Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Higher Education Reforms Project (P147010) Higher Education Reforms Project (P147010) SOUTH ASIA | Nepal | Education Global Practice | IBRD/IDA | Investment Project Financing | FY 2015 | Seq No: 6 | ARCHIVED on 07-Dec-2017 | ISR29998 | Implementing Agencies: NEPAL, University Grants Commission Key Dates Key Project Dates Bank Approval Date:19-Feb-2015 Effectiveness Date:22-May-2015 Planned Mid Term Review Date:11-Dec-2017 Actual Mid-Term Review Date:-- Original Closing Date:30-Jun-2020 Revised Closing Date:30-Jun-2020 Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) To support reforms in selected institutions for improving quality, relevance, and efficiency of higher education; and to assist under-privileged students for equitable access. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No PHRPDODEL Components Name Component 1: Implementation of Reforms:(Cost $60.00 M) Component 2: Capacity Building and Project Management:(Cost $5.00 M) Overall Ratings Name Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO  Satisfactory  Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP)  Moderately Satisfactory  Moderately Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating  Substantial  Substantial Implementation Status and Key Decisions 12/7/2017 Page 1 of 10 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Higher Education Reforms Project (P147010) 1 . The progress of the project is being monitored through achievement of yearly targets for seven DLIs corresponding to systemic reforms, five KPIs measuring outcomes, and eight IRIs. DLIs 2 through 7 for year-zero (July 17, 2014 –July 16, 2015) have been achieved. DLI 1 target for year-zero is expected to be achieved by the end of Mid-term review: Cabinet has approved the Rule and appointment of key experts to meet the requirement is in progress. The targets for DLI 2, DLI 4 and DLI 7 (a) for year-one and year-two (July 15, 2017) have been over achieved; DLI 6: 100% of year-one and 75% of year-two targets achieved. Progress of DLI 1, DLI 3, DLI 5 and DLI 7 (b) lagging behind. 2 . KPIs for year-one and year-two have been partially achieved: (i) six new HEIs have been accredited against the year one target of eight and year two target of twenty; (ii) percentage of students enrolled in identified priority areas at Bachelor’s and Master’s levels reached 17.07 percent and 18.15 percent against the year-two target of 14 percent and 18.5 percent respectively; (iii) 778 underprivileged students (from bottom two poorest welfare quintiles) at the higher secondary level (HSL) science stream, and 4,563 students at the Bachelor’s level have received scholarship against the year-one and year-two (cumulative) target of 1,000 and 5,000 respectively. In year-one, the share of girls who have received the pro-poor scholarship at the HSL was 25.4 percent against the target of 45 percent, and at the Bachelor’s level 61.1 percent against the target of 40 percent; girl's share in year-one and year-two (cumulative) will be reported in the next ISR after the MTR; (iv) the average time taken for announcement of results of the first, second and third years of TU centralized under-graduate programs in Humanities and Social Sciences, Management, and Education faculties has been reduced to 5 months and 13 days compared to the year-one target of 7 months and year-two target of 6 months; and (v) there are 12 publications in refereed journals by UGC research grants recipients in 2016-17 under the National Program for Higher Education Reform and Development HERP has been supporting. Year two publication details will be further reviewed and the total number will be updated in the next ISR. Based on the progress made in year-one and progress made to date, the rating for likelihood of achieving the PDO is retained as ‘Satisfactory’. This will be reviewed in the Mid-term review. Risks Systematic Operations Risk-rating Tool Risk Category Rating at Approval Previous Rating Current Rating Political and Governance  --  Substantial  Substantial Macroeconomic  --  Substantial  Substantial Sector Strategies and Policies  --  Moderate  Moderate Technical Design of Project or Program  --  Moderate  Moderate Institutional Capacity for Implementation and Sustainability  --  Moderate  Moderate Fiduciary  --  Substantial  