LIKE Lab hosted a two day in-person international conference on the 26th and 27th of September, 2026. Titled “Valuing Children’s Aspirations and Well-being: Promoting Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in and Through Education”, the conference was held at Hotel Himalaya, Kupondole, Lalitpur, Nepal. The event gathered researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to bridge the gap between innovative research and actionable policy in order to transform the education systems. The presentations were based on eight core thematic tracks:
- Children’s Well-being
- Child Rights and Inclusion
- AI and Digital Frontiers in Education
- Urbanism and Schooling
- GEDSI Dynamics and Education
- Contemporary Education Research
- Education Sector Local Interventions and Practices
- Education Research and International Practices
The event was inaugurated by Dr. Uddhab Pyakurel, Dean of Kathmandu University School of Arts, and included keynote speeches by Dr. Hari Prasad Lamsal, Chair of Teachers Service Commission, who spoke on the main theme, and Dr. Bal Chandra Luitel, Former Dean of Kathmandu University School of Education on “Inclusionary Well-being from Codependent Origination: Some Proposals for the System”. The conference featured 55 presentations, 10 of which included papers from various GPE KIX projects, one panel discussion, and one plenary session. The paper presentations followed a set format and were led by session chairs from Kathmandu University School of Arts and School of Education.
On day one, The panel discussion titled “Scaling Children’s Valued Educational Capabilities in South Asia” featured panelists representing Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and UNICEF Innocenti. On day two, the plenary session titled “The Art of Grandparenting and the Educational Futures of School-Going Children” was led by Professor Dr. Mahesh Parajuli and Professor Dr. Mahesh Banskota, and both the panel and the plenary sessions were moderated by Dr. Binayak Krishna Thapa. The conference brought together 127 participants from Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, including 71 male and 56 female delegates. Attendees represented a diverse group of stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education and Sports, civil society, academic institutions, media outlets, and the development sector.
