UBC launches the first free open-access Nepali textbook - Faculty of Arts

"Introduction to the Nepali Language is the first free open-access textbook of its kind designed for learners, educators, community groups, and heritage speakers of Nepali.  The book was launched in celebration of BC’s first-ever Nepali Heritage Day on 30 May, 2026, marking an important milestone in expanding opportunities for Nepali language learning and engagement.

Developed within the Faculty of Arts, the textbook was created through a collaboration between faculty, students, and staff. The team included principal investigator Dr. Mark Turin, an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology and the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies; Binod Shrestha, an instructor with the Himalaya Program; and Salina Dolmo Lama, a Nepali graduate student at the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs.

The project also received support from the Open Education Resources (OER) Affordability Grant Program and was enhanced by contributions from the UBC Library’s Scholarly Communications team and open education infrastructure supported by the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT)."