KP Sharma

According to the Royal University of Bhutan, the two private colleges, Royal Thimphu College (RTC) and Norbuling Rigter College (NRC) in Paro can continue offering the arts and humanities programmes after the decision to discontinue similar programmes in the government colleges in the country.

The vice chancellor, Nidup Dorji, said that although the two private colleges are affiliated to RUB, the colleges could continue offering the programmes. “The whole purpose of reforms is not to do away with Arts and Humanities courses or do not mean they are not important.”

He said that the current programmes and some subject combinations do not help the graduates find employment after graduation.




Nidup Dorji said that students would be able to take up Arts courses in the future with good subject combinations. “RTC and NRC I hope will adapt to the changes and offer better programmes.”

The president of RTC, Tshewang Tandin, said that the college now offers four-year undergraduate programmes. “And the programmes have more breadth to help the students acquire adequate knowledge and skills; our programmes now have more skill-based components.”

The president of Norbuling Rigter College, Tandin Dorji (PhD), said that the college might offer Bachelor of Arts in Tourism and Hotel Management. The new programmes, he said, would help the Arts students pursue higher studies in Arts-related subjects.




The president said that it would be difficult for the college to start science courses. “Most of the science students opt for government scholarships.”

The college currently offers six programmes—four Arts and Social Science and two Business programmes.