Substantial Environment and Social  --  Moderate  Moderate Stakeholders  --  Moderate  Moderate Other  --  --  -- Overall  --  Substantial  Substantial Results Project Development Objective Indicators 12/7/2017 Page 2 of 10 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Higher Education Reforms Project (P147010) PHINDPDOTBL  Number of Accredited HEIs (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 12.00 17.00 18.00 125.00 Date 01-Aug-2014 25-Apr-2017 14-Nov-2017 30-Jun-2020 PHINDPDOTBL  Percentage of students enrolled in identified priority areas (Text, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Under Under Graduates: Graduates: Under Graduates: 12.6; Under Graduates: 17.07; Value 17.07; Post-graduates: 17.0; Post-graduates: 16.7 Post-graduates: 18.15 17.04 Post-graduates: 23.0 Date 01-Aug-2014 25-Apr-2017 14-Nov-2017 30-Jun-2020 PHINDPDOTBL  Number of under-privileged students supported under the Project (Text, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Year one (i) Total Higher Sec (HS) : 323 Total Bachelor (B): Year two 2564 (i) Total Higher Sec (HS) (ii) % female(HS): 25.4 : 455 % female(B): 61.1 (i) Total (HS) : (i) Total Higher Sec (HS) : Total Bachelor (B): 1999 Some additional 2,000 Total (B) 0 (ii) % female(HS): to be number of students : 7,500 (ii) % Value Total Bachelor (B) : 0 reviewed and updated in were supported after female(HS): 45 (ii) % female(HS): 0 MTR the November 2016 % female(B): % female(B): 0 % female(B): To be Reporting 40 reviewed and confirmed (Second cohort of 5231 in the MTR students for year two have been selected. Funds will be released by May 31, 2017) Date 01-Oct-2014 25-Apr-2017 14-Nov-2017 30-Jun-2020 PHINDPDOTBL  Average time taken for announcement of results of Bachelors programs with centralized examinations at TU (Months, Custom) 12/7/2017 Page 3 of 10 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Higher Education Reforms Project (P147010) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 7.00 5.43 5.43 3.00 Date 01-Jul-2014 25-Apr-2017 14-Nov-2017 30-Jun-2020 PHINDPDOTBL  Number of publications in refereed journals by the research grant recipients. (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 11.00 12.00 85.00 Date 01-Jul-2014 25-Apr-2017 14-Nov-2017 30-Jun-2020 Overall Comments Except for some recent available data, most of the information are retained from April 2017 Implementation Review and Support Mission. These will be undated in the next ISR to be submitted after the MTR scheduled from December 11-29, 2017. Intermediate Results Indicators PHINDIRITBL  Number of institutions undertaking specified reforms (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 15.00 118.00 124.00 135.00 Date 01-Oct-2014 25-Apr-2017 14-Nov-2017 30-Jun-2020 PHINDIRITBL  Number of TU institutions granted autonomy (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 4.00 6.00 7.00 14.00 Date 01-Aug-2014 25-Apr-2017 14-Nov-2017 30-Jun-2020 12/7/2017 Page 4 of 10 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Higher Education Reforms Project (P147010) PHINDIRITBL  Number of academic programs revised (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 26.00 2.00 75.00 Date 01-Aug-2014 25-Apr-2017 14-Nov-2017 30-Jun-2020 PHINDIRITBL  Number of new academic programs introduced in identified priority areas (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 39.00 25.00 65.00 Date 01-Jul-2014 25-Apr-2017 14-Nov-2017 30-Jun-2020 PHINDIRITBL  Computerization of records of all students eligible for appearing in examinations from TU constituent and affiliated campuses (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 95.00 95.00 100.00 Date 01-Jul-2014 25-Apr-2017 14-Nov-2017 30-Jun-2020 PHINDIRITBL  Number of Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) projects supported in identified priority areas (Text, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target PhD: 23; Faculty: 50 (40 PhD scholars, 50 PhD: 23; PhD: 0; faculty research, and PhD: 130 Value Faculty: 107 Faculty: 0 10 collaborative Faculty: 220 research projects are in final stage of selection for year-two). Date 01-Aug-2014 25-Apr-2017 14-Nov-2017 30-Jun-2020 12/7/2017 Page 5 of 10 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Higher Education Reforms Project (P147010) PHINDIRITBL  Direct project beneficiaries (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 200,000.00 200,000.00 500,000.00 Date 01-Jul-2014 25-Apr-2017 14-Nov-2017 30-Jun-2020 PHINDIRITBL  Female beneficiaries (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 40.00 40.00 40.00 PHINDIRITBL  DLI 1: National accreditation system established and functioning (Text, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target QAAA Rule submitted Cabinet has approved for Cabinet approval. QAAA Rule. UGC will complete the A total of 125 A QAAA with functional Appointment of some remaining higher Value autonomy established at experts by UGC to appointments for education UGC complete the process is QAAA by June 30, institutions in progress. 18 HEIs 2017. 17 HEIs accredited accredited. accredited. Date 30-Jun-2015 25-Apr-2017 14-Nov-2017 30-Jun-2020 PHINDIRITBL  DLI 2: Performance-based financing extended to HEIs (Text, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target First group of 66 HEIs Third batch of 34 HEIs 1. A total of 135 1.Guidelines for selected, MOUs signed selected as per PIM, HEIs supported Performance Based and first tranche of MOUs signed, and with PBF Funding (PBF) of performance-based performance based 2. At least 10 campuses published by grant released. Second grants released to the autonomous Value UGC group of 52 HEIs first batch (45 HEIs), campuses 2. Formula Based Funding selected and MOU second batch (45 HEIs) supported (FBF) for autonomous signed. Grant will be and third batch (Total through FBF campuses adopted by released by July 15, 124 HEIs). 471 3. Criteria for UGC 2017.Two constituent community campuses PBF based campuses that have have received Formula regular funding 12/7/2017 Page 6 of 10 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Higher Education Reforms Project (P147010) opted autonomy will Based Funding (FBF) for community receive FBF in FY against the year two campuses 2017/18, and 30 target of 30 community adopted by community campuses campuses. FBF has UGC; and PBF will get PBF by July 15, been released to only based regular 2017. one autonomous funds released campus against the year to at least 100 two target of two community campuses. campuses Date 01-Jun-2015 25-Apr-2017 14-Nov-2017 30-Jun-2020 PHINDIRITBL  DLI 3: Autonomy extended to additional campuses/schools (Text, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target 1. Autonomy granted to 14 1. Autonomy granted to 1. Autonomy granted to constituent 1.TU autonomy campus six constituent seven constituent campuses/scho rules for constituent campuses. campuses. ols of TU campuses revised by TU 2. Two accredited 2. Three accredited 2. Eight Senate campuses have started campuses have started autonomous/ Value 2. TU adopts rules for new programs under new programs under accredited academic autonomy of academic autonomy, academic autonomy, campuses or affiliated campuses by TU three others are at two others are at schools Senate advance stage of advance stage of exercise finalizing curricula. finalizing curricula. academic autonomy Date 02-Jun-2015 25-Apr-2017 25-Apr-2017 30-Jun-2020 PHINDIRITBL  DLI 4: Examination reforms implemented and academic calendar enforced in TU (Text, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Academic calendar of Academic calendar of 1. Academic seven centralized seven centralized calendar of 15 Master program-year of Master program-year of program years (i)Academic rules of TU TU adhered to TU adhered to of centralized revised and approved by compared to year-one compared to year-one Master's TU Academic Council for target of three and target of three and programs completing academic cumulative year-one cumulative year-one and adhered to calendar within one and year-two target of year-two target of six. 2. Results for Value academic year; and (ii) a six. The average time The average time taken regular plan for examination taken for for announcement of centralized reforms approved by TU announcement of results of centralized Bachelors (with especial focus on results of centralized undergraduate programs programs centralized examinations) undergraduate in three faculties of TU is published programs in three 5.4 months compared to within three faculties of TU is 5.4 year-one target of 7 months on months compared to months and year-two average 12/7/2017 Page 7 of 10 