Dr. Bindu has over 20 years of experience in higher education, with more than a decade in the UAE. She holds a PhD in Management and an MBA in Finance, specializing in finance and strategy. As a former Acting Dean at a renowned UAE university, she gained extensive knowledge in launching and managing UAE Ministry of Education-accredited programs. Her expertise also includes curriculum development and quality assurance. Dr. Bindu has presented papers at numerous national and international conferences, earning multiple best paper awards. Currently, she serves as Senior Faculty and Assistant Dean at DeMont Institute of Management and Technology.
With over 30 years of leadership in teacher education, K-12 education, curriculum design, and school administration, Poonam has pioneered innovative curriculum reforms and instructional strategies to promote critical thinking. Renowned for developing comprehensive teaching models, she regularly speaks at national and international conferences. Poonam currently leads the MALED, MAED, and PGCEi programs from Liverpool John Moores University at Westford University College, UAE, and serves as the Lead Quality Assurer for NCFE CACHE, UK courses. Her current research focuses on ‘Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Educational Transformation’.
Dr. Soofi Anwar is the Associate Dean at Westford University College, with over 21 years of experience in higher education teaching and academic leadership across the UAE, Bahrain, and India. A Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (Advance HE) in the UK, he holds a PhD in Management and an MBA in Marketing & International Business. Dr. Soofi was honored with the Middle East Education Leadership Award for Best Professor in Management in 2018, recognizing his academic excellence and leadership. He has numerous research publications to his name, including a patent.
Dr. Benita is an Assistant Professor with over 8 years of experience in Higher Education. She holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Mother Teresa University, along with master’s degrees in computer engineering and computer applications. Dr. Benita combines her dedication to student success with a passion for research, actively presenting and publishing in peer-reviewed journals and conferences. She has taught and overseen undergraduate and graduate courses for international students, significantly contributing to project portfolio development and student mentoring. Her research interests include Artificial Neural Networks, Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Image Processing.
Dr. Khyati Marwah is an academician and researcher with over 15 years of experience in university education. She holds a doctorate in computer science and engineering and has published more than 15 research articles in reputed Scopus-indexed journals and conferences. Her areas of interest include Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Soft Computing, and Machine Learning. Dr. Marwah has taught various courses to undergraduate and postgraduate engineering students using diverse teaching methods, including lectures, labs, seminars, and case studies. Throughout her career, she has also held roles such as Training and Placement Coordinator and Post Graduate Program Academic Coordinator. She remains actively engaged in research and professional activities to stay current in her field.
Anushka is a dynamic professional who combines her engineering background with business management expertise. As a faculty member and program leader for the Pearson Level 3 Foundational Program at Westford, she is also pursuing a Ph.D. in Business with Management, focusing on Flexible Work Arrangements. Anushka holds Fellow status (FHEA) from the Higher Education Academy (UK), is a Certified Management & Business Educator, and has a Pearson Level 4 Certificate in Leading Internal Quality Assurance. Her research is published in Scopus-indexed books by Springer and Emerald. Anushka actively participates in academic conferences, mentors students for competitions, and organizes events. She engages with distinguished authors and contributes to shaping future leaders through a blend of academic rigor, humor, and technology.
Shaa Ista comes from a financial management background with experience in research and administration. A research enthusiast with a passion for writing, she has published journals on finance topics including financial analysis, capital structure, and corporate governance. Shaa has a strong ability to teach and work with adults, bringing a people-oriented approach to her students. Currently a Ph.D. candidate, she is pursuing her Doctorate in the role of financial technology in the banking sector at a renowned university in South Africa.
Diana is a dynamic Talent Development Practitioner, Corporate Trainer, and Public Speaker with extensive corporate experience and a strong academic background. She has worked in the hospitality, manufacturing, and healthcare industries and is passionate about teaching, training, and competency development for individuals and teams. Diana holds a bachelor’s degree in management from University College Dublin (Ireland) and an MBA from PIM Sri Lanka. Professionally qualified in HR and Talent Development, she has also worked extensively with schools and educational institutes in Sri Lanka, conducting programs in Personality Development, Image Consultancy, Leadership, and Career Guidance as a personal passion.
Paul has over 18 years of experience in supply chain management, with expertise in warehouses, strategic sourcing, inventory management, and freight logistics. A full-time practitioner for most of his career, he has been sharing his knowledge with students for the past 13 years. He holds an MSc in Procurement from the University of South Wales (UK), a Postgraduate Degree in Higher Education from Greenwich University (UK), and has been MCIPS eligible for 11 years. At Westford, Paul leads company and project-based modules, supply chain management courses, and serves as a dissertation supervisor for undergraduate and MBA students, with research interests in operations and supply chain management.
Madhyama is an experienced academic with over 8 years in the UAE education sector. She is a qualified Level 3 Assessor and Level 4 Internal Quality Verifier. Holding a Bachelor’s in Management with a specialization in Human Resources and a Master’s in Education from the University of Wollongong in Dubai, she has specialized in Educator Training and Management Leadership. Starting as a teaching assistant, Madhyama advanced to Senior Lecturer roles in various teacher training institutes. She is skilled in course coordination, faculty leadership, and ensuring compliance with international standards set by bodies like Ofqual, NCFE, and CACHE.
