Honoring Excellence: The Inaugural 2025 Faculty Awards

It gives me tremendous pleasure to welcome you to Acacia University. As Provost of this highly innovative and forward-thinking university, I am very pleased to greet you and, on behalf of the faculty and academic staff who are the heart of our growing institution, to invite you to explore these pages to discover what Acacia has to offer you.

As a global institution delivering top-tier distant education programs, Acacia brings together all of the human and technological resources to create a dynamic space where you can truly thrive. You will discover here a learning environment that is highly interactive, connecting faculty and students from every quadrant of the globe.

We are proud that our award-winning faculty are widely acknowledged as among the finest in their fields, and their academic credentials and experience make them ideally suited to provide you and your fellow students the education you need for success in life, not just for now but throughout your entire career.

Thank you again for visiting Acacia, and come back often.

On behalf of the faculty and staff of Acacia University it is my pleasure to say welcome. You are invited to experience the challenging and rewarding educational opportunities we offer current and prospective students.

Our academic programs are led by world-class faculty who are leaders in their fields and who have numerous international and national awards.  In our online classrooms, you will discover what it is like to be driven by excellence and innovation.  Acacia provides its students with the knowledge and skills necessary to increase their potential and to actualize their desired careers.  The entire faculty and staff will work closely and productively with you because you are so much more than a student to us; you are a member of our academic family. Together we will excel in the years to come.

Acacia University offers a variety of programs ranging from Master’s to Doctorate degrees in Education and we have expansive plans to offer business degrees in the very near future.  We are committed and qualified to provide students an education that is focused on preparing them with the necessary academic and intellectual skills required for their future as well as practical knowledge and skills that are in high demand in today’s global workforce.

We are here to help you realize your full potential and propel you into excellence.  On behalf of the Acacia University community, I welcome you and wish you the absolute best in your educational and personal growth.  We look forward to having you and serving you along the way.

My best wishes for a successful achievement of your goals and objectives.

Welcome to our University! As the Dean for Acacia University’s School of Education, I am excited to be a Westford Education academic team member. Our team shares a vision of excellence and spirit of innovation for creating a better world through global education.

We are committed to the global delivery of high quality educational programs through innovative forms of distance learning. Our students come from all corners of the world and during their studies they collaborate with students from different cultural backgrounds.
We are proud that our graduates are now leaders who are impacting the educational lives of students from local and international communities.

We are excited that you are considering furthering your higher education. Our course offerings include innovative and creative educational programs. We have a fully dedicated faculty and support staff ready to assist you with your educational and career goals. Our world-wide presence continues to grow with the expansion of more programs to address the needs of a diverse international population.

Please explore our website which will provide the pathway for a plethora of possibilities that can be accomplished from anywhere in the world. We look forward to our expanding growth and subsequent successes as a world-class university.

Firoz Thairinil is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Westford Education Group, the leading higher education provider and education management company based in the UK and the UAE. As a 21st-century visionary educational leader, Firoz ensures that a solid commitment to high standards and a performance culture are embedded across the entire group.

Firoz comes from a BFSI background with strong management credentials and an MBA from the University of Wales, UK. He started his career in the banking sector in 1995 as a clerical grade officer and rose to the rank of Country Head in 15 years. During his stint in the Banking Industry, he got the chance to collaborate with reputed institutions like Standard Chartered Bank, Emirates International Bank (ENBD), and National Bank of Umm Al Quwain (NBQ).

He started his entrepreneurial journey in 2008 with a solid vision to create an impact in the education sector. Despite being faced with tough challenges initially, the quality of education was never compromised. He ensured a continuous investment in technology and an excellent student support ecosystem. Slowly, the group succeeded in winning the confidence of its learners and the community due to its steadfast commitment to students’ welfare and their success stories.

With Firoz’s consistent determination and hard work, Westford branched out as a network of business schools with students from more than 130 countries across the globe since its humble beginning in 2008. The group’s exponential growth has been accomplished through Firoz’s visionary business acumen accomplished the group’s exponential growth.

Under his leadership, Westford Education Group leveraged technology to disrupt the existing education models, making them more accessible and affordable. The latest technology, combined with partnerships with prestigious universities characterized by rich legacies of hundreds of years, made the group unique in the saturated higher education sector.ted higher education sector.

Samras is a passionate edupreneur with more than 22 years of experience in the BFSI and education industry. A highly consummate professional turned entrepreneur, he holds an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Anglia Ruskin University, UK, and Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Wales, UK, Leadership and Management Development program from UCLA extension, USA. Samras, with his astute leadership skills, has brought many transformational changes and has played an instrumental role in expanding the Westford group to new heights. Over the years, the group has built its reputation on delivering quality and supporting students in their learning journey.

Samras leads the strategic initiatives and projects of the group-wide organization of Westford Education Group. In addition to the group role, Samras spearheads and leads the entire business with P&L responsibility for Exeed College, Exeed ECX, Taito Education, Airtics Education, and Coding School, independent SBUs of the group. He is also responsible for steering the group’s project initiatives and strategic investments for its business expansions and cross-border transactions. Samras focuses on sustaining and growing existing partnerships and developing new associations and affiliations with external partners and plays an instrumental role in the organization’s corporate affairs and public relations.

The group’s exemplary growth has been accomplished through his business skills and his strong commitment to the highest standards of excellence and ethics. He upholds the values of strength, performance and passion and believes these qualities have contributed significantly to his progressive growth, success, and leadership.

Having been at the helm of Acacia University, Exeed College, Exeed ECX, Taito Education, Airtics Education and Coding School, the prestigious entities under Westford Education Group, Samras is on his mission to open the borders of futuristic education and provide opportunities for aspiring learners across the globe.

An award-winning researcher with several years of experience in planning, designing, and delivering business management programs in the higher education and corporate sectors in the UK, Europe, Middle East and India, Dr Vivek currently holds the position of Academic Quality Advisor, Acacia University. A PhD holder in Business Management, Dr Vivek’s responsibilities include safeguarding the academic standards of the university’s teaching provision, achieving outstanding academic quality, and promoting quality enhancement activity to enrich the student learning experience.

An outstanding leader with more than 30 years of experience, Anil is presently spearheading all academic programs for Westford Education Group, as the Academic Director. Anil heads the academic functions of the group responsible for the academic planning, evaluation and assessment administration, curriculum development, academic resources development, accreditation and managing quality and standards.

Anil has taught at leading universities and business schools and is also a master trainer. In addition to academia, Anil had successful stints in the corporate world being an outstanding leader in the domain of Corporate, HR and Business Management Services.

A veteran ex-army officer, Anil was also extensively involved in training while serving in the Indian Army and was deputed by the Indian Government to train the Botswana Defense Force.

As an experienced HR, Training & Development Professional, his expertise includes, conducting MBA courses for working professionals through the aegis of elite global universities, and conducting corporate training and learning festivals for large corporations. He has diverse experience in all HR matters on recruitment planning, induction, training and development, motivational and behavior aspects of a large workforce, manpower planning, labor laws interpretation, etc.