Deserted university campuses, social mobilization, and identity politics in Nepal

Abstract

While the proliferation of university education in South Asia has raised expectations for a prosperous and socially just future, universities have failed on several counts. Low quality of educational provisions in combination with persisting political instabilities and a shortage of salaried jobs have placed educated young people in a situation described by some scholars as a ‘crisis of youth’. The analysis presented in this chapter draws on research conducted with university students from socially marginalized backgrounds in Kathmandu between 2010 and 2014. Faced with a malfunctioning university system, many young Nepalis committed much time and effort to youth organizations where they could learn new skills and develop their professional networks. The lack of students’ attendance in class, however, raises important questions about the extent to which increased levels of participation in higher education can help to promote social cohesion. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the linkages between university education, social mobilization, and identity politics in Nepal.