Parvis School of Economics and Music Campus Manchester

Faculty

1. Professor Alaric Baumann

  • Nationality: Luxembourgish
  • Title: Professor of Behavioural Economics and Sustainable Policy; Director, Centre for Economic Foresight and Creative Enterprise (CEFCE)
  • Academic Qualifications: PhD in Economics, London School of Economics, UK; MSc in Economic Psychology, Tilburg University, Netherlands.
  • Areas of Expertise: Behavioural economics, sustainable development policy, ethical finance, economic psychology, impact of creative industries on regional development.
  • Brief Biography: Professor Baumann is a leading voice in applying behavioural insights to address complex economic and environmental challenges. His research explores how psychological factors influence economic decision-making, particularly in the context of sustainability and ethical investment. Before joining Parvis, he held research positions at several prominent European institutions and has consulted for governmental bodies on policy design. At Parvis, he spearheads research initiatives within CEFCE and teaches advanced modules on behavioural economics and policy implications for postgraduate students.
  • Selected Publications:
    1. Baumann, A. (2023). The Empathetic Economist: Nudging Towards a Sustainable Future. Parvis University Press.
    2. Baumann, A., & Müller, S. (2021). Cognitive Biases in Green Investment: A Cross-Cultural Analysis. Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment, 11(2), 145-162.
    3. Baumann, A. (2019). Nudging for Good or for Gain? Ethical Considerations in Behavioural Public Policy. Review of Economic Philosophy, 20(3), 301-325.
    4. Baumann, A. (2017). The Role of Creative Clusters in Urban Economic Resilience. Proceedings of the International Conference on Creative Economies, Manchester, UK.

2. Dr Elina Kask

  • Nationality: Estonian
  • Title: Senior Lecturer in Computational Finance and Algorithmic Trading
  • Academic Qualifications: PhD in Computational Finance, ETH Zurich, Switzerland; MSc in Financial Mathematics, University of Tartu, Estonia.
  • Areas of Expertise: Algorithmic trading strategies, machine learning in financial markets, high-frequency data analysis, FinTech innovation, risk modelling.
  • Brief Biography: Dr Kask’s research focuses on the development and application of sophisticated computational techniques to understand and predict financial market dynamics. She has a particular interest in leveraging machine learning for creating adaptive trading algorithms and for enhancing risk management frameworks. Elina is passionate about bridging the gap between theoretical finance and practical application, and her courses often involve hands-on projects using real market data. She is an active member of the Advanced Sonic Technologies and Financial Systems Lab (ASTFS Lab).
  • Selected Publications:
    1. Kask, E. (2024). Deep Reinforcement Learning for Optimal Trade Execution in Volatile Markets. Journal of Financial Data Science, 6(1), 78-95.
    2. Kask, E., & Petrov, I. (2022). Sentiment Analysis from News Feeds for Predicting Stock Price Movements. International Journal of Computational Economics and Econometrics, 12(4), 340-359.
    3. Kask, E. (2020). AI in Financial Markets: A Practitioner’s Guide to Algorithmic Trading. FinTech Press.
    4. Kask, E. (2018). The Microstructure of High-Frequency Trading: Efficiency and Stability. Conference on Financial Technologies and Market Dynamics, London, UK.

3. Professor Matej Horvat

  • Nationality: Croatian
  • Title: Professor of Service Design and Social Innovation
  • Academic Qualifications: PhD in Design Studies, Aalto University, Finland; MA in Industrial Design, University of Zagreb, Croatia.
  • Areas of Expertise: Service design, social innovation, human-centred design, co-design methodologies, sustainable systems, public sector innovation.
  • Brief Biography: Professor Horvat is an internationally recognised expert in service design and its application for driving social innovation and improving public services. His work emphasizes participatory and co-design approaches, ensuring that solutions are developed with and for the communities they aim to serve. He has led numerous large-scale design projects in collaboration with city councils, healthcare providers, and non-profit organisations. At Parvis, he teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate design programmes and is a key researcher at the Institute for Sustainable Design and Ethical Innovation (ISDEI).
  • Selected Publications:
    1. Horvat, M. (2023). Designing for Impact: A Handbook for Socially Conscious Service Design. Routledge.
    2. Horvat, M., & Novak, J. (2022). Co-Creating Public Value: A Framework for Citizen Engagement in Service Design. Design Issues, 38(1), 45-60.
    3. Horvat, M. (2020). The Ethics of Scaling Social Innovations: A Design Perspective. Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, 11(3), 289-307.
    4. Horvat, M. (2017). From Blueprints to Better Lives: Service Design in Healthcare Transformation. Proceedings of the Service Design Global Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

