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Prof. Sushan Acharya to Deliver 19th BNAC Annual Lecture (2021)

Dr Sushan Acharya, Professor of Education at the Central Department of Education, Tribhuvan University, Nepal, will deliver the BNAC’s 19th Annual Nepal Lecture, on “We didn’t get to study so we learned to weave”:  Women, indigenous learning and functional literacy in Nepal (“हामीले पढ्न पाएनौँ, त्यसैले बुन्न सिक्यौँ”: नेपालमा महिला, रैथाने सिकाइ र व्यावहारिक साक्षरता).

The lecture generally takes place in November, but dates are yet to be confirmed.

Prof. Acharya who obtained a doctorate in education (ED.D) from the University of Massachusetts in 1999, has been conducting research studies and policy advocacies in education sector for more than 20 years. She is interested in non-formal education and life long learning. Sushan is a critic of the dominant adult literacy approaches for their lack of understanding of indigenous intergenerational learning among adult women. She has made contributions to Nepal’s national policy processes by serving as a member and expert in high level education commissions and consultation groups.

(See the abstract of the lecture and biography of the speaker here)

BNAC’s Chair Dr Krishna Adhikari said, “The Annual Lecture,  which is one of the core programmes of the Council, is aimed at promoting knowledge exchange  among scholars engaged in Nepal and its cultural extension. We are delighted to have Prof. Acharya this year to give a lecture on an important, yet often neglected subject, concerning gender, education and traditional knowledge system.”

This year’s lecture is the 19th in the series. There is a tradition to alternate speakers from Nepal and Europe. From 2021, BNAC has decided to expand the European regional remit, which means that Nepal-scholars based anywhere in the world could be invited for the lecture.

Annual Lectures are free public events, and anyone could join. However, participants may be asked to register in advance. This year we are hoping to organise the lecture physically in SOAS, London,  permitting the unfolding covid-19 circumstances. Appropriate decision will be taken nearer the time, assessing the circumstances as they unfold, and we may opt for a virtual lecture. Watch this space for updates.

List of BNAC’s past lectures is as follows: