Kathmandu | As the election atmosphere intensifies within the Nepal Educational Consultancy Association (ECAN), the country’s largest umbrella organization of education consultancies, senior leader Deepak Raj Bhusal has emphasized the need for experienced leadership to safeguard the organization’s credibility and stature.
The ECAN election, scheduled for Poush 28, has divided education consultancy professionals into two main camps. The race for the presidency features current First Vice President Laxman Paudel ‘Andrew’ and incumbent General Secretary Deepak Raj Bhusal, both contesting with full panels.
After efforts to select leadership unanimously failed, the ECAN establishment side endorsed Bhusal as its presidential candidate. Bhusal’s journey within ECAN spans from executive committee member to First Secretary and then General Secretary, a role he has already served for two terms. Citing his long-standing experience, contribution, and active involvement, the establishment faction concluded that Bhusal is best suited to lead the organization at this critical juncture.
Along with filing his candidacy, Bhusal has also unveiled a comprehensive 26-point manifesto, presenting himself as a capable, qualified, and seasoned candidate. Responding to voices that downplay the value of long experience, Bhusal remarked that maintaining ECAN’s existing stature and ensuring its continued progress requires an “experienced captain.”
“In times of crisis, the cockpit of an aircraft is not handed over to a trainee; it is entrusted to a captain who has already weathered storms,” Bhusal stated.
He stressed that ECAN should not be turned into an experimental ground, but rather needs result-oriented leadership. Explaining why his experience is crucial to lead ECAN, Bhusal outlined five key reasons:
1. Expansion of Institutional Prestige:
Bhusal noted that ECAN has evolved into a respected brand. While laying a foundation may be easy, transforming it into a mega-structure requires both engineering and experience. He said his vision and roadmap aim to elevate ECAN not only nationally but also as one of South Asia’s most influential organizations.
2. Strong Relationships with Stakeholders:
The education consultancy sector depends heavily on relationships with international colleges, universities, banks, and regulatory bodies. Bhusal highlighted that his 12 years of experience have helped him build strong personal and professional ties that will continue to enhance members’ credibility. “Relationships are not built overnight; they are strengthened through trust and networking,” he said.
3. High-Level Policy Advocacy:
Bhusal emphasized that only experience enables effective dialogue with the Ministry of Education, provincial governments, and foreign embassies. He said he is capable of engaging directly in policy-level discussions on issues such as registration processes, visa policies, NOC complications, and taxation, as he understands both bureaucratic systems and diplomatic protocols.
4. Crisis Management Experience:
Recalling past major challenges faced by ECAN, Bhusal said he has been directly involved in steering the organization through crises. While new leadership may take time to understand problems, his experience allows him to anticipate issues and resolve them proactively, ensuring the protection of members’ investments and futures.
5. Balancing Legacy and Generational Transition:
Bhusal clarified that his experience does not represent outdated thinking, but rather a fusion of traditional values and modern technology. He aims to build a strong team combining experience and youthful energy to transform ECAN into an ISO-standard, modern, and technology-friendly institution.
Bhusal concluded by stating that experience should not be measured merely by the number of years served, but by the trust earned and networks built during that time. Urging members to choose a secure future, he appealed for ECAN to be entrusted to proven and experienced leadership rather than being turned into a “laboratory” for experimentation.
