Shakil Regmi teaches future environmental professionals at Xamk

A passion for environmental issues and research has led Shakil Regmi to many countries throughout his career. An exciting job opportunity brought him back to Mikkeli and Finland to work as a lecturer at Xamk.

Shakil Regmi was already familiar with Xamk’s Mikkeli campus when he started working there two years ago. He arrived in Mikkeli in August 2011 as a new environmental engineering student. After graduating in 2013, he returned to his home country, Nepal.

In Kathmandu, Regmi worked as an environmental engineer, data analyst, and expert in environmental technology. He handled environmental impact assessments in private and public projects. In his work, he recognised an exciting opportunity his studies had not prepared him for—integrating technical engineering with people’s thoughts and actions.

“I had a technical education. I was well aware of the impact people have on the emergence of environmental problems and that the state of the environment, in turn, affects people’s wellbeing. However, I spoke the language of engineers and thus could not make the people I encountered understand the complexity of environmental problems,” Shakil Regmi says.

This experience sparked Shakil Regmi’s desire to deepen his understanding of the social aspects of environmental problems. He completed a master’s degree in environmental education at Kathmandu University in Nepal and a doctorate in environmental science and didactics at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany.

Desire to teach future professionals

Having worked at Xamk’s Department of Forestry and Environmental Technology for two years now, Shakil Regmi has come a long way from Nepal to Germany and finally back to Finland. Working at Xamk allows Shakil Regmi to fully utilise his professional skills.

“Through my teaching, I want to ensure that future environmental professionals understand both the technical and human aspects of environmental issues. To solve environmental problems, one must understand not only the technical details but also how people think and act. Working at Xamk provides good opportunities for this,” Regmi says.

Shakil Regmi mainly teaches in the Degree Programme in Environmental Engineering. He enjoys his work and appreciates the Xamk community.

“When all my department colleagues are in the same room, much expertise and knowledge is present. Each of us has our own strengths and areas of expertise, but we are all united by a strong interest in environmental issues.”
Collaborating and sharing expertise with colleagues adds value to both teaching and personal development.
Professional growth and development at Xamk

In his work, Shakil Regmi values freedom and the ability to influence course content and teaching methods. He has adopted a collaborative approach to his teaching.

“I want to build and develop study modules in cooperation with students, so it is more than just me being in a lecturer’s role. This kind of cooperation allows for new ways of thinking and insights for all of us,” Regmi says.

Shakil Regmi also appreciates the pedagogical and professional development opportunities at Xamk and the support available from both colleagues and Xamk.

“Working and collaborating with other teachers and professionals from various fields allows me to draw much inspiration for my own work and teaching. A good example of this is the recent focus on the digitalisation of teaching and online teaching, which we can learn and develop together with colleagues,” Shakil Regmi says.

The Finnish winter does not faze Shakil Regmi. “I enjoy the Finnish nature and environment. People often tell me it’s cold and dark here, but I see it as having more time and peace to work.”