NSTQB

On February 21, 2026, 𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐐𝐁 𝐀𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐝 2026 – 𝙌𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 brought together testing professionals, industry leaders, and practitioners in Kathmandu for a day dedicated to learning, reflection, and meaningful conversations around software quality.

Hosted by NSTQB®- Nepal Software Testing Qualifications Body, the conference was about going back to fundamentals, questioning how we do things today, and exploring how quality practices need to evolve with real industry needs.

We were grateful to learn from our world class speakers, who shared practical insights and global perspectives with the community:
•Joel Oliveira brought valuable perspectives from his global experience, reinforcing the importance of strong foundations and continuous learning in quality practices.
• Michaël Pilaeten spoke about strengthening testing fundamentals and applying quality techniques grounded in international standards.
• Dmitrij Nikolajev challenged us to think differently with The Other ROI, looking beyond tools to understand the true value and regret in automation decisions.
• Dr. Lovelesh Beeharry shared how quality engineering must move beyond ex*****on to create real world impact.
• Nishan Portoyan spoke about future QA skills, critical thinking, and adapting quality fundamentals in an AI enabled world.
• Zsolt Hargitai shared practical approaches to test process improvement and maturity.
• Anit Shrestha brought in hands on industry experiences, real challenges, and lessons from working with large scale global platforms.

What stood out throughout the day was the shared understanding that quality is not just a role or a checklist. It is a mindset, a strategy, and a continuous journey of improvement.

Our sincere thanks to all the speakers, participants, volunteers, and community members who made this conference meaningful. Your engagement, questions, and openness to learning are what continue to raise the standard of quality practices in Nepal.

For those who attended, the event photos are available here

👉 https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1FnrWTgTLkowZMPj88VlK42HqR9v-nI_r?usp=sharing

NSTQB Ascend is more than a conference. It reflects a growing commitment to learning together, collaborating openly, and building a stronger quality community.

Meet Michaël Pilaeten.

With nearly two decades of experience in software testing and quality education, Michaël plays a key role in shaping how testing fundamentals are defined and taught globally. He is deeply involved in evolving testing practices through his work on agile testing and foundational certification content, and he regularly supports professionals and organizations on their learning journeys.

At NSTQB Ascend 2026, Michaël will facilitate Certification Clarification and Open Q and A. This interactive session is designed for anyone considering certification or planning their next step. Participants can ask practical questions about certification paths, exam preparation, and what to expect from the current Foundation Level syllabus. The goal is simple: remove confusion, provide clarity, and help attendees make informed decisions about their certification journey.

If you have questions about certification, this is the session where you get clear answers.

February 21 2026
Mercure Hotel Sukedhara

Register now at https://nstqb.org/events/nstqb-ascend

Meet Anit Shrestha.

With more than 17 years of experience building and scaling global software platforms from Nepal, Anit brings a rare practitioner perspective to the Quality Conference. He has worked hands on as an engineer, led teams as a technology leader, and represented platforms in global partnerships where reliability and trust mattered as much as features.

At NSTQB Ascend 2026, Anit will present Apply Global Testing Excellence in Nepal. This session connects the global ideas shared throughout the day with the practical reality of building quality driven products from our own ecosystem. Through real experience and concrete examples, he will show how standards, testing discipline, and quality engineering translate into scalable systems and global credibility.

This session is designed to help professionals see what is possible from here and how quality becomes the foundation for growth, trust, and long term success.

February 21 2026
Mercure Hotel Sukedhara

Register now at https://nstqb.org/events/nstqb-ascend