4. Dr Sofia Vella

  • Nationality: Maltese
  • Title: Lecturer in Digital Arts and Creative Industries Management
  • Academic Qualifications: PhD in Cultural Policy, University of Warwick, UK; MA in Arts Management, University of Malta, Malta.
  • Areas of Expertise: Digital arts, creative entrepreneurship, cultural policy, intellectual property in the arts, arts marketing, management of creative enterprises.
  • Brief Biography: Dr Vella’s research explores the intersection of digital technology, artistic practice, and the management of creative enterprises. She is particularly interested in how digital platforms are transforming the creation, dissemination, and consumption of art, and the policy implications thereof. Sofia actively engages with the local arts scene in Manchester and brings a wealth of practical experience to her teaching, inspiring students to navigate the complexities of the contemporary creative economy.
  • Selected Publications:
    1. Vella, S. (2024). The Algorithmic Curator: AI and Taste-Making in Digital Art Platforms. Journal of Creative Media & Technology, 8(2), 112-129.
    2. Vella, S. (2022). Copyright in the Age of Remix Culture: Challenges for Creative Entrepreneurs. Intellectual Property Quarterly, 26(3), 201-218.
    3. Vella, S., & Borg, M. (2020). Funding the Future: New Business Models for Independent Digital Artists. International Journal of Arts Management, 22(1), 55-70.

5. Dr Laima Novak

  • Nationality: Lithuanian
  • Title: Reader in Sonic Arts and Interactive Music Systems
  • Academic Qualifications: PhD in Music Technology, Stanford University, USA; MMus in Composition, Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, Lithuania.
  • Areas of Expertise: Interactive music systems, generative music, sound installation, AI in music composition, spatial audio, human-computer interaction in music.
  • Brief Biography: Dr Novak is an acclaimed composer and researcher in the field of sonic arts. Her work often involves creating immersive sound environments and interactive systems that explore the relationship between sound, space, and human perception. Laima’s installations have been exhibited internationally, and she is a strong advocate for the use of technology to expand artistic expression. She is a core member of the Advanced Sonic Technologies and Financial Systems Lab (ASTFS Lab), exploring novel applications of sound.
  • Selected Publications:
    1. Novak, L. (2023). Composing with Code: A Guide to Generative Music and Interactive Sound. MIT Press.
    2. Novak, L. (2021). Bio-Symphonies: Translating Biodata into Immersive Sonic Experiences. Leonardo Music Journal, 31, 45-52.
    3. Novak, L., & Chen, J. (2019). The Responsive Instrument: Designing for Expressive Human-Computer Musical Interaction. Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME), Porto Alegre, Brazil.

6. Professor Costas Petrides

  • Nationality: Cypriot
  • Title: Professor of Sustainable Business and Circular Economy
  • Academic Qualifications: PhD in Environmental Management, University of Cambridge, UK; MBA, INSEAD, France.
  • Areas of Expertise: Circular economy models, corporate sustainability strategy, sustainable supply chain management, eco-innovation, impact investing.
  • Brief Biography: Professor Petrides is a distinguished academic and consultant in the field of corporate sustainability and the circular economy. His research focuses on how businesses can transition from linear to circular models, creating both economic and environmental value. He has advised numerous multinational corporations on integrating sustainability into their core strategies and is a frequent speaker at international forums on sustainable development. He actively contributes to the research agenda of the Institute for Sustainable Design and Ethical Innovation (ISDEI).
  • Selected Publications:
    1. Petrides, C. (2024). The Regenerative Enterprise: Business Models for a Circular Future. Palgrave Macmillan.
    2. Petrides, C., & Georgiou, A. (2022). Closing the Loop: Barriers and Enablers for Circular Supply Chain Adoption. Journal of Cleaner Production, 330, 129870.
    3. Petrides, C. (2020). Measuring What Matters: Impact Metrics for Sustainable Business. Harvard Business Review (Sustainable Futures Series), March.
    4. Petrides, C. (2018). From Waste to Wealth: Innovating for the Circular Economy. California Management Review, 60(2), 45-65.

