Umesh Sharma is a Professor in the Faculty of Education at Monash University, Australia where he is the Associate Dean (Equity and Inclusion). Umesh’s research programs in the area of disability and inclusive education span India, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Samoa as well as Australia, Canada, USA and New Zealand. He is the chief co-editor of the Australasian Journal of Special Education and the Oxford Encyclopedia of Inclusive and Special Education.
He has authored over 175 academic articles, book chapters and edited books that focus on various aspects of inclusive education. His co-authored book “A Guide to Promoting a Positive Classroom Environment” was the recipient of the International Book Prize Award from the Exceptionality Education International. He was (2019) named the top Special Education Researcher in Australia based on the impact of his work locally and internationally by the Australian Chief Scientist. More recently he was identified as the ‘most prolific author’ in the field of inclusive teacher education (ITE) and inclusive education respectively based on systematic bibliometric reviews which examined the work of highly cited inclusive education researchers in the last 25 years.
His main areas of research are positive behaviour support, inclusive education for disadvantaged children and policy and practice in special and inclusive education.
