Dipendra KC

Greetings! I’m Dipendra, an assistant professor exploring how social innovation and entrepreneurship can drive development. My research examines how policies, organizations and technologies can empower marginalized communities.

Currently, I teach at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Japan on topics like social entrepreneurship, NGOs and policy studies. Previously, I served as Assistant Dean at Thammasat University in Thailand, leading new MA and PhD programs on social innovation

I started questioning whether aid and NGOs truly target the poor and why some regions have more NGOs than others. This led me to complete a PhD analyzing Nepal’s NGO sector over 50 years. Since then, my research has evolved with the times. When COVID-19 struck, I began examining how the pandemic impacted civil society, including how state-NGO relationships shifted. I’ve also explored the digital divide in Thai education and I am exploring how diaspora maintain transnational civic engagement.

Alongside academia, I regularly consult for development partners like UNICEF, USAID, ITU and UNESCO. Prior to teaching, I co-founded YUWA, an NGO focused on youth empowerment in Nepal. I also worked as operations and outreach coordinator for Wedu, a social enterprise in Thailand.

As a professor, I aim to equip a new generation of changemakers with the knowledge and skills to drive progress. I have the privilege of teaching courses on social entrepreneurship, policy, and nonprofit management. As a board member of the International Society for Third Sector Research, I’m also actively engaged in global knowledge exchange.

If you’re interested in collaborating, let’s connect! I welcome opportunities to work with researchers, policymakers, students and social innovators to build more just, sustainable communities.