The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Professor Chandrabhan Sharma retired as Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering from the UWI in September 2021 after 35 years of sterling contribution. He was Head of the Centre for Energy Studies, Engineering Institute, a position he held since 1994. He also acted periodically as Head of the Faculty from 1997 to 2019. Professor Sharma joined the UWI as a Lecturer in 1986, was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1996 and to the rank of Professor in 2007. 

Professor Sharma was Energy Systems programme leader from 1995 up to the time of his retirement; Deputy Dean, Undergraduate Students Affairs from 2007 to 2009; Deputy Dean, Physical Facilities, Administrative and Technical staff from 1999 to 2001 and 2009 to 2015; Deputy Chair of the Engineering Institute; member of its Faculty board and a member of the Faculty’s continuing education and extension services committee. 

Professor Sharma has produced 38 refereed journal papers; 14 book chapters; 56 refereed conference papers; 34 technical reports and 13 invited presentations. Professor Sharma is an International Reviewer for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (IEEE), Power Engineering Subcommittee. 

In 2014, as Chairman of TOSL Engineering, he was instrumental in the donation of a fully operational gulf cart from TOSL to the seed development of the Faculty’s electric vehicle programme, which he formed and led. He also sourced funding to establish the Caribbean Accreditation Council for Engineering and Technology and was its first President. Professor Sharma also gained the commitment of Trinidad and Tobago Electricity (T&TEC) between 1998 and 2010 to annually sponsor six bursaries to students doing the Energy Systems option in their final year. 

Professor Sharma’s service to The UWI was not limited to the academic. He sat on many campus committees. These included Chairman of the Campus Programme Viability Assessment Committee; the St Augustine campus’ Appointments committee for Administrative, Technical and Service staff; the Engineering Advisory Assessment and Promotions Committee; the Campus Appointments Committee and Chair, Academic Board Subcommittee which examined the performance of CAPE mathematics students in 2010.  He also sat on the University’s Ordinance 8, Blue Book and Career Path committees and represented non-professorial staff on the Academic Board. 

Professor Sharma is a past President and Vice President of the West Indies Group of University Teachers (WIGUT) St. Augustine. He is a former advisor to the office of the Caribbean Utilities Regulators on the Electricity sector and developer and convener of the Electrical and Electronics CAPE exam. He sat on several committees of the TTBS. He was also a member of the Cabinet Appointed Task Force on “Technical Vocational Education and Training”. He sat on many negotiating teams, including Deputy Chairman of the team which divested 49% of the generation facilities of (T&TEC); held positions on the boards of Republic Bank (19 years), Barbados National Bank’s Finance and Trust and Funds Subsidiaries, ISCOTT, PowerGen, Chairman of NIDCO, Chairman of DOC’s Engineering, Chairman of TOSL, Tricon and T&TEC, including chair of the T&TEC tenders and contracts committee. He also was a member of Commissions of Enquiries in Trinidad(2005) and Jamaica (1997). He recently served as the Chair of the Cabinet Committee appointed to investigate the Islandwide Blackout of February 16th 2022. Professor Sharma is also a Certified Accredited Director. 

Professor Sharma was awarded by the IEEE for his leadership in accreditation Activities with the ”Meritorious Achievement Award”. He was also recognized by T&TEC for Outstanding Service to the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission. He was also Chairman of The IEEE Committee on Global Accreditation Activities for four years. 

He has many professional affiliations including Senior Member, Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers; Member Association of Energy Engineers; Member of the International Association of Engineers; Registered Professional Engineer and Senior Member, Instrument Society of America. He is also a past President and Fellow of the Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago.