asia’s best emerging business school...hanil haridas co-founder & executive director westford...

November 2019 Volume: 12

ASIA’S BEST EMERGINGBUSINESS SCHOOL

Hanil HaridasCo-Founder & Executive DirectorWestford Education Group

Dear Readers,

This edition remains special in numerous ways as we take a moment to express our heartfelt grati-tude to all stakeholders, patrons, faculty, adminis-trative sta�, investors, current students and our distinguished fellow alumni. They have consistently placed immense faith & unfathomable trust in the institution’s meteoric progress and its ability to meet excellence in education.It is with deep pleasure and utmost privilege, that I share our University is awarded by the Asian Edu-cation Leadership Awards as “Asia’s Best Emerging Business School” in a glittering ceremony held on October 10, 2019, adding another feather to our cap.

Our continuous belief in this journey of success, has been built on the strong foundations of our core values, academic ethos and continuous man-agement intent in ‘making a di�erence’ to the learning community.

As we diversify to meet the growing demands of serving student requirements globally. It remains our constant endeavor to pursue excellence in educational delivery, across numerous geographies both through onsite and online platform. I also take a moment to share with our next venture Westford International College. Westford has signed a part-nership with Eulim Tech Pvt Ltd, for o�ering world class educational experiences once again at ‘a�ordable costs’, through ‘easy and convenient learning platforms, by focusing on designing ‘student centric curriculum’. We bring in the UK, European and US-based University accredited programs and courses across undergraduate & post-graduate to the ‘Silicon Valley of India”– Ban-galore.

Our core agenda is the vision of building ‘a condu-cive academic environment’. Which blends culture, diversity, innovation and professional competen-cies through industry-academia.

convocation ceremony of PGD

Westford Toastmasters club -Debate Training Session

Industrial Visit toAlpha Flight Services UAE LLC

Westfordian’s at Wattfest 2019

My Experience at SharjahInternational Book Fair (SIBF)

Industry led learning:Bridging the industry academia gap

The Westford Band

Westford Fashionistas Wowed bythe Jewellery and Fashion Exhibition

MBA student voice

EXPERIENCE WORK DAY atAdecco group, middle east

My mba journey

MBA Student Testimonial

Employee Testimonial

Asian Leadership Award - 2019

Student- Employee Story

Global Trends in EducationalPractices - Learning, Assessmentand Deliverance

BABM student voice

Employee ExperienceMeet the new westfordian

Soaking in the Spirit of Diwali

Student speak

Employee Experience First Monthat Westford

My Internship Experience atAW Rostamani Group, DubaI

Book Review - Cinder

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November 2019 www.mywestford.com | Page - 03

The convocation is a day when success and achievement of our beloved students was celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm. On the 19 th of Oct 2019, our auditori-um reflected a sense of pride as our students from various streams successfully completed their profes-sional courses and were all set to grasp new, better and bigger career opportunities in their respective fields.

The event began with a short motivational speech by one of our most dynamic faculty Mr. Paul Gulston, who threw light on the importance and impact of such professional programs on an individual’s career devel-opment. The speech was followed by certificate distri-bution.

Each student proudly came forward to accept the certificates, as we acknowledged their hard work with smiles and thunder of claps. Many even shared their remarkable experience of learning, and how Westford has been of great support to them during their short yet significant journey.

This memorable day remains well framed in our University annals as we celebrate our students endeavor, perseverance, potential who demonstrat-ed zeal and commitment in developing and advanc-ing their career aspirations through continued self-belief.

convocation ceremony ofPost graduate diploma in healthcare,tourism, human resources, sales & marketing, engineering management,supply chain & procurement.


