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Management and Governance

Management and Governance

The Caspian School of Academics Governance Policy1, available on this webpage, clearly defines it Governance structurers and expectations. The School is managed through a clear structure of roles and responsibilities with oversight by the Board of Governors. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) serves as the head of the institution, with overall responsibility for financial stewardship, resource management, and institutional data governance, including compliance and reporting. The Principal, who reports to the CEO and to the Board of Governance, is responsible for academic leadership and the oversight of academic provision.

The Board of Governors comprises a majority of external independent members with appropriate knowledge and experience of higher education management, with one external member who serves as the Chair. Internal members of the Board include the CEO and the Principal along with a staff Governor and two Student Governors. Board members collectively contribute a diverse range of skills, expertise and experience. Members of the Board have three-year terms of office and are not allowed to serve for more than nine years (three terms of three years) unless there is exceptional justification.

Caspian School of Academics has a clear Committee Structure, with clear terms of reference for each committee which are available to all stakeholders through the Deliberative Structure and Committees Terms of Reference document 2. The Committee Structure supports the management and oversight of provision, and compliance with statutory requirements, including those set by the Office for Students (OfS). Minutes of the Board meetings are available to internal and external stakeholder to support transparency 3.

Committee Structure

Responsibilities of the Board of Governance

The Board of Governance approves the School’s strategy and oversees all aspects of its management, governance, and resources. Meetings are normally held three times a year, with governance arrangements informed by the Higher Education Code of Governance and the Office for Students Conditions of Registration. To support its responsibilities, the Board is assisted by the Academic Board, Audit, Internal Control and Risk Management Committee, Quality and Standards Committee, and Student Committee. In addition, the Academic Board is supported by the Assessment Boards, Admissions Committee, and Disciplinary Committee.

Standard public interest governance principles:

The Caspian School’s Board reflects the underpinning public interest principles:

Academic freedom

The School believes that the academic freedom of faculty members to teach or communicate ideas or facts (including those that are inconvenient to external political groups or to authorities) without being targeted for repression, job loss, or detriment is essential to the principles of academia 4.

Accountability

The management and staff are accountable for their decisions and actions to the Board and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their position, including the Policy and Procedure for Fit and Proper Persons checks 5.

Student engagement

The School views effective student support as a crucial part of its overall academic provision and seeks to engender a supportive learning and social environment for all its students and recognises that well planned student support arrangements make a major contribution to personal well-being and academic success 6.

Risk management

Risk management issues are considered regularly by the Board of Governance and formal discussion and review of the Corporate Risk and Assurance Register at regular intervals across the academic year facilitates the identification, assessment and ongoing monitoring of risks that are significant to the institution and its performance 7.

Value for money

The Board of Governance ensures that there are adequate and effective arrangements in place to provide transparency about value for money for students and for taxpayers 8 .

Freedom of speech

The Board of Governance has approved the School Policy on Academic Freedom and its approach to collegiality. Principles of Freedom of Speech 9 are made available to staff and students at induction.

Equality, Diversity and Respect

The Board of Governance supports the School’s commitment to the principles of inclusion as set out in the Equality and Diversity Policy 10. The School does not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or victimisation and is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 and the Workers Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023.

Policies and Minutes:

1 Management and Governance Policy
2 Deliberative Structure and Committees Terms of Reference
3 Board of Governance and Committee Meeting Minutes
4 Academic Freedom and Collegiality
5 Fit and Proper Persons Policy
6 Student Support and Engagement Policy
7 Risk Assessment and Risk Management Policy
8 Value for Money Policy
9 Freedom of Speech Policy
10 Equality and Diversity Policy
Code of Ethics

Team Memebers

Mr. Wilayat Malik

Chair

Finance and governance leader specialising in strategic leadership, financial management, audit, risk management, regulatory compliance, and organisational governance.

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Mr. Muhammad Iftikhar

CEO

Higher education leader specialising in strategic leadership, governance, finance, regulatory compliance, quality assurance, and institutional development.

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Ms. Mandy Hobart

Principal

Education leader with 35 years’ experience in higher education, quality assurance, academic leadership, curriculum development, and institutional management.

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Ms. Tahira Yasmin

Head of HR

Human resources and higher education leader specialising in strategic HR, workforce planning, organisational development, governance, and staff development.

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Dr. Anjum Naz

Head of Teaching and Learning

Academic leader with expertise in teaching, curriculum design, quality assurance, staff development, inclusive education, and higher education governance.

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Ms. Ana-Maria Valeanu

Student Governor

Dedicated Student Governor committed to representing student voices, promoting inclusion, fairness, open communication, and positive institutional development.

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Dr. Phil Ingamells

External Member

Experienced healthcare and higher education leader specialising in academic operations, management, governance, leadership development, and institutional excellence.

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Ms. Andrea Ward

External Member

Experienced higher education executive with expertise in governance, strategy, institutional transformation, quality assurance, and organisational leadership.

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Mr. Bob Harris

External Member

Experienced electronic engineer and higher education specialist with 35 years in teaching, international recruitment, academic partnerships, and accreditation.

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Ms. Fozia Uddin

External Member

Academic leader with expertise in teaching, curriculum design, quality assurance, staff development, inclusive education, and higher education governance.

