On August 18, 2025 Kathmandu University welcomed H.E. Leann Johnston, Ambassador of Australia to Nepal, in a special program attended by Prof. Dr. Achyut Wagle, Vice Chancellor of KU, along with other high-level delegates from the University. The program highlighted the growing academic partnership between KU and the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ), Australia, particularly through the outcomes of the New Colombo Mobility Program.

The initiative has created opportunities for cross-cultural learning, academic exchange, and international collaboration. In 2023, the program focused on geomatics and land management, where UniSQ students engaged in academic activities with KU’s engineering faculty and national training institutions. The learning emphasized levelling, benchmarking, and accurate mapping techniques, which are fundamental to sustainable construction and development projects. In 2024, the program expanded into management and entrepreneurship, incorporating academic, cultural, and industry-based experiences. Activities included sessions on Nepali language, culture, and sustainable business practices, along with field visits to UNESCO World Heritage sites and Chitwan National Park, which helped foster deeper global perspectives among participating students.

During her visit, Ambassador Johnston also toured KU’s under-construction tunnel project and the Hydraulic Laboratory, where she observed KU’s innovative engineering practices and explored possible avenues of collaboration with UniSQ in the areas of engineering, management, and applied sciences. The event underscored KU’s dedication to international partnerships and its commitment to advancing long-term Nepal–Australia academic relations.