Professor Udoy Saikia

Professor Udoy Saikia is a Social Demographer with postgraduate degrees from London School of Economics,UK, International Institute for Population Sciences, India and PhD from Flinders University, Australia. He has a long interest in research related to population dynamics, human wellbeing and sustainable development. Associate Prof Saikia has successfully completed a number of international research projects in the Asia and the Pacific region which includes Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and India. He has published over 50 articles, chapters and letters in scholarly journals and books, or as refereed conference papers or reports. The “wellbeing index” which is the most innovative part of his research has been the core focus of a number of recent Human Development Reports published by the United Nations. Most recently in his role as the Lead Author and the Team Leader, Associate Prof Saikia has completed the research project leading to the production of the UN National Human Development Report, Timor-Leste 2018- a report which focuses on policy pathways to achieve demographic dividend. His research leadership in his area of expertise has been evident in a series of successful research collaborations, both at national and international level leading to receiving a total research grant of Australian $542,624.00 till date from several funding agencies. He has successfully supervised 9 PhD students (5 as Principal Supervisor) so far. He received “Vice Chancellors Award for Excellence in teaching, 2011” and “Citations for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning, 2012”, Office of Learning and Teaching, Government of Australia. He served as the Vice President of Australian Population Association, the peak professional body of population research in Australia, for two consecutive terms (2011-1015).