Date: 25/Feb/2021

To,

Visa Officer,

Canadian High Commission,

New Delhi, India.

Subject: Statement of Purpose

Nepal in its recovery from massive earthquake of 2015 has provided ample of opportunities to
develop more resilient society than ever and with Nepal pacing towards development I see
Construction Project Management as a resource to contribute to the motto every Nepalese live by i.e.
“Build Back Better” along with development of necessary set of skills to increase the scope of my
career.

It`s my pleasure to introduce myself as Ashma Karki, a registered Civil Engineer of Nepal
(registration number 21131) under category ‘A’. After four years of intensive undergraduate study
and work insight in the connected field, I have built a strong foundation and strive to pursue Post
Graduate Course in Construction Project Management at Lambton College for September
2021 intake.

Academically, I have always been a strong candidate. I completed my School Leaving Certificate
(SLC) from Little Angels School in 2012 securing first division with 78.25%. Technology always
captivated me, thus, I opted for the science stream in higher secondary level from United Academy,
which I successfully completed with first division (69.9%) in 2014. My strong desire and
determination helped me secure a place in Kathmandu Engineering College (affiliated to Tribhuvan
University) and I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering in 2018, with first
division securing 72.21%. To meet the English language requirement for my further studies, I took
IELTS examination on August 6, 2020 and scored an overall band of 7.5 (Reading 8, Writing 6.5,
Speaking 6.5, Listening 8).

Kathmandu is a diverse city and being brought up near the cultural heritage sites has been a privilege
as I could encounter traditional structure as well as the modern technical buildings. As I was
growing up, my curiosity led me to research about the role of engineers in development of structures
and my interest towards civil engineering became more profound and I decided to major in this
discipline. After few months of enrolling in undergraduate program, Nepal was shaken by a massive
earthquake, on April 25th, 2015 killing more than 8000 people, many thousands were injured and
destroyed billions of dollars’ worth properties. Many people were homeless, having no choice but to
live in temporary camps and tents for months. Being a Civil Engineering student, the massive
incident raised a sense of responsibility in me towards the community and the urge to build safe
structures to overcome next possible earthquake was engraved in me. In efforts to contribute to
durable and advance development of my country, I volunteered and worked in reconstruction-related
works.

During my final year, I worked as an intern in ASF Nepal, a non-profit NGO working in
reconstruction, as I wanted to gain experience in my career field. This opportunity helped me
understand the industry and my responsibilities in the workplace. Subsequent to my graduation, I
started working as a government officer in Kavrepalanchok under the Government of Nepal,
National Reconstruction Authority, and Central Level Project Implementation Unit, District level
Project Implementation Unit (Grant management and Local Infrastructure) till date. My
responsibilities included supervision and inspection of the private housing, prepare drawings and
estimates of the buildings, digitizing the progress, improving coverage and quality of socio-technical
assistance, conduct meetings with local government authorities and prepare monthly progress report
of the project. I am providing technical assistance along with managerial work as well. During my
tenure, I had to face several complications, caused due to my limited knowledge in management
position. Therefore, I realized that my knowledge and experience need further refinement and
improvement.

Thus, I began exploring different courses which specializes in managerial strategic aspects of
construction. After thorough research for a suited course matching my field of interest, Construction
Project Management stood out to me. Obtaining a degree in construction project management will be
beneficial for me as I shall upgrade a combination of management skills in construction with an
emphasis on estimating, scheduling, procurement and cost control, combined with best practices in
construction safety, quality management, legal documentation, and contracts. Gaining this
qualification will provide me with ample possibilities to work on engineering projects while gaining
expertise and, most importantly, offering the chance to move up the ladder of my career. It is also an
area where I believe I can excel and maximize my potential to a higher-level.