7. Dr Janis Ozols

  • Nationality: Latvian
  • Title: Senior Lecturer in Economic History and Development Economics
  • Academic Qualifications: PhD in Economic History, University of Oxford, UK; MA in Economics, University of Latvia, Latvia.
  • Areas of Expertise: Economic history of Eastern Europe, transition economies, development economics, institutional economics, globalization and its historical impacts.
  • Brief Biography: Dr Ozols’ research examines the long-term economic development trajectories of nations, with a particular focus on Eastern Europe and post-Soviet transition economies. He investigates the role of institutions, historical path dependencies, and global economic forces in shaping national prosperity. His teaching brings a vital historical perspective to contemporary economic debates, encouraging students to understand the deep roots of current global challenges.
  • Selected Publications:
    1. Ozols, J. (2023). Shadows of the Past: Institutional Legacies and Economic Divergence in Post-Socialist Europe. Oxford University Press.
    2. Ozols, J. (2021). The Great Divergence Revisited: Baltic States and the European Economic Core, 1870-2010. European Review of Economic History, 25(4), 650-675.
    3. Ozols, J., & Berzins, G. (2019). Foreign Direct Investment and Institutional Quality in Transition Economies. Journal of Comparative Economics, 47(1), 150-168.

8. Dr Eva Molnár

  • Nationality: Hungarian
  • Title: Lecturer in Design Thinking and User Experience (UX) Research
  • Academic Qualifications: PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands; MA in Design, Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, Hungary.
  • Areas of Expertise: Design thinking methodologies, user experience (UX) research, human-centred design, service design, interaction design, usability testing.
  • Brief Biography: Dr Molnár is a passionate advocate for human-centred approaches to design and innovation. Her research focuses on developing and applying design thinking methodologies to solve complex problems and create intuitive, engaging user experiences across digital and physical products and services. She has worked with tech start-ups and established companies on improving their UX strategies and is dedicated to equipping students with practical design skills and a critical understanding of user needs.
  • Selected Publications:
    1. Molnár, E. (2024). Empathy in Action: A Practical Guide to User-Centred Design Research. Design Studies Press.
    2. Molnár, E., & Kiss, P. (2022). Beyond the Persona: Dynamic User Modelling for Adaptive Interfaces. ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction (TOCHI), 29(3), Article 25.
    3. Molnár, E. (2020). Co-designing Futures: Participatory Methods for Speculative Design. Futures, 120, 102567.

9. Professor Tiago Almeida

  • Nationality: Portuguese
  • Title: Professor of Financial Econometrics and Data Sonification
  • Academic Qualifications: PhD in Econometrics, University of Coimbra, Portugal & Tinbergen Institute, Netherlands; MSc in Economics, Nova School of Business and Economics, Portugal.
  • Areas of Expertise: Financial econometrics, time series analysis, volatility modelling, data sonification for financial analysis, systemic risk.
  • Brief Biography: Professor Almeida is a leading expert in the application of advanced econometric techniques to financial markets. His recent work explores innovative methods of data sonification, translating complex financial datasets into sound to aid in pattern recognition and risk assessment. He is a co-director of the Advanced Sonic Technologies and Financial Systems Lab (ASTFS Lab) and is committed to fostering interdisciplinary research that merges quantitative finance with auditory perception.
  • Selected Publications:
    1. Almeida, T. (2023). Sonic Finance: Hearing Patterns in Market Data. Cambridge University Press.
    2. Almeida, T., & Santos, C. (2021). Auditory Display of Systemic Risk Indicators: A New Frontier for Financial Monitoring. Journal of Financial Stability, 55, 100987.
    3. Almeida, T. (2019). Non-Linearities in Financial Time Series: An Econometric and Auditory Exploration. Econometric Theory, 35(2), 340-375.
    4. Almeida, T. (2017). Listening to Volatility: Sonification of GARCH Models. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Auditory Display (ICAD), Pennsylvania, USA.

