KATHMANDU, AUGUST 9
The first International Conference on Applied Psychology (ICAP2026) concluded at National College, Kathmandu University, with participants adopting the Kathmandu Declaration, calling for a shift in psychological practice from treatment-focused approaches to prevention-centred models.
The three-day hybrid conference brought together 245 participants from 22 countries, including the United States, Canada, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Argentina, Mexico and Spain.
The declaration commits to strengthening international networks among universities, professionals and communities, particularly linking Nepal and South Asia with the global psychology community. It also calls for the integration of applied and preventive psychology into academic curricula through practical, community-based learning and internships.
Organising Secretary Dr Narendra Singh Thagunna said the conference sought to shift psychology from treatment to prevention, institutions to communities, and local knowledge to global partnerships.
The conference featured 12 physical and five virtual sessions, with 160 papers presented by national and international scholars, according to organiser and National College Vice-Principal Chhatra Karki.
Kathmandu University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Rishikesh Wagle highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of psychology and its relevance to challenges such as unemployment and youth migration.
Prof Dr Nirmal Mani Adhikari, head of the Department of Language and Mass Communication at Kathmandu University, stressed the need for cross-cultural approaches in psychology and noted the dominance of Western perspectives in established psychological practices.
Keynote speaker Prof Dr Hridaya Ratna Bajracharya discussed the intersection of Buddhism and modern psychology, highlighting awareness and practice as means of transforming human behaviour.
The conference concluded with certificates being distributed to student volunteers and a commitment from organisers to hold similar events in the future.