Grants and AWARDS

1. The Prithvi and Monica Shrestha MD Award in Language Education Research

Why we established this Award

We established this award out of a shared commitment to strengthening language education research in Nepal. Language plays a vital role in how children learn, how communities sustain and develop their linguistic and cultural heritage, and how individuals access educational and economic opportunities. Yet, master’s-level research in this field often receives limited recognition beyond the university where it is conducted.

Having witnessed the dedication and creativity of students researching language education in Nepal, we wanted to create a meaningful way to recognise and encourage high-quality scholarship relating to Nepali, English, national languages, indigenous and minority languages, and multilingual education. Through this award, we hope to support emerging researchers and contribute, in a small but lasting way, to the development of language education research, policy, and practices in Nepal.

About the Award

The Prithvi and Monica Shrestha Master’s Dissertation (MD) Award in Language Education Research is an annual award recognising outstanding master’s-level dissertation research focused on language education in Nepal.

The award celebrates scholarship that advances understanding of language teaching, learning, assessment, policy, and practice relating to any language used in Nepal’s educational contexts, including Nepali, English, and Nepal’s national and indigenous or minority languages.

The award is administered by the Nepal Educational Development Trust (NEDT), a not-for-profit organisation based in the United Kingdom.

Award value

The award consists of:

  • A cash prize of NPR 50,000
  • A certificate of recognition

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must:

  1. Have completed a master’s degree at a recognised university in Nepal, with the degree formally awarded or confirmed by the university within the previous calendar year (or by the eligibility date specified by NEDT).
  2. Have completed a master’s dissertation on a topic related to language education in Nepal. Eligible topics include, but are not limited to:
    • Nepali language education
    • English language education
    • Education in Nepal’s national or indigenous or minority languages
    • Multilingual and bilingual education
    • Language policy and planning
    • Language assessment and testing
    • Language teacher education and professional development
    • Literacy and academic literacies
    • Curriculum, pedagogy, and materials development
    • Technology-enhanced language learning
    • Sociolinguistic aspects of language education
  3. Be a Nepali citizen.
  4. Not have previously received this award.

Dissertations may be situated within applied linguistics, education, teacher education, literacy studies, sociolinguistics, language assessment, language policy, or related disciplines, provided that their primary focus is language education in Nepal.

Application details

Applications should be submitted via the method specified by NEDT and must include the following:

  1. An extended abstract of the dissertation (maximum 1,000 words).
  2. A supporting statement (maximum 500 words) from the dissertation supervisor, second supervisor, examiner, or another appropriate expert. The statement should explain how the dissertation meets the judging criteria outlined below.
  3. A link to the full dissertation hosted online (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox, institutional repository, or equivalent platform).

Please note: all submitted files should be named using the following format:

APPLICANT SURNAME, APPLICANT FIRST NAME, DOCUMENT TYPE

Applications containing incorrectly named files may be deemed ineligible.

Judging criteria

Applications will be assessed by a selection panel convened by NEDT. The panel may include academics and specialists in applied linguistics, language education, and related fields.

Applications will be assessed on the basis of the submitted materials. The selection panel may consult the full dissertation where necessary.

The panel’s assessment will be guided by the following criteria:

  • Significance and originality of the research topic
  • Relevance to language education in Nepal
  • Evidence of methodological rigour and an appropriate research design
  • Demonstrated engagement with relevant literature and scholarship
  • Quality and relevance of the findings and conclusions
  • Potential contribution to language education research, policy, or practice in Nepal
  • Clarity, coherence, and accessibility of the extended abstract
  • Strength of the supporting statement

The panel’s decision will be final.

Key dates

  • Application deadline: To be confirmed
  • Notification of outcome: To be confirmed
  • Announcement of award: To be confirmed

About the Founders

Dr Prithvi Shrestha

Dr Prithvi Shrestha was born and raised in the rural village of Namjung, Gorkha, Nepal. After training as a teacher, he spent twelve years teaching English in Nepal before moving to the United Kingdom in 2002. He subsequently completed an MA at Lancaster University (Hornby Scholarship) and an EdD at The Open University, where he is now Senior Lecturer in English Language and Academic Lead for Applied Linguistics and English Language in the School of Languages and Applied Linguistics.

