Kantipur City College, Nepal · KETEMU, Indonesia
Associate Professor · Researcher · Engineer
Working at the intersection of telecommunications, device-to-device communications and machine learning — teaching at Kantipur City College, Nepal, and leading research at KETEMU, Indonesia.
About
Dr. Ushik Shrestha Khwakhali is an academic, researcher and telecommunications engineer with more than 15 years of experience across academia and industry. He is Lead Researcher at KETEMU, Indonesia, and Associate Professor at Kantipur City College (Purbanchal University), Nepal, and has held lecturer, researcher and program-advisor positions at five universities in four countries. His path to academia ran through the telecommunications industry in Nepal, postgraduate study in telecommunication engineering at Middlesex University, UK, and doctoral research at the Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT), Thammasat University, Thailand.
His doctoral work examined social-aware relay selection for device-to-device (D2D) communications in cooperative cellular networks — using social trust, social distance and battery information among users to improve network throughput. That research programme, published across venues including Sensors (MDPI) and the International Journal of Ad Hoc and Ubiquitous Computing, continues to anchor his interest in network optimisation, while more recent work extends into machine learning, large language models, generative AI in education, and Vietnamese natural-language processing.
At KETEMU — the Knowledge Ecosystem for Tech, Ethics, and Multisectoral Understanding — he leads interdisciplinary research on telecommunications, AI and education that supports equitable access to digital learning and responsible, inclusive technology. His wider expertise spans cloud computing, computer networks, data communications, curriculum development, academic quality assurance and digital-learning innovation.
Research Interests
01
Grounded in a Master's degree from Middlesex University and years of industry practice, his work spans RF and antenna analysis, software-defined radio and the practical engineering that underlies modern cellular systems.
02
The core of his doctoral research: relay selection strategies that let devices communicate directly, using social and geographic information to raise throughput in cooperative cellular networks.
03
Investigates how nodes in a network can collaborate — sharing relays, trust and battery resources — to improve reliability and efficiency beyond what any single link can achieve.
04
Applied and pedagogical interest in network architecture, data communications and indoor localisation, connecting theoretical networking concepts to hands-on laboratory implementation.
05
Recent work applies machine learning and large language models to problems spanning hate-speech detection, software-testing education, ensemble prediction and Vietnamese natural-language processing.
06
A broader interest in how emerging technologies — from generative AI in the classroom to quantum computing and IoT — reshape research, education and society, pursued in part through his work with KETEMU.
Selected Research
2026
AI/MLHung Vu Nguyen, Loan Do, Thanh Ngoc Nguyen, Ushik Shrestha Khwakhali, Thanh Pham, Vinh Do, Charlotte Nguyen, Hien Nguyen
arXiv preprint arXiv:2603.04145
A dependency-free Vietnamese text-normalization library for TTS and NLP pipelines, contributed to as part of ongoing work at the intersection of AI and Vietnamese language technology.
2025
AI/MLTuan-Phong Ngo, Bao-Ngoc Duong, Tuan-Anh Hoang, J. Dwight, Ushik Shrestha Khwakhali
arXiv preprint arXiv:2510.22318
Explores applying LLMs to software testing education, evaluating performance against ISTQB-aligned assessment items.
2020
NetworksUshik Shrestha Khwakhali, Prapun Suksompong, Steven Gordon
Sensors (MDPI) — Vol. 20, Issue 21, Article 6007
Core doctoral-research contribution proposing social- and battery-aware relay selection schemes that improve throughput in cooperative D2D networks.
2020
NetworksUshik Shrestha Khwakhali, Steven Gordon, Prapun Suksompong
Studies in Computational Intelligence, Vol. 850, Springer International Publishing
Springer book-chapter extension of the midpoint relay-selection line of research, introducing an adaptive social-aware variant.
2020
NetworksUshik Shrestha Khwakhali, Prapun Suksompong, Steven Gordon
International Journal of Ad Hoc and Ubiquitous Computing (IJAHUC), Vol. 33, Issue 1, pp. 22–35
Journal article on base-station-assisted, socially-aware relay selection for D2D communications.
2017
NetworksUshik Shrestha Khwakhali, Steven Gordon, Prapun Suksompong
2017 International Electrical Engineering Congress (iEECON), Pattaya, Thailand
Foundational conference paper introducing social-aware relay selection for D2D communications, the origin of the doctoral research line.