10. Dr Katarina Novotná

  • Nationality: Slovak
  • Title: Senior Lecturer in Creative Industries Policy and Intellectual Property
  • Academic Qualifications: PhD in Law (Intellectual Property), Queen Mary University of London, UK; LLM in European Law, Comenius University, Slovakia.
  • Areas of Expertise: Intellectual property law, cultural policy, regulation of creative industries, copyright in the digital age, art law, media law.
  • Brief Biography: Dr Novotná’s research focuses on the legal and policy frameworks governing the creative industries, with a particular emphasis on intellectual property rights in the digital environment. She examines how law can both foster and hinder innovation and creativity, and her work informs debates on copyright reform and cultural policy. Katarina is passionate about making complex legal concepts accessible and relevant to students pursuing careers in the creative sector.
  • Selected Publications:
    1. Novotná, K. (2024). Rebalancing Copyright: A Creator-Centric Approach for the Digital Era. Edward Elgar Publishing.
    2. Novotná, K. (2022). Platform Power and Creator Rights: Navigating the New Creative Economy. Journal of Media Law, 14(2), 180-201.
    3. Novotná, K., & Bauer, F. (2020). The Geopolitics of Cultural Heritage Protection: A European Perspective. International Journal of Cultural Policy, 26(5), 610-627.

11. Dr Borut Lavrič

  • Nationality: Slovenian
  • Title: Lecturer in Sustainable Architecture and Urban Design Technology
  • Academic Qualifications: PhD in Architecture and Sustainable Design, Graz University of Technology, Austria; MArch, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.
  • Areas of Expertise: Sustainable architecture, smart urban technologies, circular design in construction, building performance simulation, digital fabrication in architecture.
  • Brief Biography: Dr Lavrič’s work centres on integrating principles of sustainability and advanced technology into architectural and urban design. He explores how digital tools, new materials, and circular economy thinking can lead to more resilient, energy-efficient, and human-centric built environments. Borut brings a strong practical focus to his teaching, often involving students in real-world design challenges and collaborations with industry partners. He contributes to the Institute for Sustainable Design and Ethical Innovation (ISDEI).
  • Selected Publications:
    1. Lavrič, B. (2023). Digital Craft in Sustainable Construction: Parametric Design and Robotic Fabrication. Birkhäuser.
    2. Lavrič, B., & Zupančič, T. (2021). Adaptive Facades for Zero-Energy Buildings: A Parametric Study. Energy and Buildings, 240, 110876.
    3. Lavrič, B. (2019). Circular Cities: Designing Urban Metabolisms for Resource Efficiency. Journal of Urban Design and Planning, 172(DP3), 95-108.

12. Dr Irina Popescu

  • Nationality: Romanian
  • Title: Reader in International Business and Emerging Markets
  • Academic Qualifications: PhD in International Business, Manchester Business School, UK; MA in International Economic Relations, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania.
  • Areas of Expertise: Internationalisation strategies, emerging market multinationals, cross-cultural management, global value chains, foreign direct investment in developing economies.
  • Brief Biography: Dr Popescu’s research investigates the strategies of firms operating in global markets, with a particular interest in the rise of multinationals from emerging economies and their impact on global competition. She examines how cultural, institutional, and economic differences shape international business operations. Irina is committed to providing students with a global mindset and the analytical tools to succeed in international careers.
  • Selected Publications:
    1. Popescu, I. (2024). The New Global Challengers: Strategies of Emerging Market Multinationals. Routledge.
    2. Popescu, I., & Chen, L. (2022). Navigating Institutional Voids: How Emerging Economy Firms Build Legitimacy Abroad. Journal of International Business Studies, 53(5), 890-915.
    3. Popescu, I. (2020). Cultural Intelligence and Expatriate Manager Performance in High-Context Cultures. Management International Review, 60(1), 115-140.