The Toastmasters International has numerous competitions to test ones’ communication and leadership skills. One such event is the annual “Debate Competition”. Every club around the world gears up for it by having debate master class or in house competitions. Westford had its debate education session on 24th September at the West-ford Campus. It was a great learning session on the art of debating in the Toastmasters world. We were privileged to have 3 external seasoned Toastmasters conducting the session for our student’s ; TM Anita, TM Shiny and TM Shoba. Over 14 students attended the session, we had one round of debate of 2 teams of 3 participants each. These were the trial round preparing the students for the big day. The students thoroughly enjoyed the organized way of debating with another team. Westford Toastmasters Club will organize couple more of such educational sessions before they have an inter club debate competition to select finalists for the main debate.

Westford Toastmasters club -Debate Training Session


Our trip to Alpha Flight Services was enlightening and could prove to be helpful for those who wish to pursue a career there. We were first greeted by Mr. Zoran, the supply chain head of the company and then proceeded to the visitor’s station to collect our security passes. Our group was then accommodated into a meeting room where we were introduced to the Leadership and Develop-mental manager, Ms Faten Salama who gave a comprehensive outline on the methods used to boost sta� morale. One very useful tool used to enforce rules and create a culture of quality was through their recognition and reward system. We were then handed out safety equipment which was mandatory to prevent the vegetables and meat from contamination. To my observation, the company enforces food safety and a quality policy to the point where no individual can enter a work station without sanitizing. The procedure further guarantees food safety for the end user. To ensure food quality, a “golden sample” of the menu is always on display during food preparation, avoiding any imperfections. Overall, the tour was very informative as it is not every day that you are given the opportunity to visit a company that caters to commercial flights.

Industrial Visit toAlpha FlightServices UAE LLC Mr. Naved Asif

HND - BABM

Westfordian’s atWattfest 2019 On the 7th of November 2019, we were given an opportunity to perform at Wattfest hosted by Heriot-Watt Univer-sity. Despite the time crunch, the eight participants put in a lot of work to pull together a performance. We are very grateful to the university for having arranged a choreographer to help us with the performance. It was a novel experience where we got to learn the ins and outs of an intensive competition like Wattfest. There were a lot of fellow dancers from other universities as well as performers skilled in music. We met with a lot of people from di�erent ethnicities and backgrounds. It was a remarkable event where we expressed our passion for dance.


The Sharjah International Book Fair commonly abbreviated as SIBF, is one of the most prestigious events held once every year at the Expo Center Sharjah. People and book lovers from all around the world visit to indulge in the experience of finding the most suitable reading for themselves. I was fortunate enough to attend this book fair and for anyone who is looking for insight, this is what I observed:

There were total seven halls which were dedicated to book-stalls with information guides and maps provided at all the hall entrances. Writers promoted their work and held sign-ings with conferences to give readers more insight about their work. Schools and Universities also participated to promote their programs. The book fair o�ered books in di�erent languages, for example, Arabic, English, etc. Di�er-ent countries also participated to create awareness about their culture through books. There were books o�ered from all categories, for example, fiction, non-fiction, business, autobiographies, self-development etc. The Ruler of Sharjah (H.H. Sheikh DR. SULTAN BIN MOHAMMED AL QASIMI) stated on the Sharjah International Book Fair’s o�cial web-site, “Those of us who enjoy reading in the Emirate of Shar-jah are very keen to create a reading community and promote the benefits of reading among children. For that reason, we provide the best, most suitable books for all the family. We believe that books must be available to all and from this concept, we turn book fairs into an oasis of knowl-edge and enlightenment”, which gave me a better under-standing about the vision and mission of the event.

The book fair also had stalls from food compa-nies like Tim Hortons and Haagen-Dazs so that people could grab a quick snack. Media and television companies took enormous e�orts to promote the significance of this event. I was also very fascinated by the well-organized arrangement of the event. The sta� was very kind to all the customers. The event o�ered a very friendly and welcoming environment for all without any disruptions. Celebrities and radio companies also stepped in to participate.

Overall, I really enjoyed and it was definitely a worthwhile experience for me. I would certainly recommend it to anyone who wants to explore and learn. If you are a reader looking for new books then this is definitely the place for you and even if you aren’t into reading, you should still visit as there are lot of other fun activities on o�er.

