Nepal UK
More than 42,000 people applied within 24 hours for a free government-run online course on artificial intelligence, for which only 2,000 places are planned. The two-day programme, "Effective Use of AI and Prompt Writing", runs on 4 and 5 November in four sessions of about 500 participants each, from 10am to noon and 6pm to 8pm Nepal time.
It is run by the National Vocational Training Academy, which sits under the Ministry of Youth, Labour and Employment. The syllabus covers using AI tools for emails, notes, meeting minutes and presentations, writing prompts, creating images and short videos, using AI responsibly and checking the accuracy of its output. Selected applicants will be told by SMS. The surge in applications temporarily blocked the application form, and a new form was due on the academy's website on 2 November. The academy says applicants' data is stored securely and used only for training.
Youth, Labour and Employment Minister Ramji Yadav said the opportunities created by technology "should be accessible to young people across the country", and that larger online and in-person advanced programmes are planned.
The demand is the clearest signal yet of appetite for digital skills in a country where foreign employment remains a major route for young workers. The limits are plain: 2,000 places is under 5 per cent of applicants, and a two-day course is an introduction rather than a qualification. Those who miss out should watch the academy's announcements for further intakes; no dates have been published. Nepali professionals in the UK may wish to consider whether mentoring or volunteer teaching could help close the gap.
