Leadership
Dr. Ivan Lobanov
RectorPh.D. in Juridical sciences
Associate Professor
Dr. Ivan Lobanov, has a background in law and a PhD in Juridical sciences. He held various significant roles in government, educational institutions and the private sector.
He has received multiple awards for his contributions, including the Order of Friendship in 2015 and the Order of Honor in 2019. Dr. Lobanov is an active participant in several public organizations and committees, including the "Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs" and the Council on Humanities of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.
Director of the Branch in Dubai
Ph.D., Associate Professor
Dr. Malkarova graduated from the North Ossetian State University named after K. L. Khetagurov with a degree in English Language and Literature, then was awarded Ph.D. in Sociology.
Her career has been closely connected with public relations, large international cross-cultural projects, work abroad and in leadership positions at Russian universities.
Dr. Malkarova is the author of 26 publications, including one methodological manual for teachers - "School of Tolerance" (2004) and author of 18 works published in the Higher Attestation Commission.
Directorate
Dr. Mehdi Afzali
Deputy Director for Academic and Research Work
Dr. Mehdi Afzali, holding a Ph.D. in Sociology, has solidified his position as a notable figure in the realm of demographic research.
His professional journey includes a significant tenure as a researcher at the Institute for Demographic Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow. Through his dedicated scholarly pursuits, Dr. Afzali has authored numerous scientific papers and monographs, showcasing his profound expertise in the field. Moreover, Dr. Afzali has assumed pivotal leadership roles at Plekhanov University in Dubai, where his contributions have been instrumental in shaping the institution's direction.
Serving as Deputy Director for Academic and Research Work and Head of the Quality Assurance Unit, he has played a key role in fostering innovation and excellence in academic and research initiatives at the university.
Head of Finance and Accounting Department
Dr. Shaker Ainous holds a Ph.D. in Economics and has extensive experience in both academia and the accounting profession.
He has authored many publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals. He specializes in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), financial analysis, and accounting theory. He participates in regional and international conferences on a regular basis. He has held notable positions, including Lecturer of Accounting at Plekhanov Russian University of Economics in Moscow and Finance Department Supervisor in the Dubai market.
Dr. Ainous has extensive experience in both academic and professional settings, contributing significantly to the fields of accounting and finance.
Program Directors
Program director: Bachelor of Science in Marketing
Associate Professor of PRUE Marketing Department
Candidate of Economics (PhD) with specialization in Marketing. Has the teaching and academic experience as the Guest lecturer for Grad School of Management SPBU (Russia), Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (Russia), Hof University of Applied Sciences (Germany) and as the Tutor for Professional Marketing Examination at The Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK). In 1999 graduated with honors from the Ryazan State Agricultural Academy with a degree in Economics and Agricultural Production Management. Total academic and professional experience over 25 years.
Worked in the commercial services of radio broadcasting and telecommunicating companies as the marketing manager (Europe Plus and Russian Radio, Mobile TeleSystems). Also was engaged in successful sales of advertising and web solutions for business as the marketing manager for Internetica and Actis Systems companies. Deals with the science and practice of branding, organizing events and event marketing.
Nowadays, he is Chief partner of “YES - your event solutions” event-marketing agency. Marketing consultant for the social media content production center “Bee-Agency”. Editorial board member of the International Journal of Youth Economics “Youth Economy”. Inspiration Economy International Project Russia Representative. Governance Board member of the Socioeconomic Institute for Advanced Studies (SIAS), Rwanda.
Program director: Bachelor of Science in Finance
Deputy Director for Administrative Affairs
Assistant Professor at Plekhanov University in Dubai with a PhD in Accounting Information Systems and Finance
Dr. Hasan Abu Ezza is an Assistant Professor at Plekhanov University in Dubai with a PhD in Accounting Information Systems and Finance. He has over 13 years of experience and holds a master's degree in international economics from BSTU named after Shukhov University and a Postgraduate Diploma from Plekhanov Russian University of Economics.
Dr. Abu Ezza has previously served as an Associate Professor at Britts Imperial University College in Sharjah, UAE, and is proficient in English, Russian, and Arabic. He is also certified as an ACCA, CMA, and Tax Consultant in the UAE.
His expertise lies in financial management and taxation.
Program director: Master of Science in Corporate Finance
Distinguished Professor at the State and Municipal Finance Department of Plekhanov Russian University of Economics (PRUE)
She holds a Doctorate in Economics with a specialization in Finance and has extensive experience in teaching and academia, particularly in MBA and additional professional education programs at PRUE. Dr. Finogenova graduated from PRUE's Faculty of Economic Cybernetics with honors in 1995. With over 28 years of combined academic and professional experience, Dr. Finogenova has held key roles at reputable institutions such as the rating agency "RAEX" and the audit company Coopers & Lybrand Moscow (now PWC).
Currently, she serves as the head of the Training Center for Modern Financial Technologies of the Higher School of Finance at PRUE in addition to her professorial duties at the State and Municipal Finance Department. Dr. Finogenova is a leading expert at PRUE on topics related to the development of the pension system in the Russian Federation, financial markets, and insurance markets.
Her expertise and contributions to the field of finance are highly regarded, making her a respected figure in both academia and the media.
Program director: Master of Science in Digital Business
Doctor of Economics and PhD in Mathematics, Associate Professor
Dr. Olga Kitova holds a Doctor of Economics and PhD in Mathematics, along with being an Associate Professor. With 41 years of experience, including 18 years in teaching, Olga Kitova brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the field of digital business. Her professional background includes managerial roles in prominent IT companies such as Kaspersky Lab, Luxoft, and Software AG, where she held positions in strategic marketing and partner relations.
Olga Kitova has also been actively involved in academia, serving as a professor, and currently heading the Department of Informatics at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics in Moscow. As the director of the IBM Academic Competence Center "Smart Commerce" and Competence Center for Cognitive Sciences, Olga Kitova focuses on research areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, digital business, marketing performance management, and corporate information systems.
Recognized for her contributions to the field, Olga Kitova has been awarded the Certificate of Honor from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education for her dedication to advancing knowledge and expertise in digital business and related disciplines.