welfare of the nation.
The establishment of MU by locating it in the Karnali Province of Nepal represents the fulfillment of a long-cherished dream of the people of this area, who particularly showed applaudable example through their contribution to a fundraising program geared up for the establishment of this University.
During the years of study with a variety of dedicated lecturers and researchers, the University aims to help students enhance their capacity, promote the holistic development of their abilities and personality, and bring them to a deeper understanding of their future role in society.
The University, in the long run, is dedicated to becoming a Centre of Academic Excellence in learning, teaching, and research. Its primary goal is to set up a culture of learning in the country and to extend and spread the benefits of knowledge by providing access to the overall community at large. The University also aims to establish a community of scholars, students, and staff in which understanding and wisdom can expand and flourish.
Reciprocating the socio-economic and geospatial contexts of Nepal as well as the requirements of the international standards in higher education, the University tries to implement academic programs and in-service courses that cater to these needs. Guided by the view to provide quality and labor market-driven education, research, and innovation-oriented opportunities to the students. The University has maintained the highest level of its stand to link the University system with the community services, programs, and academic courses offered are designed to meet these requirements and standards in every possible area. Academic programs are developed in consultation with civic, educational, and business leaders of the community, and different levels of the Government.
Currently, there are 7 graduate schools, 5 directorates, 20 academic institutions – 15 of which are located in the Karnali Province, 22 academic departments, 375 academic staff, 200 administrative staff, and 13,000 students pursuing bachelor to doctoral degree programs under different graduate schools of the University. MU is the only University in Nepal to have a functional Policy Lab as a central entity to support informed policy development to the different tiers of government and development partners in the country.
As specified in its constitution, MU maintains a clear-cut functional mandate. Academic development; human development; system capacity development; research, innovation, publications; policy advocacy; and international partnership for promoting a culture of inquiry and academic development are the only areas and scope of its services.
Within a short span of the functional life of the institution, Mid-West University has earned its name and fame in select areas of innovative institution building, academic and service innovation, system digitalization and automation, research and innovation, and training and development. For the proposed project ‘Informing humanitarian response through research, learning and innovation’, the University can undertake the tasks including vulnerability and capabilities assessment (VCA); research, innovation, and development (R&D); training, development, and human capacity building; institution-building; system standardization; project monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) assessment; post-implementation transfer of learning and academic linkage of the project experience. In this respect, in addition to its functional graduate schools, the University has in place a number of institutional arrangements that include Planning, Development, and Monitoring Directorate, Research Directorate, Policy Lab, R&D Center, and Training Unit to undertake any research and development related initiatives.