Dr. Kamal Lamichhane has been an Associate Professor at the Division of Disability Sciences, Institute of Human Sciences at the University of Tsukuba in Japan since 2015, serving also as a Senior Researcher at the University of Tokyo. As a core member of the University of Tsukuba’s Center for Research on International Cooperation in Educational Development (CRICED), Dr. Lamichhane collaborates with governments to identify challenges and provide technical assistance for inclusive education in Asian nations in partnership with the Regional Center for Special Needs Education of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization.
Dr. Lamichhane earned his Ph.D. in interdisciplinary studies, focusing on disability studies and education from the University of Tokyo in 2010. Over the past 14 years, he has led projects on disability across Asia and Africa, demonstrating the value of investing in disability to unlock the potential of individuals with disabilities and improve the well-being of families and societies.
Previously, Dr. Lamichhane worked as a Research Fellow at the Japan International Cooperation Agency and conducted research on the intersection of disability and gender. He has also been a visiting scholar at Harvard University and worked as a consultant with the World Bank, Encompass LLC and Inclusive Development Partner.
His primary research areas encompass disability studies, inclusive education, education policy and employment. Dr. Lamichhane also examines the correlation between disability and poverty, with a particular emphasis on low and middle-income countries.
His book, “Disability, Education and Employment in Developing Countries: from Charity to Investment,” received the Japan Society for International Development Incentive Award in 2016, and Dr. Lamichhane was honored as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World in 2018 in the category of academic leadership and accomplishment by Junior Chamber International (JCI).