Dr. Hassan Mahmood Khan obtained a PhD in Information Technology from Multimedia University in Malaysia and an MSc in Software Engineering from Blekinge Tekniska Hogskola, Sweden. He has worked as a Computer Science Lecturer at the NFC Institute of Engineering & Technology, Pakistan since March 2012. During his PhD at MMU, he remained engaged in the Telecom Malaysia (TM) PRGS Project “A Fuzzy Association Rule-based Intrusion Detection & Prevention System for Web Service Applications." Prototype configuration, deployment, data recording, and evaluations remained the core activities. He also remained a research fellow from November 2021 to April 2023 for an EU project, VALU3S (https://valu3s.eu), "Verification and validation methods for virtualized systems and cloud Infrastructures." The research was conducted at the Department of Informatics Engineering, University of Coimbra, Portugal (www.dei.uc.pt). He also worked at Kind Saud University, Saudi Arabia as a researcher and worked in Software Engineering and Bioinformatics research groups. He has more than 10 years of experience in Academia and Research.

Dr. Mahmood Khan’s research focuses on: • Cloud Computing (Virtualized Systems) Monitoring for Trust and Dependability. • Cloud resource allocation using machine learning, and fuzzy Logic; • Verification and Validation of Cloud Infrastructure. • Software Verification and Validation. Recently, he published his articles in Cloud QoS and Cloud Fault Injections, further, he is focusing on cloud fault tolerance systems.

Before working with WIUT, he considered working on an EU Project “VALU3S: Verification and Validation of Automated Systems’ Safety and Security” on Network Faults dependability evaluation in Cloud Infrastructure. The project partners include 23 organizations and 16 universities from 10 European countries. Now working with WIUT is an addition to his academic achievements.

“Westminster International University in Tashkent is one of the great multinational, multicultural, progressive universities that provides a friendly working environment, practices productive management, and provides opportunities to its staff. This is a platform where I can share my knowledge and skills with the students in an effective way as well as get the opportunity to learn and improve myself from multiple dimensions”.

Dr. Abdul Bashiru Jibril holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and MSc. degree in Marketing Management from Tomas Bata University in Zlín, the Czech Republic. He obtained his bachelor's degree in Economics and Entrepreneurship Development from the University for Development Studies, Ghana.

As someone who has a passion for teaching Dr. Jibril began his teaching career right after completing his bachelor's study in 2012. He has taught at the elementary and high school levels and now at the university level. At the university level, he has taught a number of marketing and management courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels. He has supervised more than twenty Masters’ and Bachelor’s theses/dissertations. He is an international scholar with vast experience in teaching and research mostly in Europe and Africa.

Before joining Westminster International University in Tashkent, Dr. Jibril was an Assistant Professor in Marketing and Strategy at Rabat Business School, International University of Rabat, Morocco. Prior to joining Rabat Business School, he was a Postdoctoral Researcher and Lecturer at the Faculty of Management and Economics, Tomas Bata University in Zlin.

Technology and innovation have come to stay. Considering the slow pace of their adoption in developing countries, particularly in the financial industry, there is a need to understand this phenomenon. Hence, his research is mainly hinged on e-banking, social media marketing, service marketing, and customer experience. His research has been published in reputed and top-tier journals such as the International Journal of Information Management, International Journal of Consumer Studies, Cogent Business & Management, and others.

Similarly, concerning industry experience, he has consulted with several SMEs in developing countries such as Ghana and Morocco. In Ghana, he was a field investigator for a joint project between the University of Applied Sciences Bonn (Germany) and the University of Cape Coast (Ghana). The project focused on ways to improve domesticated brands for a globally competitive market. Сurrently, he is the Principal Investigator in Morocco for a newly awarded project grant (a joint project between the International University of Rabat and the University of Oxford, UK). The project is about improving working conditions in the gig economy of Morocco. He has been playing a central role in identifying and liaising with the owners and managers of the various platform economies in the Moroccan context to achieve the project objectives.

‘I choose WIUT because it is one of the outstanding and first international university in Central Asia that blends the academic curriculum with that of the British educational system. And above all, I am keen to learn new culture and environment in the Asian context’.

