Leadership Academy Nepal (LAN) organized a 10-day study visit for MBA students from Jones Graduate School of Business, Rice University, USA. These students were from different streams of MBA programs namely, Full time MBA, Executive MBA, Professional MBA and Hybrid Online MBA.

The objective of this program was to introduce Rice MBA students to Nepal in general and to the positive social entrepreneurial spirit of its people in particular.

Nepal is an idyllic country steeped in long history with highly evolved socio-cultural and religious traditions, and terrain extending from the plains to the highest mountains in the world. Nepal is beset with numerous development challenges; recently aggravated by the Gorkha earthquake of April 2015.

The 10 days study tour to Nepal offered the students a transformative experience in the sphere of development in general and the social entrepreneurship in particular. Students were exposed to the dynamic economy, history, culture/society and religion, with a special focus on the challenges and opportunities created by the 2015 earthquake. Students attended lectures from experts and visited some of the most picturesque parts of Nepal during their study tour, ensuring a deep understanding of this mountain country, its people, and its challenges. They also interacted with entrepreneurial game changers and disruptors from Nepal.

The outcome was to build a better understanding of challenges faced by a developing country like Nepal as well as opportunities presented.