His research focuses on language learning, literacy, medium of instruction, language assessment, multilingualism, and teacher development, particularly in relation to widening educational opportunities in developing-country contexts, including Nepal. Through teaching, research, publication, and international collaboration, he has remained committed to supporting language education in Nepal and beyond.

Monica Shrestha

Monica Shrestha was born and raised in Namjung, Gorkha, Nepal. Owing to the educational challenges faced by many girls in rural Nepal at the time, she was unable to begin formal schooling until the age of ten. Although she completed her school education, family responsibilities and later migration to the United Kingdom meant that university study was not possible.

These experiences gave her a deep appreciation of the transformative power of education. She has long been passionate about improving educational opportunities for children in Nepal and believes that effective language education provides a foundation for lifelong learning. This award reflects her and Prithvi’s shared commitment to supporting educational development in Nepal.

Contact

For queries regarding the award or the application process, please contact Nepal Educational Development Trust (NEDT) at nepaledt@gmail.com.

2. NEDT Research Award*

The Nepal Educational Development Trust (NEDT) has established an annual research award to support emerging researchers in Nepal investigating key issues across the country’s education sector. This initiative seeks to empower scholars with innovative, cross-cutting ideas that can refine educational practices and shape policy reform. Because sustainable transformation requires rigorous evidence, NEDT aims to take a meaningful step towards building a stronger, research-driven education system.

Award value

The award consists of:

  • A cash prize of NPR 50,000
  • A certificate of recognition

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must:

  1. Be a researcher who has a plan to research related to Nepalese education.
  2. Be Nepal based.
  3. Not have previously received this award.
  4. Be willing to make a presentation in a session organised by NEDT.
  5. Be willing to create a policy brief (supported by the NEDT Team) based on their research work and submit a project report to NEDT (2000 words).
  6. Write a short research blog based on the study for NEDT website on request.

Application details

Applications should be submitted via the method specified by NEDT and must include the following:

  1. A brief research proposal (should be sent using an NEDT template). Needs to include vision, methodology, data management plan and timeline
  2. A supporting statement (maximum 500 words) from the appropriate expert. 

Please note: all submitted files should be named using the following format:

APPLICANT SURNAME, APPLICANT FIRST NAME, DOCUMENT TYPE

Applications containing incorrectly named files may be deemed ineligible.

Judging criteria

Applications will be assessed by a selection panel convened by NEDT. The panel may include academics and specialists in the related fields.

Applications will be assessed on the basis of the submitted materials. 

The panel’s assessment will be guided by the following criteria:

  • Significance and originality of the research topic
  • Relevance to education in Nepal
  • Evidence of methodological rigour, feasibility and an appropriate research design
  • Demonstrated engagement with relevant literature and scholarship
  • Potential contribution to educational research, policy, or practice in Nepal
  • Clarity, coherence, and accessibility of the research proposal
  • Strength of the supporting statement from the expert

The panel’s decision will be final.

Key dates

  • Application deadline: To be confirmed
  • Notification of outcome: To be confirmed
  • Announcement of award: To be confirmed

*This year (2026) it is sponsored by Monica Shrestha and Dr Prithvi Shrestha.

Note to the sponsor: If you would like to sponsor this research award, please let us know. We would be delighted to formally acknowledge your contribution on our website.

NEDT Research Awardee (2026)

Utsuk Upreti is from Hetauda, Makawanpur. He studied Liberal Arts and Philosophy at St. John’s College in Annapolis, USA, on the Great Books programme, and completed his A Levels at St. Xavier’s College, Kathmandu. His fiction, poetry and essays have appeared in Mosaic Literary Journal, Renard Press’s Kinship anthology in the UK, The Rising Nepal and Shilapatra, and a philosophy paper in a peer-reviewed journal, Scholia. He has worked with children at the Warming Hearts Cancer Centre as a writer and documentary filmmaker. His research asks whether habits of attention can be built through education.

Project Summary
A child arrives in the classroom already noticing the world. Funds of Knowledge (FoK) showed us that children bring real knowledge from their families and communities, and this project asks a question next to that one: how is a child already attending, before the subject formally reaches them? Five exercises draw out what children notice, question and imagine about the subject. The researcher then maps those responses onto the Grade 2 English curriculum and builds the lesson from them, in the order their own attention generated it. The pilot runs with a class of 35 in a Chepang community in Khairang, Makawanpur.