International Tibetan Studies Board Moves 17th Seminar to Virtual Platform

On August 8, the International Association for Tibetan Studies released a statement confirming that its board had voted to keep the 17th seminar on the original dates but to host it online. The board’s emergency meeting on August 7 was convened after the Nepalese government ordered Kathmandu University to cancel the in‑person event.

The virtual format will retain the full program, allowing scholars to present papers and participate in discussions from any location. However, the board acknowledged that adjusting the schedule to accommodate different time zones would not be feasible. Organisers emphasized that the shift aims to preserve the academic exchange while respecting the government’s directive.

IATS highlighted that the conference had been a collaborative effort involving the Himalayan Centre for Asian Studies, the Rangjung Yeshe Institute, and the Centre for Buddhist Studies, all of which had invested significant resources over three years.