My Experience atSharjah InternationalBook Fair (SIBF) Ms. Neha Rehman | HND BABM


Industry led learning: Bridgingthe industry academia gap Westford University College puts a lot of emphasis on industry led learning where the students interact with an industry professional. Based on our pedagogy, the HND students had an opportunity to interact with Ms. Zen Kahn, a Dubai based entrepreneur working in the recruitment and training industry. Ms. Zen shared her story with the class and related it to the topic of interaction "What drives an entrepreneur?" She was open to talk about her failures and success as an entrepreneur which kept the audience engaged and made the whole session very interactive. Ms. Zen emphasized on passion, hard work, risk appetite and money as the drivers that kept her moti-vated in the entrepreneurial journey.



'' Without music, life would be a mistake'' – Friedrich Nietzsche

Being at Westford allowed me to have an experience with music that made me grow as an individual. We were granted the opportunity to form a Westford band.

The band consists of five musicians and five vocalists. We practice every week in our university campus, and perform at many events and competitions. It truly is a dream come true to be up on stage and perform in front of a live audience. It has built my confidence and I have gained experience learning from di�erent singers around the city.

We have Joel as our musical director and pianist, Ben on the bass, Mashenka as a rhythm player; Angee, Amena, Shahid as our vocalists, Sumarita as our lead singer and myself playing the guitar or drums and singing as well. I cannot wait to continue the journey with them wherever we go as they truly are family.

Let me leave you on a good note by saying “Where words leave o�, music begins.”

The Westford Band

Mr. Daniel GonsalvesBABM

As fashion students, we are inclined to see the world through a more creative and di�erent lens and this wonderful yet educational visit ensured and allowed that. We were taken to see how a remarkable designer made it to the world of fashion by showcasing her beautiful collection, we were thoroughly amazed and taught how to never give up, and we saw impeccable clothes and timeless jewellery of the House of Masaba brand. But our trip didn’t end there as we were taken to another fashion exhibition where we were in awe of how beautifully entrepreneurs had displayed their work and were so determined to sell. It was truly a fun filled experience and rewarding and educating in so many ways. We obviously bought some beautiful items but then again which girl could say no to a little bit of shopping? Westford University has our grati-tude for making this trip happen.

Nimra KhawarHND Art & Design (Fashion)

WestfordFashionistas Wowedby the Jewellery andFashion Exhibition


MBA student voice

Why did you choose to pursue an online MBA at Westford?

I completed my Post Graduate Diploma in 2018 from Westford, and I really enjoyed how the course was presented and the learning environment was very supportive as well. The registration process was made simple by the admissions team for both the Diploma and the MBA program. The subject content of the MBA programme o�ered by West-ford seemed interesting and met the requirment to enhance my career.

What class format do you or would you prefer?

Although I was anxious at first about the online classes, I am so relieved that I chose this format because it has provided me with a lot of flexibility. I can access lectures and class materials from anywhere in the world and the online classes are relatively easy to navigate around.

How is the classroom interactions between faculty and students; and peer to peer?

The interactions are great! I have learnt so much from the classroom sessions and have even formed some reliable networks where information is shared with the faculty members and students. The other students are extremely helpful and share valuable knowledge.

What are your thoughts on the level of engagement in online lectures?

The level of engagement really depends on how involved an individual wants to be. I have found that I can often set the pace and when needed, I engage more frequently with the professors and my peers who are always willing to reciprocate.

What type of support do you expect from Westford?

Support from the course administrator and the professors is as expected and they are readily available through so many means such as social media, email and phone calls. I have always called the course administrator directly when I faced some issues and he always took my call and assisted me in a professional and friendly manner. If I were on campus, I would have loved to be a part of the trips and tours that are done as part of the MBA course.

What do you think is or might be the greatest benefit of online learning?

