Dr Frano Barbic

• Qualifications:PhD, Licentiate (MBA), MSc, PgCAP
• Position:Senior Lecturer in Strategic and Operations Management
• Department:Bristol Business School
• Social media:

About me

I define myself as an explorer, educator, and lifelong learner with the aim of transforming education. An experienced, versatile, and resourceful business academic with experience in management, leadership, research, and innovative teaching excellence. With a rich background in international contexts, I possess a rare and deep understanding of the broader European higher education industry.

In addition to being a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, I hold a PhD in Industrial Management (with the topic at the intersection of strategy, entrepreneurship, and innovation), Post-Master’s degree (equivalent to Licentiate) with a specialization in Strategy, Project Management, and Economics, an MSc degree in Electrical Engineering with a specialization in Telecommunications, and PgCert in Academic Practice.

Throughout my academic and professional journey, I have been fortunate to study/work at institutions around Europe. These experiences allowed me to develop a high-value networks that span functions, departments, universities, and academic communities.

•            University of Split (Croatia),

•            University of Siena (Italy),

•            Universita per Stranieri di Siena (Italy),

•            Politecnico di Milano (Italy),

•            Technical University of Madrid (Spain),

•            Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden),

•            Kemmy Business School (Ireland),

•            University of Manchester (United Kingdom),

•            Coventry University (United Kingdom).

In recognition of my dedication to academia, I have been honoured twice with the prestigious Erasmus Mundus (Marie Curie) Fellowship. Furthermore, during my PhD studies centred around partnerships and alliances, I received five Best Paper Awards from the leading management associations.

In my free time, I enjoy exploring topics related to history, geopolitics, philosophy, psychology, personal development, vocational skills, and health.

Area of expertise

My interests:

I am interested in collaborative and digital economies, both of which hold transformative potential in reshaping our lives and the way we work. My unwavering passion lies in exploring how these trends influence education, business, and society. My commitment to academic excellence and my ambition to shape the future of education drive me to continually explore, innovate, and contribute to the ever-evolving academic landscape.

My work can broadly be divided into three streams:

> Interfirm Collaborations (Strategic Alliances, Open innovation, Business Ecosystems),

> Digital transformation (Digital Capabilities, Digital Strategy, Digital Business Models),

> Education 4.0 (Learning Platforms, AI, XR, Business Simulations, Upskilling).

Interested in supervising work around the following topics:

> Building digital capabilities (and organisational readiness) for sustained competitive advantage

> AI implementation and adoption in organisations

> The emergence and evolution of AI-driven business models

> How AI-enabled digital transformation is reshaping platforms and business ecosystems

> How AI-enabled digital transformation is reshaping education (teaching, learning, assessment, and educational platforms)

> AI learning platforms

> Upskilling and reskilling in the age of AI (workforce transformation and talent development)

> The impact of AI on critical thinking, human autonomy, and agency

> AI governance, responsible AI, and ethical challenges across business, education, and society

Publications

Publications loading...