Following brief exploration on different colleges and universities of Nepal, I found out that the
educational institutions of my native land might not be well equipped for helping me achieve the
desired vision. Besides, the education system of Nepal is mostly based on theoretical knowledge and
lacks practical aspect which is really necessary to face the real life challenges. While studying in
Nepal, I will not get a chance to emerge myself with people of international background and develop
network benefitting my academic and professional career. On the contrary, studying abroad will help
me learn diversified culture, attitude, and Personality simultaneously which will be an asset later in
life as it will help gain more confidence in myself. In the age of globalization, it is crucial to have a
broad and refined international outlook. Hence, I decided to pursue my higher education on a foreign
country. Looking for better study destinations, I visited different seminars and education fairs,
various websites and found Canada as the best for me from multiple perspectives.
Canada has been consistently recognized worldwide for best higher education system. The task of
quality assurance at every level of the education system has a great contribution in providing a
world-class education in Canada. In addition to it, certification in Canada offers practical knowledge,
high-quality, and credibility to enhance student career both in Canada as well as in my home country
and helps in smooth transition from students to employee. Authorities are concerned towards
personal safety of students which allured my attention as it ensures better social security in
comparison to other countries. While comparing economically to countries like Australia, USA and
UK, Canada is much more affordable. Apart from this, quality of education and life outranks USA,
UK, and Australia maintaining its position in top 3 globally as per the HSBC Global Survey, 2019.

After going through various college websites to match my course, fee and career requirements
ranging from Cambrian College, Centennial College, Fanshawe College, Conestoga College, I
decided to go for Lambton College because it provides 2 years Post-graduation course which
includes all the necessary components of construction project management. I have cautiously
reviewed the courses offered by Lambton College and it helps me fill the void I experienced during
my work tenure in Nepal and prepares me to accept any professional challenges in future. The
programs offered in Lambton College has a main focus on practical hands-on learning, limited
classroom occupancy, qualified and dedicated faculty, etc. Also, Lambton College provides an added
advantage to its students as it provides the choice of co-op experience in the final semester. This
opportunity contributes in utilizing the theoretical aspect into practical work, thus, increasing the
efficiency and capacity of students. With exceptional curriculum, I also found Lambton College to
be economical considering the tuition fee is $25,800 CAD for two years. Therefore, if I get the
chance to be part of this renowned college, I see myself as a civil engineer with foreign expertise
employed in high-level positions in a prestigious organization in Nepal within few years. I am
optimistic that in my upcoming career, a Postgraduate study from Lambton College will be a great
stepping stone.

As per my financial requirements, my tuition fees and living expenses will be fully funded by my
family. My family has a total annual income of CAD $ 32,565.87 which includes office salary of my
father-in-law (CAD$ 8505.57), husband (CAD 11,037.76), and business of my mother (CAD $
13,022.53). The sum of cumulative bank balance in the name of my mother and husband is CAD
$53,188.38 and a balance of CAD $ 17,388.34 is deposited by my father in my account to cover the
expenses during my stay in Canada. Furthermore, a year of tuition fee, resulting in CAD 15,550 has
already been cleared. Thus, based on all this financial status, I am confident that my tuition and
living expenditure needs in Canada will be easily covered.

Upon graduating from Lambton College, my main priority is to contribute my expertise to Nepal’s
growth, which is still recovering from the catastrophic earthquake. I intend to collaborate with either
a construction firm or government entities to build better infrastructure. My experience of working at
government organization adds on making my profile stronger and my course completion certificate
will be an incredible strength from which I can hold a higher post in government organization or
other privately owned companies. As Nepal is a developing country, the demand of Civil engineers
is emerging with an even greater potential for growth. With the recent rise in the construction
industry owing to the earthquake, the infrastructural growth within the country has gone up creating
plentiful opportunity for person equipped with the knowledge of Construction Project Management.

As a kid brought up in a joint household, I have strong inclination towards my family. They have
always been encouraging and supportive of my decision. The constant motivation of my husband has
installed more confidence in me and I believe applying abroad for further study in construction
project management will be an asset and advantageous to my career back in Nepal.

To conclude, if granted an opportunity, I will be forever grateful to be able to study at Lambton

College, Canada as I believe it will pave a path for me to move towards a higher level of
achievement. On a personal note, I would like to ensure my full commitment towards the rules and
regulations of Lambton College and Canadian Government. Therefore, I hereby, present this
application and all the supporting documents for your kind approval.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely Yours,

_______________
Ashma Karki
(Student Visa Application)
Passport number: 10566426