The ease of accessibility from anywhere in the world makes online learning such a pleasure. It is also a�orda-ble; I do not need many resources either than a good internet connection, which is now available anywhere. Sometimes I cannot attend lectures because of work com-mitments, but the online classes have recorded sessions, which is a bonus.

Are you able to apply the theories discussed in the class to your workplace?

Absolutely! I never thought I would be able to achieve and understand so much because of the theories I have learnt during the online sessions, this alone has widened my scope of work and now I am able to apply myself at work. I can even take on added responsibilities because of my increased sphere of knowledge.

Is there anything else you would like to add about online learning? Any recommendations for Westford?

I would appreciate it if they could access the professors who take the online course- it is often very di�cult to connect through the portal. A professor should be open, able to communicate e�ectively and has a character that shows a passion for teaching online, will increase our focus and interest in the module. I would also recommend that the slides used for the online classes be interactive and creative – at times, the slides will include only words, with no media or no videos, having those additional visuals will further help to elaborate on di�cult theories

Ms. Ntombekhaya Delene Msimango Nursing Supervisor, Starcare Hospital

MBA in Healthcare Management - UCAM


‘Experience Work Day’ is part of The Adecco Group’s Way to Work TM, introduced in 2013 to tackle youth unemployment and skills shortages, develop young people’s employability and help them enter the world of work. The Adecco Group is introducing ‘Experience Work Day’ a once in a year opportunity to visit an Adecco o�ce and gain invaluable guidance on career, job hunting, applications and inter-views. Through ‘Way to Work’, The Adecco Group provides young people with internships and apprenticeships (over 10,700 since 2015), career guidance, training and an oppor-tunity to become ‘CEO for one month’.

First session was conducted by Mr.Mayank Patel, Country Manager Adecco UAE. The session was mainly about Adec-co’s core functions, how they operate globally and locally, future of work, developing leadership skills, understanding market demands and strategic approaches that one needs to develop in order to acquire the right job in Dubai.

Mr.Rakesh Sudra, Head of Pracs. Banking and Finance gave an overview of Banking and Finance and how digitalization is transforming the industry.

Mr.Bahaa, Operations Manager- Spoke about jobs of the future and how companies will completely rely on data analytics as core function and transform the workspace to digital interface, he also discussed how recruitment indus-try will gain transformation in the coming years.

Ms.Rebecca Morecroft, Permanent Placement Director had a lovely sit down with students briefing us on PP team core functions, tips on how to present for an interview, how to approach an MNC as a fresh graduate, solving all our queries, grooming us to face interviews and develop a good candidate profile.

Mr.Albert Kunkler, Relationship Manager, LinkedIn conducted a workshop on how to build an e�ective profile on LinkedIn.

Experience Work Day is a way to open up the conversation between businesses and candidates, and to encourage openness about what employers look for, and how that may change in the future. As we live in an age of technological advancement, preparing job seekers and raising awareness of what employers may be looking for in the future is vital to the success of the UAE’s future digital econ-omy. During the Experience Work Day we had the opportunity to “shadow” Adecco Group employees in the Human Resources, Sales, Marketing, IT, Accounting and Payroll departments. At the same time, we learned about the skills and traits that employers are looking for from job seekers, and received tips for an e�ective job search.

EXPERIENCE WORK DAYat Adecco group, middle east On October 24th 2019, the Adecco Group Middle East opened its o�ces to young students from di�erent universities in Dubai, introduced them to the profession they were interested in, and then o�ered us valuable professional guid-ance; it is a global initiative to give young people exposure to the world of work. ADECCO turn their employees into mentors and students learn from them. They transmit their day-to-day knowledge to all future talents, creating an experience that really matters.


As Viktor Frankl said once “if you can no longer change a situation, then challenge enough to change yourself”. That’s how the big decision to join an MBA course came in my life after 21 years of industrial experience.

I am working for a multinational organization and currently the Business Line Head for two divisions for last three years. Before that I was Business Line Head for only one division for 5 years. So, in the last 8 years I have grown hori-zontally because the organization chart is flat. With time, I started to think, that it is time to add some additional qualification to grow further. As they say – there is no age to learning, if you have a strong aspiration!

“Let’s try!” was the feeling came into my mind at this age of 45 and I started exploring various options of online courses, where I had to balance between my work, family and study.

Joining Westford University, I got the platform to add that little extra confidence in me. I really liked the structure of the MBA course (Interna-tional Marketing Management, Strategic Man-agement and Financial Management) from the University of Wolverhampton (through the plat-form of Westford), which is very relevant for my kind of work experience professionals.

A mix of online and face-to-face classes, great interactive session with the experienced & learned faculties, and international networking exposure with the professionals of di�erent industry made the journey extremely exciting and energetic.

I am an early riser, so I planned to invest my 2 hours of morning time on my MBA course regu-larly. My job demands lot of travelling (almost 2 weeks in a month) and I started utilizing my travel flying time in reading the journals and articles and other relevant material provided by the university. My morning and evening walk are the time to think how I can implement my learn-ings into action.

I could not believe at first that I have completed Part 1 of the program with distinction in July 2019, that boosted my confidence to progress with Part 2. One of the professors during face to face class at Kochi, showed the picture of the convocation at University of Wolverhampton, from that day on it has been my driving force to see myself in the ‘graduation robe’ and graduate from the University of Wolverhampton next year.

My mbajourney

Mr. Prabhat MittalBusiness Line Manger

Mechanical Cutting and Tunnelling. MBA – University of Wolverhampton


“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young” these thoughts were quoted by one of the most prolific industrialist and business mogul of the 19th Century, Henry Ford.

Accordingly my strong belief is that there is no age limit to gain knowledge and learn new skills. Although, I have been working in a senior managerial post for many years but the attitude and desire to upgrade my professional qualification and learn latest working methods in corporate world prompted me to decide and enroll myself into the MBA program.

As a working professional with full time job, I needed flexi-bility of timing for learning coupled with real value for money against the investment on self, under these circum-stances online classes was the best and viable option where I could study and work without relocating. After going through many options and evaluation I selected Westford University College which o�ered me the desired curriculum.

In the beginning, my criteria for enrolling in a Business School was based on the credibility of the school combined with pool of experienced faculty, syllabus and o�-course the tuition fees. Now, I can proudly say that my decision to filter and finalize Westford University College was indeed the best decision.

MBA Student Testimonial

Mr. Aslam H. Beary Logistics Manager

MBA – University of Wolverhampton

My journey with Westford University College began in April 2014. I am amazed to see the growth of organization in the last 5 years and feel privileged to be an integral part of it. I am delighted with the fact that I am surrounded by a team of dynamic professionals who spend hours discussing new ideas and methods to make education accessible to the farthest parts of the globe. As a result, the popularity of our online and onsite classes has increased dramatically in the last few years. My job entails dealing with students, parents, vendors, subordinates, and accounts and it can be demanding at times. Howev-er, I have discovered how to be a productive employee while juggling many responsibilities at a time. At Westford, our students are the key stakeholders and we value them above all. Westford gives me the freedom and flexibility to carry out my daily tasks e�ectively. I wish more success to Westford in the days to come. The journey with WUC has been truly wonderful.

Ms. Nandini AnoopSales Administrator

EmployeeTestimonial


Ms. Natalina Albeno Student - BABM Work: Course Administrator

Student- Employee Story


Back in 2006, I graduated from college with an auto-motive engineering diploma. Like any other youth back then, I applied for jobs and got an opportunity to work for General Motors (EA). During my working days then and as a first-time employee, I developed various interests most of all towards how things were run, not technically but on business acumen. At the back of my mind I knew I wanted to go back for a proper business degree but due to meager salary, I could not even a�ord to put myself through school and cater for my basic needs.

