Dhaneswar Harichandan (born on 11th Octomber 1960) is Professor of Education and Director, Institute of Distance Education, University of Mumbai. He holds a Ph.D. degree in Distance Education from YCMOC, Nashik, M.Phil, and Master in Population Studies from International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai and Master of Arts in Education from Kurukshetra University after obtaining B.A. (Hons.) degree in Education from Utkal University. He has also Post Master’s Diploma in Adult and Continuning Education from SNDT University and Diploma in Distance Education from IGNOU. He has more than two decades of experience as a teacher educator in face-to-face classroom teaching as well as distance education mode and has guided students at M.Phil. and Ph.D. level.

Prof. Harichandan has published 2 books, edited 14 books, 3 chapters in books, 24 articles and research papers in National and International journals and has organized, participated and contributed papers in workshops, seminars & conferences. He has completed a Major Research Project sanctioned by Distance Education Council on Teacher Education programme through Distance Education Mode in Indian Universities and is life member of several professional bodies like IAEPA, IAEA, AIAET, AIAER, ISCA, IDEA & IATE. He is also associated with UGC, NAAC, NCTE, COL and UKOU in different capacities.