Research Timeline
2026 · Award
“Residential Zone Traffic Sign Detection for Vietnam’s Speed Enforcement” — Solo, Indonesia
2026 · Publication
Open-source Vietnamese text-normalization library for TTS/NLP applications
Nov 2025 – Present · Research
Knowledge Ecosystem for Tech, Ethics, and Multisectoral Understanding, Indonesia
Nov 2025 – Present · Academic
Purbanchal University, Kathmandu, Nepal
2025 – 2026 · Research
Strategic Innovation Challenge grant on disability inclusion and emerging technologies in Vietnam
2025 · Research
AUD 12,583, with Phong Ngo and Gordon Ingram, RMIT Vietnam
2021 – 2025 · Academic
School of Science, Engineering & Technology
2020 · Education
SIIT, Thammasat University, Thailand
2020 · Publication
“Midpoint Relay Selection Using Social Trust and Battery Level...”
2020 · Academic
Nukus Branch, Tashkent University of Information Technologies, Uzbekistan
2018 – 2021 · Academic
Vincent Mary School of Engineering, Assumption University, Thailand
2017 · Publication
“Social-Aware Relay Selection for D2D Communications in Cooperative Cellular Networks”, iEECON 2017
2015 – 2021 · Academic
SIIT, Thammasat University, Thailand
2015 · Award
For doctoral research at SIIT, Thammasat University, Thailand
2012 – 2013 · Education
Middlesex University, United Kingdom
2010 – 2012 · Industry
Nepal Satellite Telecom Pvt. Ltd. (Hello Nepal) — extending mobile network access across Nepal
2009 – 2010 · Industry
Zamil New Delhi Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd., Kathmandu, Nepal
2004 – 2008 · Education
Nepal Engineering College (Pokhara University), Nepal
Academic & Professional Experience
A career that began in field engineering and mobile-network operations in Nepal, moved through postgraduate and doctoral research in the UK and Thailand, and has since centred on academic teaching and research across Thailand, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Indonesia and Nepal.
Nov 2025 – Present
KETEMU — Knowledge Ecosystem for Tech, Ethics, and Multisectoral Understanding
Indonesia
Conducts interdisciplinary research on telecommunications, AI and education that supports equitable access to digital learning, with a focus on responsible and inclusive technology. Contributes to ethical-technology frameworks and AI-governance discussions with academia, government, industry and civil society; supports capacity-building workshops on ethical technology and digital literacy; and publishes on generative AI, machine learning and responsible technology.
Nov 2025 – Present
Kantipur City College (affiliated with Purbanchal University)
Kathmandu, Nepal
Course Coordinator and Lecturer for Computer Networks, developing lectures, labs and supplementary materials, and assessing students through examination design, grading and results publication.
Oct 2021 – Sept 2025
RMIT University Vietnam — School of Science, Engineering & Technology
Vietnam
Course Coordinator and Lecturer for undergraduate IT and Software Engineering courses including Introduction to IT, Cloud Architecting, Software Engineering Design, Introduction to Programming, Programming in C, Data Communication and Net-Centric Computing, Practical Database Concepts and Web Programming. Advised students on course planning and career-aligned skills, supervised senior-year Capstone projects, served as Associate Supervisor for Master's and PhD students, and organised workshops, seminars and practical sessions to strengthen industry exposure.
Jan 2018 – Oct 2021
Vincent Mary School of Engineering, Assumption University
Bangkok, Thailand
Course Coordinator for Data Communication and Networking, System and Network Programming, Principles of Communications, Microwave Engineering, Pre-Calculus and Communication Laboratory. Developed course content, conducted research on emerging technologies with senior-year students, organised industrial visits and workshops, and served on the Computer Engineering and Public Relations committees. Familiar with the Thailand Qualification Framework (TQF).
Jan 2015 – May 2021
Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT), Thammasat University
Pathum Thani, Thailand
Delivered laboratory instruction in Networking, Database Programming, Python Programming and Basic Electrical Engineering; designed course content and laboratory manuals; and supervised teaching assistants in preparing quizzes, marking and feedback.
