Kingman Institute Polytechnic and Arts

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Faculty

Faculty of Sustainable Engineering & Robotics

Dr. Arvo Kallas Associate Professor of Mechatronics & Control Systems

Dr. Kallas joined Kingman Institute after a distinguished tenure at the Tallinn University of Technology. With a specific focus on the intersection of Nordic industrial minimalism and autonomous systems, his research advocates for low-energy robotics in manufacturing. He holds a PhD in Cybernetics from Aalto University. His teaching philosophy emphasises “learning by prototyping,” often encouraging students to break systems to understand their resilience.

  • Selected Publications:
    • Adaptive Algorithms in Cold-Climate Autonomous Vehicles, Baltic Journal of Engineering Sciences. (2022). [Ref: KIP-9921-XJ]
    • Minimalist Actuators: Reducing Weight in Industrial Arms, Proceedings of the Riga Robotics Symposium. (2020). [Ref: P-4402-AB]
    • Sensor Fusion Errors in High-Latency Networks (Co-authored with T. Varga). (2023). [Ref: KIP-5591-MM]

Dr. Zsofia Németh Senior Lecturer, Structural Integrity & Materials

Originally from Szeged, Hungary, Dr. Németh brings over fifteen years of experience in structural civil engineering. Her work primarily concerns the rehabilitation of post-Soviet concrete infrastructure using bio-composite materials. She received her doctorate from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics before completing a Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship in Sweden. She is known for her rigorous attention to detail and her slightly chaotic office filled with concrete samples.

  • Selected Publications:
    • Mycelium-Based Composites in Urban Regeneration, European Structural Review. (2024). [Ref: EUR-2993-KL]
    • Fatigue Analysis of Pre-stressed Concrete in Baltic Climates, Journal of Civil Engineering Research. (2021). [Ref: JCER-1029-ZZ]
    • The Brutalist Legacy: Preservation vs. Demolition, Architectural Heritage Quarterly. (2019). [Ref: AHQ-8821-Q1]

Dr. Bojan Petrović Lecturer, Renewable Energy Systems

Dr. Petrović specialises in micro-grid optimisation and photovoltaic integration for northern latitudes. A Croatian national, he completed his PhD at the University of Zagreb and worked as a consultant for wind farm projects in the North Sea. His lectures are renowned for their practical applicability, although students often note his tendency to digress into the thermodynamics of coffee brewing.

  • Selected Publications:
    • Efficiency Drop-offs in Solar Panels under Partial Snow Cover, Renewable Energy Letters. (2023). [Ref: REL-3392-PP]
    • Decentralised Grid Management in Rural Latvia, Baltic Energy Forum. (2021). [Ref: KIP-1102-BE]

School of Global Business & Management

Dr. Małgorzata Wiśniewska Head of Department, Supply Chain & Logistics

Dr. Wiśniewska is a leading voice in the field of Baltic logistics corridors. Her academic journey began at the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH), followed by a doctorate at Erasmus University Rotterdam. She consults regularly for EU-funded rail integration projects. At Kingman, she spearheads the ‘Logistics of the Future’ module. She is a strict advocate for deadlines, often reminding students that “global shipping waits for no one.”

  • Selected Publications:
    • The Rail Baltica Effect: Economic Forecasts for 2030, Journal of European Transport Policy. (2023). [Ref: JETP-5520-RB]
    • Just-in-Time Inventory Failures during Geopolitical Crises, Supply Chain Management Review. (2022). [Ref: SCMR-9921-XX]
    • Digital Customs Borders, International Trade Journal. (2020). [Ref: ITJ-4412-DC]

Dr. Jannik Vestergaard Associate Professor, Financial Technology (FinTech)

Coming from a background in Danish banking software development, Dr. Vestergaard transitioned to academia to explore the ethics of algorithmic trading. He holds a PhD from Copenhagen Business School. His classes on Blockchain applications are among the most popular at the Institute. He is currently researching the viability of central bank digital currencies in small open economies.

  • Selected Publications:
    • Algorithmic Bias in Credit Scoring Models, Nordic Journal of Finance. (2024). [Ref: NJF-1102-AB]
    • Smart Contracts in Real Estate: A Legal Grey Area, Journal of Digital Economy. (2021). [Ref: JDE-8839-SC]

Dr. Rumjana Dimitrova Lecturer, Human Resource Management

Dr. Dimitrova focuses on cross-cultural management and expatriate adjustment in Eastern Europe. A Bulgarian national with a PhD from Sofia University, she has published extensively on the ‘soft skills gap’ in technical industries. She is the faculty sponsor for the Kingman Debating Society.

  • Selected Publications:
    • The Expatriate Curve: Retention Rates in Riga, Baltic Management Review. (2022). [Ref: BMR-2022-EX]
    • Soft Skills in Hard Sciences, Educational Psychology Today. (2019). [Ref: EPT-4419-SS]

College of Digital Arts & Media

Prof. Elina Aaltonen Professor of Interactive Media & Game Design

Professor Aaltonen is a veteran of the Finnish mobile gaming industry who turned to academia to foster “meaningful play.” Her work explores serious games for education and healthcare. She holds an MFA from Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture. Her studio classes are known for their high energy and the mandatory “play-testing Fridays.”

  • Selected Publications:
    • Gamifying Rehabilitation: Case Studies in Post-Stroke Care, Journal of Interactive Health. (2023). [Ref: JIH-5592-GR]
    • Narrative Mechanics in Mobile Interfaces, Game Design Quarterly. (2020). [Ref: GDQ-1129-NM]
    • Virtual Reality as an Empathy Machine, Digital Arts Symposium. (2018). [Ref: KIP-7738-VR]

Dr. Aurelijus Zukauskas Senior Lecturer, Visual Communication

Dr. Zukauskas brings a distinctively Baltic aesthetic to the graphic design programme. His research analyses Soviet-era typography and its modern reinterpretations. He completed his PhD at the Vilnius Academy of Arts. He encourages students to look back to history to find future trends. He is currently writing a book on the semiotics of street signage in Riga.

  • Selected Publications:
    • Typography of the Transition: 1989-1994, Visual Culture Journal. (2022). [Ref: VCJ-3301-TT]
    • Urban Semiotics in the Baltics, Design History Review. (2021). [Ref: DHR-9921-US]

Ms. Chiara Bernasconi Lecturer, Digital Fashion & Textiles

A specialist in 3D garment modelling and sustainable textiles, Ms. Bernasconi joined Kingman from the Politecnico di Milano. She advocates for “zero-waste” pattern cutting through digital simulation. Although she does not yet hold a doctorate, her industry experience with major Italian fashion houses makes her a vital asset to the department.

  • Selected Publications:
    • Virtual Fitting Rooms: Reducing Returns in E-Commerce, Fashion Tech Journal. (2023). [Ref: FTJ-1102-VF]
    • Sustainable Fibres in Digital Rendering, Conference on Sustainable Design. (2022). [Ref: CSD-4421-SF]