Professor Dr Suresh Raj Sharma, the founding vice-chancellor of Kathmandu University, died on Wednesday evening while undergoing treatment at HAMS Hospital in Kathmandu. He was 86.

Bibek Baral, vice-chancellor of Kathmandu University, said that Sharma died while receiving treatment at the hospital.

Born in Khurkot of Sindhuli district, Sharma made significant contributions to the development of technical and higher education in Nepal.

Following the establishment of the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training, Sharma became its first executive director. He was also actively involved in the establishment of Kathmandu University and became its first vice-chancellor.

He served as the university’s vice-chancellor continuously from 1991 to 2012. Sharma was a member of Kathmandu University’s Board of Trustees.