Dr. Md Billal Hossain has completed his PhD in Management and Business Administration Sciences from the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences under the Department of Economic and Regional Science (MATE), Hungary. Previously, he completed his MBA from Kumoh National Institute of Technology, South Korea, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Technology, Malaysia.

Throughout his academic journey, he has been working as a research assistant and teaching assistant in South Korea and Hungary. He has had teaching experiences from his past universities as a casual lecturer in different subjects. Currently, he is a senior lecturer at the School of Business and Economics at the Westminster International University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

His research interests include SMEs, e-commerce, consumer behaviour, technology acceptance, knowledge management, organizational management, innovation, and so on. He has published 19 scientific articles in different reputable journals till now, including the Journal of Cleaner Production (ABDC-A), and Electronic Commerce Research (ABDC-A). Now, there are more than fifteen papers under review in different renowned journals.

He is also a reviewer for more than ten renowned journals, including Electronic Commerce Research Journal (Springer), International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction (IJHC)- Taylors & Francis Ltd, Heliyon (Elsevier), the International Journal of Innovation Management (IJIM), Sustainability, Behavioural Sciences, Electronics (Mdpi) and Business Systems Research (BSR) and others.

Dr Khurram Ajaz Khan holds a bachelor's degree in commerce from the University of Allahabad, an MBA in Finance from the Uttar Pradesh Technical University, and a Ph.D. in Finance from Tomas Bata University (TBU) in Zlin, the Czech Republic. Before joining WIUT, he was a post-doctoral researcher at the Department of Finance and Accounting at TBU in Zlin and a fintech research analyst at the venture capital firm based in Prague, the Czech Republic. At the beginning of his career, he worked with top financial companies like Kotak Securities Ltd and Axis Bank Ltd in India. All these rich experiences and educational background make him capable of teaching and mentoring the young generation to help them build their careers and become successful.

He has published over twenty-five articles in Scopus and Web of Science index journals from top publishers such as Wiley, Taylor & Francis, Sage, and others. His primary research areas are behavioral finance, consumer and entrepreneur financial behavior, technology adoption, financial capability, literacy, fintech, digital engagement, blockchain technology, and decentralized finance.

Dr Khurram Ajaz Khan is an enthusiastic academician, researcher, and analyst. His strength is in his teaching pedagogy. He taught and mentored students from various social and cultural backgrounds in Asia, Europe, and Africa. He has a broad understanding of students' behavior and cultural differences, which helps him in counseling and consulting. His rich experience in the multicultural environment helps him to understand students and support them to become problem-solvers. Proactiveness is needed in the era of rapid development, where changes are becoming unpredictable. Therefore, to cope with the uncertainty, the students must build capabilities, and that is the core objective of his teaching style, which focuses on building capabilities and enhancing students' abilities.

“The reason for choosing WIUT is two-fold. First, I would like to share my earned knowledge and experience with students of different cultures, regions, and backgrounds. Second, to give back to society by helping students build their capabilities to help themselves first, then their families, the community, and the country.”

Dr. Evangelos Koutronas is a social policy economist, who originated from Athens, Greece, with six years of professional research experience and one year of professional teaching experience at a university level. His educational background spans multiple disciplines, including business, finance, economics, mathematics, and statistics, under different educational philosophies: Greek, American, and Malaysian. In the professional context, Dr. Koutronas has an overall ten-year international working experience (United States, Malaysia, Greece) with significant exposure to various business fields such as accounting and finance, real estate, financial services, transportation, and IT.

His research interests focus on Pension Economics and Finance. The research objective of Dr. Koutronas is to connect natural and man-made events with social protection mechanisms. His research endeavours go beyond pensions literature, investigating areas that directly or indirectly affect social welfare: Labor Economics, the Economics of Epidemics, the Economics of Terrorism, the Economics of Natural Disasters, and War Game Theory. His current research topic examines the Black-Scholes-Merton Partial Differential Equation (PDE) Model. The manuscript places the derivation of the Black-Scholes-Merton Model framework in a mathematical context, whereas finance theory has a supporting role.

