The Empirical Edge: WVPU’s New Research Seminar Series

Webster Vienna Private University (WVPU) is committed to high-quality, globally significant academic research combining theory and practice, an international perspective and a strong integration with teaching.

With this in mind, the university has launched a new research seminar series, The Empirical Edge, designed to showcase and discuss empirical scholarship at WVPU.

This research initiative provides an interdisciplinary forum for faculty and invited scholars to present research that engages with data — whether primary or secondary — and to foster dialogue on methodological approaches, analytical tools, and applied evidence-based insights.

For the inaugural event, WVPU hosted a joint doctoral research symposium on Nov. 20 along with the University of Ostrava. During this event, Ph.D. candidates presented their work in a conference-style format on the Webster Vienna campus.

“The Empirical Edge Seminar Series provides Webster Vienna and its collaborators with an intellectual forum that promotes policy-relevant research, enhances doctoral education and fosters international academic engagement,” said WVPU professor Menbere Workie, who chaired the symposium.

“The seminar series is poised to become a cornerstone of the institution’s research infrastructure and a vital channel for scholarly exchange in an increasingly globalized and interconnected economic landscape.”

Additional attendees and their topics included:

Webster Vienna’s Samuel R. Schubert, Ph.D., associate director, WVPU professor and host.

Karim Elatraby, Ph.D. candidate, Vienna University of Economics and Business
Topic: The Business Cycle Synchronization Paradox: Does It Hinder Economic Recovery?

Vojtech Psik, Ph.D. candidate, VSB Technical University of Ostrava
Topic: Telework and Work–Family Balance in the EU: The Moderating Role of National Digital Maturity

Dai Qiyuan, Ph.D. candidate, VSB Technical University of Ostrava
Topic: A Real Option Evolutionary Game of Corporate Mergers and Acquisitions Under Uncertainty Conditions

Xiaotong Sang, Ph.D. candidate, VSB Technical University of Ostrava
Topic: Optimising the Supply Chain Finance for Increasing the Efficiency

Gao Shikai, Ph.D. candidate, VSB Technical University of Ostrava
Topic: Intelligent Credit Risk Early Warning Based on SVM and KPCA: The Case of the Chinese Banking Industry

Ondrej Zavacky, Ph.D. candidate, VSB Technical University of Ostrava
Topic: When Policies Interact: Monetary and Macroprudential Transmission to Housing Prices in the Euro Area

For any Empirical Edge seminars, faculty members from any WVPU department are invited to present their own empirical research, nominate external speakers, and/or host a guest researcher as part of the series. Faculty who invite an external speaker will serve as the chair for that session.

The Empirical Edge marks an important milestone in WVPU’s ongoing efforts to enhance its research environment and support scholarly exchange across the university community. Learn more about our research.