The Training of Trainers (ToT) program for instructors of the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) has officially commenced at the Training Institute for Technical Instruction (TITI), located in Sanothimi, Bhaktapur. The initiative marks a significant step forward in NMA’s ongoing commitment to raising the professional standards of its accredited instructors and ensuring the highest quality of mountaineering education across Nepal.
A High-Level Inauguration with Institutional Support
The program was formally launched in the presence of senior officials from both organisations. Mr. Jinesh Sindurakar, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, and Mr. Kalpa Kumar Basnet, Officiating Executive Director of TITI, graced the occasion and extended their best wishes to all participating NMA instructors. Both officials expressed confidence that the program would prove to be a productive and transformative experience for the participants, ultimately benefiting Nepal’s mountaineering training ecosystem as a whole.
The joint participation of NMA and TITI in this initiative reflects a strong institutional partnership between Nepal’s premier mountaineering body and one of the country’s leading technical training institutions, a collaboration aimed at producing instructors who are not only skilled mountaineers but also highly effective educators and trainers.
Purpose and Significance of the Training of Trainers Program
The Training of Trainers program is designed with a clear and focused objective: to strengthen the teaching effectiveness, pedagogical skills, and overall professional development of NMA-accredited trainers. While the instructors participating in this program are already seasoned mountaineering professionals with extensive field experience, the ToT program addresses a distinct and critical dimension of their work: their ability to effectively transfer knowledge, skills, and technical expertise to the next generation of mountain guides and leaders.
In the world of professional mountaineering training, it is not sufficient for an instructor to be an accomplished climber or guide. The ability to plan structured lessons, manage diverse groups of trainees, assess competency, and adapt instructional methods to different learning needs is equally essential. The ToT program at TITI is specifically tailored to address these instructional competencies, equipping NMA’s trainers with internationally recognised pedagogical tools and techniques.
This initiative is particularly significant given Nepal’s central role in global mountaineering. As the gateway to eight of the world’s fourteen eight-thousanders, Nepal’s reputation for producing world-class mountain guides and leaders depends heavily on the quality and consistency of its training programs. By investing in the professional development of its instructors, NMA is directly investing in the long-term credibility and global standing of Nepali mountaineering education.
Participants: A Diverse Group of Experienced Mountain Professionals
The program brings together a carefully selected group of NMA-accredited instructors from across the country, representing both the Professional Mountain Guide (PMG) and Professional Mountain Leader (PML) training programs. The diversity of the participant group, spanning different ethnic communities, regions, and areas of specialisation, reflects the inclusive and broad-based nature of Nepal’s mountaineering industry.
Instructors participating in both PMG and PML Training programs:
Mr. Dawa Tashi Sherpa SD, Mr. Sarki Sherpa, and Mr. Ram Kaji (Prayas) are participating across both the PMG and PML training streams, bringing with them a wealth of experience in high-altitude guiding and mountain leadership that cuts across both program levels.
Instructors participating in the PMG Training program:
Mr. Pasang Lama, Mr. Lal Bahadur Jirel, Mr. Sanjib Gurung, Mr. RD Tamang, and Mr. Sudash Lama are taking part in the PMG-focused stream of the program. These instructors are instrumental in shaping the professional mountain guiding standards that directly impact the safety and experience of climbers on Nepal’s high-altitude routes.
Instructors participating in the PML Training program:
Mr. Keshar Shrestha, Mr. Mani Kumar Rai, Mr. Krishna Kumar Magar, Mr. Man Bahadur Khatri, Mr. Dawa Tshering Lama, Mr. Angeli Sherpa, Mr. Samip Mainali, and Mr. Samyam Rumba are participating in the PML-focused stream. As mountain leadership instructors, these professionals play a vital role in developing trekking and expedition leaders who guide clients safely through Nepal’s diverse mountain terrain.
Strengthening Nepal’s Mountaineering Training Ecosystem
The launch of this program comes at a time when Nepal’s tourism and adventure industry is witnessing renewed growth following the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. With increasing numbers of international climbers, trekkers, and adventure tourists arriving in Nepal each year, the demand for highly trained, professionally certified mountain guides and leaders has never been greater.
By ensuring that its instructors are equipped with both technical mountain expertise and modern instructional methodologies, NMA is positioning itself to meet this growing demand with confidence. The ToT program at TITI provides a structured environment in which experienced mountain professionals can reflect on their teaching practices, learn new instructional strategies, and develop the tools needed to deliver consistently high-quality training to their students.
NMA has expressed strong confidence that this training will meaningfully enhance the professional standards and instructional excellence of all participating instructors. The association is equally confident that the outcomes of this program will have a lasting and positive impact on the overall quality and effectiveness of its PMG and PML training programs, ultimately contributing to safer mountains, better-prepared guides, and a stronger reputation for Nepali mountaineering on the world stage.