His research work has been characterized by its rigor, relevance, and real-world impact. The following paper is of equal academic and social importance: Stagpression: The Economic and Financial Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic. (2021). Contemporary Economics, 15(1), 19-33. With M. A. Ruiz Estrada & M. Lee. The paper is listed on the official World Health Organization's (WHO) COVID-19 Global Literature website on coronavirus disease, Sept. 2021

“I have chosen to join Westminster International University in Tashkent because it presents a unique challenge I want to navigate. The university's emphasis on academic excellence, diverse international community, and high-quality education aligns perfectly with my professional philosophy. Furthermore, relocating to Tashkent, one of the most historical cities of the Great Silk Road can be a transformative experience that fosters personal growth. Being part of the WIUT family dedicated to contributing to developing Uzbekistan's higher education landscape will be a rewarding and fulfilling experience!”

With a strong academic background and dedication to both teaching and research, Dr. Muhammad Azhar Mughal came to Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT) as an experienced scholar ready to embark on a new chapter in his academic journey. 

He holds a Doctoral degree in Finance from Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, China, which is a testament to his commitment to finance. His journey, however, began with a strong foundation, including an M.Sc. in Finance, an MBA in IT, and an M.A. in Economics. These degrees not only equipped him with a diverse skill set but also instilled in him a thirst for continuous learning.

Before joining WIUT, he served as an assistant professor in finance at the University of the Punjab and the Institute of Management Sciences in Lahore, Pakistan. Throughout his academic journey, he has remained steadfastly committed to the twin pursuits of teaching and research. His research interests primarily revolve around corporate finance including mergers and acquisitions (M&A), earnings management, and corporate governance. Presently, his research endeavors are dedicated to unraveling the intricate relationship between market concentration and corporate governance in the context of M&A transactions. By scrutinizing the extent to which competitive market forces can replace traditional governance mechanisms, he aims to offer valuable insights into the dynamics of market competition and governance effectiveness. The results of this research provide guidance to policymakers and managers in enhancing corporate governance practices and optimizing M&A strategies.

One of his most noteworthy academic accomplishments centers on his research into the post-merger underperformance anomaly in corporate finance literature. In this study, he analyzed extensive datasets from the United States and employed advanced econometric methods to reveal compelling evidence of target firms engaging in earnings management activities both before and after the implementation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). Additionally, he shed light on the role of real activities management in post-merger underperformance and its subsequent impact on shareholder returns. These findings have attracted attention, praise, and increasing citations within the academic community, signifying their relevance and impact.

His decision to join WIUT stems from the institution's unique blend of British education standards with the cultural richness of Central Asia. This fusion creates an environment that nurtures international perspectives and global competence, creating a dynamic atmosphere for both students and faculty. He is excited about the opportunity to be part of WIUT's academic community and continue its growth and development.

Dr. Hafiz Mustansar Javaid, a distinguished figure in both finance and academia, earned his Ph.D. from the prestigious Sapienza University of Rome (founded in 1303, Sapienza is the oldest university in Rome and the largest in Europe), consistently ranked among the top 20 economics schools globally and renowned as the best university in Italy. With an illustrious academic background and a commitment to excellence, Dr. Javaid has dedicated three impactful years to shaping the minds of future financial leaders at academic institutes, where he served as an Adjunct Professor and Assistant Professor of Finance. 

In addition to his academic prowess, Dr. Javaid brings three years of invaluable experience from the asset management industry. A seasoned professional, he seamlessly integrates theoretical knowledge with practical insights, offering a comprehensive understanding of the complexities within the financial landscape.

Holding the esteemed CFA designation from the CFA Institute in the United States of America, Dr. Javaid stands as a bridge between academia and industry, infusing his lectures with real-world relevance. His commitment to fostering a deeper connection between theory and practice has earned him respect among both students and industry peers.

Beyond the classroom and boardrooms, Dr. Hafiz Mustansar Javaid is a thought leader, contributing significantly to the ongoing discourse in finance. His name resonates as a beacon of knowledge, guiding the next generation of financial professionals with a dynamic and insightful approach. Dr. Javaid is not only the recipient of several awards throughout his academic career but also the proud winner of a prestigious Ph.D. fellowship in Italy and received 59,600 euros. Furthermore, he has served as a Doctoral Exchange Researcher at KU Leuven, Belgium (ranked in the top 50 by QS), and Panteion University, Greece, further enriching his international research experience and collaboration.