In 2015, I got a rare chance to come work in the UAE. I also on the other hand had never given up the thought that I would one day want to fulfil my dream of earning a business degree. Through research and consulta-tions, I finally got an admission chance with Westford University College in June 2017. It was one of the tough-est choices I ever made especially by the fact that I was going back to serious studies after such a long time.

In 2019 September, I finally got a chance to work for a university that believed in one of their many students. I believe that my being here at Westford as a student and an employee has helped me interact to depth with my faculty and now my colleagues. There is a lot of work that the university has put in to ensure that every student gets quality knowledge towards whatever courses they have enrolled in.

In its 8th Year, the Asian Leadership Awards salutes remarkable business leaders and organizations in Asia for their continuing commitment to excellence, developing best practices and inno-vative strategies. Westford University College was the “Asia’s Best Emerging Business School”.

Asian Leadership Award distinguishes and honors leaders and companies who have contributed and shaped the Asian economy, and are visionaries behind today's outstanding businesses. Mr. Firoz Thairinil received the award at the ceremony which was held at the Address Hotel, Dubai Mall on 10th of October 2019.

Mr. Firoz Thairinil states, “We are excited to recieve this award, 2019 has been a great year for us having bagged 2 prestigious awards, Forbes Higher Education award and Middle East Educa-tional Leadership Award. These awards are the clear reflection of Westford's commitment to the contribution to the higher educa-tion in the region, this is only been possible due to the high level of commitment of our sta�s and students and I take this opportu-nity to thank each and everyone for their reletness e�orts which made us achieve all these accolades”.

Asian LeadershipAward - 2019

Guess, with the rapid advancements in societal preferences, themes such as – Context Based Learning, Stealth Assessment, Analytics of Learner Emotions are evolving to add new dimension and challenging traditional teaching methods across formal, online and informal learning and delivery platforms within Universities and Academia globally.

While researchers, scientists and psychologists are yet to discover the direct influence and connect when establishing validity of educational content in the learning process, several academicians and administrators have already voiced how everyday experiences can now form part of University Learning Programs as content must link real life issues to add motivation and spark to comple-ment crossover learning experiences.

Scientists working in simulated environments along with global think tanks argue that creating ‘Augmented Labs’ shall transform learning and teaching experiences as specific models must be developed to support constructive theories while refining ideas, drive inclusive student engagement, improve student attention and listening skills, enhance better class participation as students ought to experience concept-based application under incubated labs & virtual environments. This paradigm shift poses a real chal-lenge to the current practice among Universities that prides itself on using standard power-point presentations when engaging with students carrying varied intellectual capacities and di�erent learning styles.

Global Trends inEducational Practices -Learning, Assessmentand Deliverance.

Furthermore, as Automation a�ects industries per se’, educational institutions in future would need to deploy ‘eye track-ers’ and ‘facial recognition software’s’ in classroom environments to help profes-sors examine & analyze student’s emo-tional and cognitive learning states on a real-time basis to review student mind-sets and brain functionality (fixed or malleable), along with exploring disrup-tive teaching strategies that shall combine technology to enhance quality of student engagement which focuses on (tenacity, reflective learnings) to better deal with bored, lost, frustrated students adding more relevance within a context and tech-nology based academic environment.

Lastly Stealth Assessment techniques shall help collect necessary data on pref-erences & habits of learners, drawing collective wisdom from operational prin-ciples of online gaming environments that successfully tracks actions and decisions along with forming conclusive evidences on intended outcomes of participants. Likewise using the same technique, Universities & Academic Institutions, shall be better positioned to collect rich scientific data in an unrestricted manner under digital environment for monitoring learning process and in particular meas-ure hard skills such as – perseverance, creativity and logical/strategic thinking among students along with scientifically tracking each learner’s progress to serve as a value based input for professor’s and administrators when adopting robust and data-driven academic strategies in future..



