Kathmandu University Founding VC Prof Dr Suresh Raj Sharma Passes Away at 86

Key points

• Kathmandu University founding Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma passed away at the age of 86 while receiving treatment at HAMS Hospital in Kathmandu.
• He served as the Vice-Chancellor of Kathmandu University for 21 consecutive years, from BS 2048 to BS 2069.
• He was instrumental in introducing Computer Engineering and Information Technology degree programs in Nepal, earning the Pioneer ICT Award 2024.
• Beyond Kathmandu University, he served as the founding Executive Director of CTEVT and led major initiatives in technical and school-level education across the country.

Details

Prof. Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma was born on Shrawan 7, 1997 BS in Khurkot, Sindhuli. He completed his early education locally before passing his matriculation exams from Saraswati Secondary School in Janakpur in 1956. He later completed his Intermediate in Science from Public Science Campus (currently Amrit Science Campus) and his Bachelor of Science from Tri-Chandra Campus. With support from the Colombo Plan scholarship, he earned his Master of Science from Karnataka, India, in 1964, followed by a doctorate in Chemistry from South Bank University in the United Kingdom on a British Council scholarship.

After returning to Nepal in 1977, Dr. Sharma initially taught at Tribhuvan University. Along with academic colleagues, he founded Kathmandu Valley College in Pulchowk, which eventually expanded into Kathmandu University in Dhulikhel in Mangsir 2048 BS. During his 21-year tenure as Vice-Chancellor, he guided the university across multiple disciplines including medicine, engineering, management, and pure sciences. Under his leadership, Nepal introduced formal university education in IT and Computer Engineering. Students evaluating computing programs today can read our breakdown on CSIT vs BIT, which to choose.

Dr. Sharma also left a lasting impact on technical and vocational education as the founding Executive Director of CTEVT, established in 2045 BS. He facilitated the creation of ten technical training institutes across underserved regions such as Jumla, Jiri, and Dhankuta. Additionally, he chaired the Budhanilkantha School Management Committee for eight years and served on the National Education Committee for twelve years. Prominent educationists including Prof. Dr. Bhola Thapa, Dr. Ram Kantha Makaju Shrestha, and Kedar Bhakta Mathema have honored his lifelong devotion to practical, skill-focused academic development.

What this means for students

Dr. Sharma built the foundation for practice-oriented and modern technical education in Nepal, creating pathways that thousands of university students benefit from today. To honor this tradition of continuous learning, students can enhance their study routine by reviewing NoteTok, 30-second concept shorts or visiting our portal to ask a question whenever they encounter difficult academic topics.