Oct 2020 – Dec 2020
Nukus Branch, Tashkent University of Information Technologies named after Muhammad al-Khwarizmi (NB TUIT)
Nukus, Uzbekistan (online)
Delivered lectures on Information Security Hardware and Software Tools via MS Teams, and designed the course content and student manuals.
Aug 2013 – Sept 2013
Middlesex University
London, United Kingdom
Rebuilt computers and troubleshot hardware and software issues before and after operating-system installation.
Jan 2010 – May 2012
Nepal Satellite Telecom Pvt. Ltd. (Hello Nepal)
Kathmandu, Nepal
Carried out technical site surveys; supervised solar-system installation and BTS electrification; and installed and troubleshot VSAT, microwave links and Huawei BTS 3900 / DBS3900 equipment, helping extend mobile network access across Nepal.
Mar 2009 – Jan 2010
Zamil New Delhi Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. (ZAMIL)
Kathmandu, Nepal
Conducted technical site surveys and site acquisition, prepared survey and feasibility reports, supervised tower erection, battery-bank testing, diesel-generator commissioning and fuel-sensor calibration, and prepared completion and handover reports.
Education
Jan 2015 – Nov 2020
Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT), Thammasat University, Thailand
GPA 3.5. Dissertation: “Use of Social Information in Relay Selection Schemes to Improve Throughput of Device-to-Device Communications.” Coursework in Computational Mathematics, Research Methodology, Research Seminar and Special Study. Awarded the Excellent Foreign Student Scholarship.
Sept 2012 – Dec 2013
Middlesex University, London, United Kingdom
Graduated with Distinction. Dissertation: “Performance Analysis of Beamforming in MIMO Systems.” Coursework in Digital Transmission Systems, Mobile and Wireless Communications, Data Networks and Internet Communications, Telecommunication Security, and a postgraduate project in Computer Communications.
Aug 2004 – Aug 2008
Nepal Engineering College (affiliated with Pokhara University), Kathmandu, Nepal
CGPA 3.26. Dissertation: “Web Server Updating Using Hardware.” Coursework in Computer Networks, Digital Communication, Telecommunication, Wireless Communications, GSM Cellular Mobile Communication Systems and Engineering Mathematics I–IV.
Teaching & Academic Engagement
Courses coordinated and taught at Kantipur City College (Nepal), RMIT University Vietnam, Assumption University and SIIT, Thammasat University (Thailand), and NB TUIT (Uzbekistan).
Supervised senior-year Capstone projects and served as Associate Supervisor for Master's and PhD students at RMIT University Vietnam (2021–2025); supervised senior-year research projects on emerging technologies at Assumption University, Thailand; and supervised teaching assistants at SIIT, Thammasat University.
Awards, Grants & Recognition
INFINITYS 2026, Solo, Indonesia
For “Residential Zone Traffic Sign Detection for Vietnam’s Speed Enforcement: A Two-Class YOLOv8 Dataset and Model for R420/R421 Signs.”
Research grant · AUD 97,850
Encoding practice and research communities on disability inclusion and technology: decoding policy, practice and research discourses on disability and emerging technologies in Vietnam, and enabling multistakeholder dialogue across the Asia Pacific.
Research grant · AUD 5,000
Developing a generative-AI assistant that scaffolds partially-worked and erroneous answers into student problem solving in large programming courses.
Research grant · AUD 12,583
Identifying challenges and technological solutions for effective medication management among elderly people in Vietnam.
ICDIP 2023, Nanjing, China
For “Analysis of Image Pattern Classification using Hopfield Network on Letters and Thai Banknotes via MATLAB Implementation.”
IEEE/ACIS SNPD 2019, Toyama, Japan
“Adaptive Midpoint Relay Selection” was selected among the conference’s top 15 papers and published as a Springer book chapter.
Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT), Thammasat University, Thailand
Scholarship awarded to pursue doctoral (Ph.D.) research at SIIT on device-to-device communications.
Let's Collaborate
Dr. Shrestha welcomes conversations with researchers, universities and industry partners working on telecommunications, device-to-device and cooperative communications, machine learning, and emerging digital technologies — including opportunities for joint publications, research collaboration, conference participation and student research supervision.
Contact
Affiliations
Kantipur City College (Purbanchal University)
Kathmandu, Nepal
KETEMU — Knowledge Ecosystem for Tech, Ethics, and Multisectoral Understanding
Indonesia
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