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Higher Education Reforms Project (P147010) year-one target of 7 target of 6 months. months and year-two target of 6 months. Date 02-Jun-2015 25-Apr-2017 14-Nov-2017 30-Jun-2020 PHINDIRITBL  DLI 5: Academic reforms introduced: Revision of existing and introduction of new programs at undergraduate and graduate levels (Text, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Five new programs were Five new programs supported in year one. A total of 140 Areas of priority for new were supported in year Additional 60 programs programs programs approved by one. Additional 60 (34 new programs and revised or UGC; and guidelines for programs (34 new 26 programs revision) Value introduced and selection of programs and programs and 26 were processed for implemented institutions approved by programs revision) are support in year two. The (new programs: UGC being processed for approved number of 40-50 percent) support in year two revised programs: two, and new programs: 25. Date 01-Jun-2015 25-Apr-2017 25-Apr-2017 30-Jun-2020 PHINDIRITBL  DLI 6: Poverty-targeted financial support for under-privileged students (Text, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target 1. Funds released to at First cohort (2,887 least 9,500 students) selected First cohort (2,887 students through PMT and fund PMT processes for students) selected selected released to 2,887 selection of students through PMT and fund through PMT students. Second Value revised by SFAFDB; and released to 2,887 2. A plan for cohort of 5231 students database and process students. Second cohort sustainability of selected for support. computerized of 2,454 selected and poverty Grant will be released fund released. targeted to 3000 students by scheme May 31, 2017 approved Date 15-Jun-2015 25-Apr-2017 25-Apr-2017 30-Jun-2020 12/7/2017 Page 8 of 10 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Higher Education Reforms Project (P147010) PHINDIRITBL  DLI 7: Institutions supported for academic excellence in priority areas through RDI awards (Text, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target First batch of 303 research projects selected and funds 1. About 500 released. Second research batch of 399 research First batch of 305 projects projects are at the research projects supported advance stage of selected and funds 2. A plan for selection. TU Service (a) (i) Existing research released. Second batch sustainability of Commission (TUSC) guidelines reviewed and of 227 research projects research has completed the first revised by UGC; and selected and funds funding round of evaluation of (ii) Priority areas for released. TUSC plans to approved Value the candidates support approved by UGC select 18 faculty 3. At least 50 advertised for (b) Parallel recruitment and members from among faculty academic excellence promotion rules adopted 66 applicants against members based recruitment/ by TU Executive Council the year-one and year- recruited and/or promotion. TUSC plans two cumulative target of promoted to select 18 faculty 20 by July 15, 2017 still based on members from among pending. excellence 66 applicants against the year-one and year- two cumulative target of 20 by July 15, 2017 (end of year-two). Date 15-May-2015 25-Apr-2017 14-Nov-2017 30-Jun-2020 Overall Comments Based on April 2017 review additional 60 programs (34 new programs and 26 programs revision) were processed for support in year two. However, after UGC technical team's rigorous scrutiny of applications against the requirements the approved numbers revised - revised academic programs: two; new academic programs: 25. These will be further reviewed and updated in the next ISR. Data on Financial Performance Disbursements (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed Disbursed P147010 IDA-55860 Effective USD 65.00 65.00 0.00 23.55 39.83 36% Key Dates (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Orig. Closing Date Rev. Closing Date P147010 IDA-55860 Effective 19-Feb-2015 06-Apr-2015 22-May-2015 30-Jun-2020 30-Jun-2020 12/7/2017 Page 9 of 10 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Higher Education Reforms Project (P147010) Cumulative Disbursements Restructuring History There has been no restructuring to date. Related Project(s) There are no related projects. 12/7/2017 Page 10 of 10 Public Disclosure Copy