13. Professor Anton Radev

  • Nationality: Bulgarian
  • Title: Professor of Game Economics and Virtual Asset Management
  • Academic Qualifications: PhD in Economics of Innovation, Bocconi University, Italy; MSc in Economics, Sofia University, Bulgaria.
  • Areas of Expertise: Economics of video games, virtual economies, digital asset management (NFTs, cryptocurrencies in games), platform economics, behavioural economics in gaming.
  • Brief Biography: Professor Radev is a pioneer in the study of the economic principles underpinning video games and virtual worlds. His research delves into the design of in-game economies, the valuation and trading of virtual assets, and the behavioural patterns of players. He advises game development companies and financial institutions on navigating this rapidly evolving space. He is affiliated with the Centre for Economic Foresight and Creative Enterprise (CEFCE).
  • Selected Publications:
    1. Radev, A. (2023). Playbour & Value: The Economics of Virtual Worlds and Digital Assets. Parvis Digital Press.
    2. Radev, A., & Ivanova, M. (2021). Tokenomics of Play: Designing Sustainable NFT Ecosystems in Games. Journal of Digital Economy, 2(4), 301-320.
    3. Radev, A. (2019). The Behavioural Economics of Loot Boxes: Addiction, Gambling, and Regulation. Games and Culture, 14(6), 615-635.

14. Dr Sanna Virtanen

  • Nationality: Finnish
  • Title: Lecturer in Sound Design for Interactive Media and Film
  • Academic Qualifications: PhD in Media Studies (Sound), University of Helsinki, Finland; MA in Sound Design, Aalto University, Finland.
  • Areas of Expertise: Sound design for games and interactive environments, film sound theory and practice, immersive audio (VR/AR), procedural audio, auditory narrative.
  • Brief Biography: Dr Virtanen is an accomplished sound designer and academic whose work focuses on the power of sound to shape experience and convey narrative in interactive media and film. She explores both the creative and technical aspects of sound design, from Foley and field recording to advanced digital audio processing and implementation in game engines. Sanna is passionate about fostering the next generation of sound artists and technicians.
  • Selected Publications:
    1. Virtanen, S. (2024). The Sonic Storyworld: A Guide to Narrative Sound Design in Interactive Media. Focal Press.
    2. Virtanen, S. (2022). Procedural Soundscapes: Creating Dynamic Audio Environments for Open-World Games. Journal of Audio Engineering Society, 70(9), 750-762.
    3. Virtanen, S., & Koskinen, J. (2020). Hearing is Believing: The Role of Sound in VR Immersion and Presence. IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, 26(5), 1985-1994.

15. Dr Tomáš Svoboda

  • Nationality: Czech
  • Title: Senior Research Fellow in Ethical AI and Sustainable Systems
  • Academic Qualifications: DPhil in Computer Science (AI Ethics), University of Oxford, UK; MSc in Artificial Intelligence, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic.
  • Areas of Expertise: Ethical AI frameworks, algorithmic fairness and bias, explainable AI (XAI), AI for sustainable development, governance of emerging technologies.
  • Brief Biography: Dr Svoboda is a leading researcher at the Institute for Sustainable Design and Ethical Innovation (ISDEI), focusing on the ethical and societal implications of artificial intelligence. His work aims to develop frameworks and practical tools for designing, deploying, and governing AI systems in a way that is fair, transparent, accountable, and aligned with sustainable development goals. He collaborates extensively with policymakers, industry, and civil society organisations.
  • Selected Publications:
    1. Svoboda, T. (2023). Principled AI: Designing for Trust and Sustainability. MIT Press.
    2. Svoboda, T., & Lee, H. (2022). Algorithmic Accountability in the Public Sector: A Multi-Stakeholder Perspective. AI and Society, 37(4), 1201-1215.
    3. Svoboda, T. (2020). Explainable AI for Environmental Monitoring: Potentials and Pitfalls. Proceedings of the AAAI/ACM Conference on AI, Ethics, and Society (AIES), New York, USA.