The School of Gandhian Thought and Development Studies at Mahatma Gandhi University is pleased to announce the appointment of distinguished visiting professors by the Vice Chancellor as per the university order. The following eminent scholars have been approved as visiting professors to enrich our academic programs and research initiatives.
This visiting faculty program reflects our commitment to bringing diverse perspectives and expertise to the fields of emerging academic areas in the world. In an increasingly interconnected global landscape, contemporary challenges require interdisciplinary approaches that transcend traditional academic boundaries. These distinguished academics will contribute to our teaching, research, and scholarly discourse while engaging with our students and faculty community.
Prof. Ajit Dayanandan
Prof. Ajit Dayanandan is a Professor of Finance at the College of Business and Public Policy, University of Alaska Anchorage and currently serves as a Visiting Professor at the Indian Institute of Management, Tiruchirappalli. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Sydney, Australia, and an M.A. in Economics (Gold Medalist) from the University of Kerala. With over three decades of experience, including his tenure as Director of the Department of Economics and Policy Research at the Reserve Bank of India (1984-2001), Prof. Dayanandan is a pioneering researcher in corporate castism and its impact on business practices in India. His groundbreaking work examines caste primacy in auditor choice, corporate board member selection, merger and acquisition transactions, and caste diversity in corporate governance. He also specializes in corporate finance, banking and financial institutions, ESG studies, digital finance and FinTech, and earnings management. His extensive research portfolio includes 58+ peer-reviewed publications, with significant contributions to understanding how caste dynamics influence corporate decision-making and business relationships in contemporary India.Prof. A.K. Ramakrishnan
Prof. A.K. Ramakrishnan is a former Professor at the Centre for West Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and former Director of the Human Rights Studies Programme. He completed his Ph.D. from Mahatma Gandhi University with a specialization in US perceptions of Iran, and holds an M.Phil from Jawaharlal Nehru University. A Distinguished International Scholar at Bucknell University, USA, Prof. Ramakrishnan’s research expertise encompasses international relations, West Asian studies, US foreign policy, orientalism and postcolonial studies, human rights, globalization, and Gandhian perspectives on international issues. His academic experience spans universities across Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East, with numerous publications on international relations and contemporary global issues.Dr. Sajitha Bashir
Dr. Sajitha Bashir currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee for the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, and is a Senior Consultant on Digital Skills and Digital Economy, while also holding a Visiting Professorship at Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA. She holds a Ph.D., M.Sc., and B.Sc. in Economics from the London School of Economics, University of London. With over 30 years of experience in international development, Dr. Bashir previously worked with The World Bank Group (2000-2021), managing portfolios across sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Middle East, and Latin America. Her research focuses on digital transformation in human development, international development policy, science and technology capacity building in developing countries, and education and digital skills frameworks, making her a globally recognized expert in development economics and digital transformation strategies.