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Wilayat Malik FCCA, ACMA is an experienced finance and governance professional with extensive expertise in strategic leadership, financial management, audit, risk management, and regulatory compliance. As Chair of the Board of Governance, he provides independent leadership and oversight, ensuring that governance arrangements are effective, transparent, and aligned with the principles of the Higher Education Code of Governance, including accountability, sustainability, integrity, inclusivity, and effective decision-making. He works closely with the Board and executive team to promote strong governance, robust internal controls, and continuous improvement while supporting the organisation in achieving its strategic objectives and regulatory responsibilities.
Mr. Wilayat Malik
Chair
Mr. Muhammad Iftikhar, BSc, FCMA, PGCHE, MBA is the Chief Executive Officer of Caspian School of Academics. He is an experienced higher education leader and qualified management accountant with extensive expertise in strategic leadership, governance, finance, regulatory compliance, and institutional development. He has played a key role in the growth of Caspian School of Academics, leading its successful registration with the Office for Students (OfS), the development of university and awarding body partnerships, and the implementation of quality assurance and continuous improvement initiatives across the institution.
Mr. Muhammad Iftikhar
CEO
Mandy has over 35 years of experience in the education sector, having worked for both Further and Higher Education Colleges and Universities. Mandy qualified in Occupation Psychology, going on to work for Science 4 and three large international companies before joining a large FE College as a Programme Manager for Health and Social Care in 1991. Having worked on a variety of education projects, including the Technical and Vocational Education Initiative (TVEI), Mandy joined the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority as Principal Officer for Higher Levels for three years, leaving to become a Head of Faculty for Business, Science and Community Studies. In 2009, she moved to become Director of Lifelong Learning at Kingston University. Mandy has worked for a number of private higher education providers both as Academic Director and Principal and as a consultant Director of Quality. She joined the Caspian School in 2023 as Principal. She is a reviewer for the Quality Assurance Agency and a Lead Inspector for the British Accreditation Council.
Ms. Mandy Hobart
Principal
Tahira Yasmin, MPA, PGCHE, MA Education is an experienced human resources and higher education professional with a strong background in strategic HR management, organisational development, and leadership. Holding a Master's in Public Administration (MPA), she brings significant overseas public sector experience at a strategic level, including workforce planning, staff development, organisational management, governance, and policy implementation, alongside extensive experience within higher education. As Director of Human Resources at Caspian School of Academics, she leads workforce planning, recruitment, staff development, performance management, and HR compliance, supporting the organisation's strategic objectives, governance framework, and commitment to continuous improvement.
Ms. Tahira Yasmin
Head of HR
Dr. Anjum Naz is an academic leader and teacher educator with over 20 years’ experience in UK and Pakistani higher and further education. As Head of Teaching and Learning at CSA and a member of the Board of Governors, she leads curriculum design, quality assurance, staff development, and strategic governance. She holds a PhD in Education alongside extensive professional qualifications including FHEA and Advanced Teacher Status. With 30 peer-reviewed publications, she also serves as a PhD supervisor, journal editor/reviewer, and external assessor for OCR, NCFE, and Pearson. Her work focuses on inclusive education, quality enhancement, staff mentoring, and improving student outcomes through data-informed practice.
Dr. Anjum Naz
Head of Teaching and Learning
I am a dedicated and approachable student with a strong interest in helping to improve our institution. I value fairness, inclusion, and open communication, and I am committed to representing the views, ideas, and concerns of students from all backgrounds. As a Student Governor, I aim to ensure that every student's voice is heard and considered in school decision-making.
Ms. Ana-Maria Valeanu
Student Governor
After a career working as a senior NHS manager in several regions of the UK. I was invited to join the Department of Health where I was made responsible for the provision & operation of a national training programme for NHS managers. Subsequent to, but linked to this, I was employed by various Universities ending my full time career as Academic Director (Operations) at Anglia Ruskin University London. From 2020 – 2024 I was a visiting lecturer until my complete retirement from the sector. I remain a member of the Board of Governance of CSA.
Dr. Phil Ingamells
External Member
Andrea Ward's driving purpose is straightforward: build environments where individuals can develop their talent and achieve their dreams. She has applied this across different institutional types. As Interim Dean at University of Derby (post-92), achieving four consecutive years of improved student outcomes. At University of Sheffield (Russell Group), she designed high-performing programmes at scale. Her governance experience spans a decade across multiple sectors; WASPs Charitable Trust, Multi-academic School trust, Doncaster Colleges Group, and the Chartered Association of Business Schools where she leverages strategic and regulatory levers to drive institutional performance. Through UNIVOLV partners Ltd, she develops institutions on strategy, governance, and organisational change. Her commercial background in large-scale organisational development, change and partnership-building translates operational leadership into institutional transformation. Principal Fellow, Higher Education Academy. Lead Assessor for OfS. Fellow, Chartered Management Institute. Chief Examiner, Manchester Metropolitan University.
Ms. Andrea Ward
External Member
By profession I am an electronic engineer and spent some 35 years in higher education, latterly as a Senior Academic at Sheffield Hallam University. In addition to teaching, I was responsible for international student recruitment from South Asia. As a senior member of the university's Quality Committee, I was responsible for overseeing the development and operation of international academic partnerships. I am currently an inspector for the British Accreditation Council, specialising in international higher education.
Mr. Bob Harris
External Member
Fozia Uddin is an experienced corporate governance, risk and compliance professional with extensive expertise in higher education regulation, institutional governance, strategic partnerships and assurance frameworks. She has significant experience supporting organisations in the development of effective governance structures, regulatory compliance arrangements, enterprise risk management processes and audit and assurance frameworks. Her background includes governance oversight of complex academic and commercial partnerships, due diligence, contractual risk management, financial oversight and stakeholder assurance across both UK and international environments. Fozia serves on a number of boards and committees, bringing considerable expertise in governance, risk, compliance and organisational sustainability. As Chair of the Audit, Risk and Finance Committee, she provides strategic oversight of financial stewardship, risk management, internal controls and assurance arrangements, supporting effective decision-making and long-term organisational resilience. She is committed to promoting accountability, transparency and good governance as foundations for sustainable growth and organisational success.
Ms. Fozia Uddin
External Member