Vinod Anand

SELF ASSESSMENT: VINOD K. ANAND

This write up reflects my own self-assessment of my background, academic achievements, and work and administrative experience in the field of economics (both teaching and research).

I have been a Professor and Head of the Department of Economics, Allahabad University (India) for a number of years, and have also served in that position at a number of overseas universities, essentially in the African region.

In terms of research, I have rich and varied experience, essentially in the areas of informal sector studies, development issues, and new political economy, accompanied with a thorough background of economic theory and policy (both at the micro and macro level) and quantitative (both mathematical and statistical) and analytical economics. Of the various requirements needed for a successful career in my profession, I strongly fulfill most of them (Ph.D., strong research record, project and policy work, and directly working with a range of stakeholders including the government and the non-gove ment agencies delivering support and other services to the major stakeholders/ role players in a given research). I have undertaken a number of informal sector projects in various countries including India. During 2001-03, I was the primary researcher of an ambitious project on “The Employment Profile of Micro Units in the State of Himachal Pradesh in India.” at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla (India). This will soon be published in a book form by the said Institute. I have also undertaken a number of consultancies on equity issues in the context of developing countries.

In my research endeavors, I have freely demonstrated the required ability to mingle with foreign cultures and make friends easily across cultures in my visits to Africa where the universities I have worked with always wanted me to stay on because of my social skills and friendly temperament.

During my teaching career as an economist, I have demonstrated very strongly my ability to contribute to the profession as an active researcher and teacher by publishing persistently in academic jou als and books, including writing several of my own books. My contribution to the field of economics has been both theoretical and applied, as is apparent from research interests on local area topics in the various countries of Africa where I taught for about 18 or so odd years. For example, my research interests in development topics in Nigeria, Sudan, Botswana, or South Africa were particularly useful, not only in the pursuit of my own research interests but also in encouraging a large number of African students to pursue relevant economic research under my guidance. My ability to mentor students and junior colleagues in India and the various African universities is well recognized and respected, as is evident from my most recent South African experience where I was advising a large body of students on the one hand and collaborating with academics from other universities on the other.

In addition to actively pursuing teaching and research, I think I also exemplify unique leadership and management qualities that are very valuable in the growth and institutional development of any organization. I am always apolitical in the singular pursuit of the academic growth of institute/university where I have worked. This trait evolves from a creative and dynamic temperament that thrives on promoting research ideas and new initiatives that bring prestige and visibility to the department where I have worked, and where I plan to work. This pursuit is reinforced by my amiable personality that wins me friends easily. In fact, one of the main reasons why I think I have been so sought-after by African Universities is my ability to take relatively weak departments and in a relatively short span of time, turn them around into progressive institutions of higher learning

I am confident I will be able to make a strong contribution to your organization/institution. Given an opportunity, I feel I will be able to bring with me the dynamism of an active researcher, teacher and academic enriched by intensive traveling and teaching in India and Africa. I am also capable of offering a rare opportunity for the cross-fertilization of cross-country and indeed, cross-continental research ideas and projects.

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Vinod K. Anand

Former Professor of Economics