Why did you choose to study at Westford University College? The primary reason for choosing WUC is the fact that it o�ers com-petitive fees without compromising on the quality of education. Moreover, they have a tie-up with accredited UK universities and have a diverse student body. Which activities in the classroom do you enjoy the most? We learn theories and concepts by doing a plethora of activities in the classroom. It helps us not only to learn the concepts but also to remember it for a long time. We do a lot of activities using MTI and Team Kits. Besides this, our professors conduct creative activities using spaghetti, eggs, and other fun props. It enables us to open up and put our ideas forward. How is Westford di�erent from other universities? Westford is di�erent from other universities in its approach. They value students more than anything else and we are free to walk up to the director and dean to talk about any issues whatsoever. They ensure that all the students are given personal attention in the class.

How would you describe the college atmosphere? The atmosphere is very lively and I enjoy every minute of it. It is great to see students from di�erent nationalities coming together under one roof and study in harmony.

How has your learning experience been so far? My learning experience with WUC has been going well. I am a completely trans-formed person after joining Westford. I have honed a lot of new skills and quali-ties which are required to be a leader in the 21st century. Westford taught me to set deadlines for everything in my life and then work towards it. It encourages me to remain focus on my goals while maintaining high quality.

Mr. Mikael Shameel BasithHND - BABM

BABM student voice

Employee ExperienceMeet the new westfordian

Ms. Saba AnsariAdmissions O�cer

I work in sales and in the last 8 years of my professional career I have had the opportunity to work with great organizations. Colleagues have known me as someone who is highly optimistic and creative, who can always be trusted to come up with a new approaches .to doing things.

I am truly passionate about most of the things in life which I count in as one of my biggest strengths. When enthusiasm casts its spell on me, I feel supercharged and capable of doing anything. When it comes to hobbies- I am a reader, my recent engagement is Danny Wallace ‘F You Very Much-Understanding the Culture of Rudeness.’

At Westford handling enrollments as an Admission O�cer is a pleasant addition which I am extremely proud of. From my very first interaction, I realized Westford was fully committed to o�ering the highest level of service and quality education to their students. Learning from this, I am happily and positively looking forward to my journey ahead.


My experience at Westford University College with the Cardi� Metropolitan University MBA, has been excellent and a memory to cherish for a lifetime. The time i spent here have been a great learning opportunities and I came across various people from di�er-ent countries and cultures. I thank Westford professors for their constant encourage-ment and support during my MBA journey.

Diwali is one of the most popular festivals of Hindus which embarks the spirit of “good over evil, a victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.” In the five-day festival the people worship the goddess of prosperity, Lakshmi. The spirit of Diwali symbolizes the celebration of life at both professional and personal levels, a time to rejoice and feast with friends and family.

Harmony and peace are the prominent symbols of the festival. It is the time of the year to reflect and evaluate our thoughts, acknowl-edge and understand prejudices, negative behaviour and bad habits. Inner reflection marks the beauty of this festival celebrated worldwide. With the strong belief in acceptance of diverse commu-nities from di�erent parts of the world and marking 2019 as the “Year of Tolerance”, UAE ecelebtated the festival of happiness, prosperity and light by arranging fireworks and concerts across the Emirates in malls and open places.

The beautiful tradition of UAE of exchanging gifts, sweets and dried fruits is extremely popular among Indian residents. The decoration in the houses’ floors, entrances with flowers and intricate patterns called “Rangoli”, were a frequent sight.

Westford University College strongly believes in the community spirit of UAE, also celebrated the festival by organizin-gateam lunch and rejoiced the mul-ti-cultural facet of this dynamic work-place.

Soaking in theSpirit of Diwali

Mr. Bara’a Abbas

Art Director, Bramble Perfumes, Al Hawai GroupCMU MBA - Class of 2019

Student speak


To begin with, I grew up seeing my dad working hard since my childhood to meet our needs. He did this without letting me know about his struggles in the workplace. This was a major reason I aspired to start working at a very young age. My dad placed my education before anything else. He encour-aged me to join Westford University College to pursue my Bachelor's degree in finance.

