Yelena Smirnova PhD

Professor of Finance

Biography

Yelena Smirnova is a researcher and educator specializing in strategy, entrepreneurship, and emerging technologies. She holds dual PhDs in Management from Suleyman Demirel University (2014) and the Universitat de Barcelona (2020), where she currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Business. Her research focuses on university-industry knowledge transfer, innovation policy, technology transfer, and digital transformation. She has published in journals such as Science and Public Policy, International Journal of Law and Management, and International Journal of Lean Six Sigma. She is also a faculty member at UIBS.

Programs

Areas of Expertise

Our concept

Our English-taught and American-inspired flexible study programs allow students to customize their studies by choosing courses based on program requirements, previous studies, current interests and future ambitions.

Flexible study programs

Our modular course design and program structure provides students with multiple options to plan their studies and lets students direct their own learning efforts, which strengthens their sense of ownership in the educational process.

The multiple starting dates in our quarter and term-based academic calendar allow students to start their education in the fall, winter, spring or summer of each academic year. Students can join our rolling cohorts up to 8 times per year.

Multiple starting dates

Our year-round course planning provides students a continuous educational experience with a near-seamless transition from their previous studies, as well as a smooth transition to a professional career upon graduation.

Offering a unique multi-campus experience, students can transfer between campuses in Europe and Japan, as well as Online, on a quarterly basis and with guaranteed program compatibility.

Transfer between campuses

Our campuses are located in the downtown areas of vibrant and modern cities, offering opportunities for cultural exploration and networking. Our exceptional hybrid course planning, combining on-campus and virtual courses, can be tailored to a student’s unique circumstances.

Our truly global community is made up of students, faculty and team members of over 100+ nationalities from around the world. Such demographic diversity provides for a near-unmatched cross-cultural learning environment in which students attain new insights from different perspectives.

Truly global community

Our strong academic community fosters lifelong connections among students, alumni, and faculty. These relationships are instrumental to both personal growth and professional development.

Our professionally-oriented programs cater to specific career paths, allowing students to specialize. Academically-qualified and professionally-experienced faculty members link theory and practice with a hands-on and contemporary learning experience tailored to real-world applications.

Professionally-oriented programs

We rapidly adapt to market needs by launching innovative programs shaped by expert feedback. Our global curricula, international partnerships, and applied research equip students with relevant skills, global perspectives, and a competitive edge in today’s job market.

Our small class sizes allow for interactive and innovative education methods, thereby providing students with personalized attention, increased group interaction, improved group dynamics and long-lasting connections.

Supportive academic environment

Our hybrid model, supported by modern facilities and digital resources, blends virtual and in-person learning for optimal skill development. With personalized guidance, business coaching, and career planning, we empower students as active learners and future global leaders in a supportive and student-centered environment.

Undergraduate Programs

Graduate Programs

Postgraduate Programs

Campuses

About UIBS

Academic Records

Contact

Dedicated since 2002 to cross-cultural education with a global perspective, United International Business School (UIBS) is the main constituent school of United Institute, an established multi-campus, multi-disciplinary, student-centered and institutionally-accredited collegiate private higher education institution rooted in applied sciences and the regional economy.

UIBS organizes professionally-oriented and flexible study programs with multiple starting dates at the Undergraduate/Bachelor’s and (Post)Graduate/Master’s levels in the field of business and management, targeted at metropolitan minds. Doctorate-level programs are organized through the United School for Doctoral Studies. In addition to its Zurich-based main and online campuses, United Institute’s education centers are located across Europe and Japan. In the 22-23 academic year, United Institute celebrated its 20th anniversary.

United Institute is institutionally-accredited by the EQAR-listed British Accreditation Council (BAC). UIBS further holds programmatic accreditation from the EQAR-listed ‘Fundación para el Conocimiento Madri+d’ for its Professional Master’s programs, and from the CHEA-recognized Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) for several of its Bachelor’s and Master’s programs. One of our Bachelor programs is university-validated, and several have achieved high rankings by renowned organizations such as QS. Forever onwards and upwards!

Learn more about our accreditation, rankings, qualifications and quality.