BLOCKCHAIN IN THE CLASSROOM
BIOGRAPHIES Larisa Yarovaya is an associate professor of finance and the director of the Centre for Digital Finance at Southampton Business School. Yarovaya is also an advisory board member of the British Blockchain Association, which serves as the secretariat of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on blockchain technologies. With a profound expertise in international finance and fintech, Yarovaya has contributed significantly to the academic landscape, authoring more than 80 papers and co-editing the book, Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Technology Peter Rodgers is a professor of strategy and international management, MBA director and head of the HRM/OB Department within Southampton Business School. Rodgers sits on AMBA’s faculty of assessors and has delivered keynote presentations at the association’s conferences. His research interests focus primarily on informality within state-business relations and non-market strategies, especially across post-socialist spaces. He has published a number of books, as well as articles in leading international journals; he has also presented his work at Chatham House and provided expert advice to the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office on business-state relations in Ukraine
both individual and group learning, ensuring a dynamic and supportive experience for all participants. The final module on the Southampton MBA is the business project, which is a significant component of the MBA learning journey, comprising 60 out of the 180 credits offered across the entire programme. On this module, MBA executives take part in the third and final stage of their MBA journey; they are taught how to ‘master’ business, engaging in independent-led study, supported by their supervisors, to address real-world challenges. These projects, often conducted using company data and offering actionable, practical solutions to specific business problems, provide an invaluable learning experience. For the fintech pathway, our ambition is to expand existing partnerships with enterprises and foster relationships with local, national and international fintech organisations. Finally, two immersive experiential industry international study trips form an integral part of our MBA experience, with one trip taking place in an advanced market setting and the second being held in an emerging market setting, providing executives with vital exposure to diverse international markets and practices. The professional connections established during these trips not only enhance their work on final business projects, but also remain valuable assets after graduation, enriching career opportunities. Transitioning to a digital economy The MBA fintech pathway is a new initiative and it represents our commitment to continuous innovation, allowing the Southampton MBA programme to evolve, ensuring it remains a strong fit for the changing needs of our executives. The pathway is already proving to be popular and it is our belief that this trend will grow as the world transitions to a digital and decentralised economy. Such change is inevitable and – quite frankly – it is impossible to resist the advancements shaping our future. The rapid adoption of emerging technologies extends beyond blockchain and is perhaps even more pronounced in the case of artificial intelligence. This academic year we aim to incorporate topics exploring the synergy between AI and blockchain adoption. A key area of focus will be the potential of blockchain’s safety and security features to make AI usage more sustainable and reliable. In the future, we plan to introduce a dedicated module on artificial intelligence, enabling a deeper understanding of its algorithms and the technological nuances driving this transformative field. Staying aligned with industry trends while maintaining the highest standards of evidence-based teaching will remain our top priority. By using a variety of teaching resources and encouraging independent learning, we aim to enhance the diversity and inclusivity of our curriculum delivery. Our commitment to appealing to an international community of business leaders remains at the heart of our mission. We are continually working to expand our global reach, attracting executives from new countries and regions to join our programme, thereby ensuring it remains a hub for cross-cultural learning and collaboration.
Ambition • ISSUE 4 • 2025 37
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