It was during the summer break in August, I got an o�er from AW Rostama-ni Group in Dubai to work as an intern in the finance department. Little did I know that this internship would turn out to be a life-changing experience for me. It was a great learning curve for me to be a part of the leading auto-mobile dealer in the UAE. The most beneficial part of working with them was that they invested a lot of time and energy in me by providing me the training and support regularly. They understood the fact that I was an intern and I needed a lot of hand-holding and supervision throughout my internship. I had the chance to work with certified accountants and finance professionals from di�erent parts of the world. Contrary to the popular belief that finance is a boring job, I found my true calling in finance. The better part of my time comprised of number crunching and learning the complex calculations. We used to discuss the various aspects of accounting and finance over lunch.

I began my finance specialization modules soon after completing my internship and I could corre-late most of the theories and models which were explained in the classroom with my internship experience. Finally, I bid adieu to all my colleagues and subordi-nates, dreaming to come back one day to work as a full-time employee. I am thankful to the almighty for giving me such a wonderful opportunity to be a part of the AW Rostamani Group.

at AW Rostamani Group, Dubai

Ms. Shivani VakkielHND BABM

I'm a fun, friendly and joyful individual, a skilled professional with IT and real estate background. I'm passionate about customer service and I tend to go above and beyond to help everyone. Enhancing customer experience through the use of technology has always been my aspiration.

I assist professional students studying MBA courses on campus. I always extend my assistance to ensure they have the right support and help. I make sure not only they enjoy their study at Westford but also have fa seamless experience.

I play Basketball and I am a gamer at heartI exhibit analytical, diagnostic and troubleshooting skills. These competen-cies instilled the value of grit, perseverance, optimism and determination in me. I have strong work ethics and collaborate well in a team to achieve com-pany’s target and goals.

The experience to interact with colleagues and students provide such a great tool for me to further develop my interpersonal skills. Being a versatile indi-vidual, Westford has given me a greater viewpoint in quality, professionalism and integrity..

Employee Experience First Month at Westford

Mr. Raya Yamazaki course Administrator

(MBA-Onsite)

My Internship Experience

Dr. Raman SubramanianContent Editor

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Book Review -Cinder

Cinder by Marissa Meyer is the first book of “The Lunar Chronicles” series. Cinder involves a new take on an ancient fairy tale Cinderella. It is placed in the futuristic world. It tells the story through the eyes of a gifted mechanic also a cyborg, Cinder. Cinder is a fabulous tough girl with a mysterious past.

Cinder, a young cyborg is the primary star of The Lunar Chronicles series. She’s berated by her stepmother and accused for the sudden illness of her stepsister. But when her life is entangled with the charming Prince Kai’s, she finds herself at the core of a violent fight between the desires of a wicked queen and a deadly temptation.

Cinder is a unique twist on a tale as old as time “Cinderella”. I loved Cinder. She was entertaining, smart, determine protago-nist throughout the series and not even for once I felt bored reading her story in the book. Cinder inspired me a lot because it made me understand that when faced with di�cult circumstances and cruel treatment, we can still make good decisions with sound grit and thoughtfulness. This book will also let you understand the feeling of being di�erent from everyone else.

Overall, if you’re looking for a fun, action-packed with little romance and wholly unique sci-fiction adventure which stands out from the crowd, Cinder is the book for you. Readers will love the connection to the original story Cinderella, in this book and will enjoy the way it is modified. There is a good blend of action and mystery which is addictive. Also, if you start reading this book you will find it hard to put down. Lastly, the back of this book says: “This isn’t the fairytale you remember. But it's one you won’t forget” and I couldn’t agree more! Happy Reading

Ms. Mahe ZehraHND BABM

by Marissa Meyer

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