Prof. G. D. Sharma

Prof. G. D. Sharma was born on 1st March, 1942 and has done his Ph.D. in Economics from Bombay University and Masters in Economics from Jodhpur University. He was awarded Honorary Degree of Doctorate of Letters, Nagarjuna University in 1999.

Recently retire as Director, (Equivalent of Vice-Chancellor of Central University) Consortium for Educational Communication (CEC), New Delhi autonomous organization of University Grants Commission (UGC) New Delhi from October 2003 to March 2007. Prior to this served as Senior Fellow and Head, Higher Education Unit, NIEPA, New Delhi till September 2003, now renamed as National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA). He was Secretary, University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi from 1996 to 1999. Also has served as Director, Indian Institute of Education (IIE), Pune and as a Consultant of UNESCO, UNDP and IIEP, Paris. He has also worked in various capacities in the Department of Economics in the University of Bombay and the Association of Indian University (AIU), New Delhi. He was the Chairman of the Committee on Higher Education of Punjab Government. He has been Member/Convenor of several committees of UGC and Government of India.

He has published 12 books and 55 research papers. His major areas of work, particularly research and consultancy, include planning and management of university education, equity, quality and financing of higher education. He has also submitted 11 Study Reports on Teachers in Higher Education as Input in the National Commission on Teachers-II to Government of India, methodology of teaching in colleges, UNESCO, UGC, NIEPA.

His latest works include:

• Internationalization of Higher Education.
• India's Response to Trade on Education Services under WTO Regime.
• Indicators on Quality of Higher Education.
• Higher Education during 10th Five-Year Plan - A Proposal.

He has visited various countries namely USA, Canada, France, U.K. Thailand, Iran, Vietnam, South Korea, Ghana, Turkmenistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, UNDP, UNESCO assignments and in Nepal and Cameroon on various capacities.

He has 27 years of administrative experience in various capacities at various institutions in the country. Had also been convener and member of several committees set up by UGC, Ministry of Human Resource Development. Was Honorary Professor of Kyung Hee University, Seol, Korea, Founder Member of International Year of Peace and Founder President, Society for Education of Economic Development, New Delhi.