Digi-me is an initiative that strengthens the university’s business education by integrating relevant digital competencies and skills. The programme responds to the growing need for business education to evolve alongside digital transformation and shifting labour market expectations.

Important implications

Vaasa University invited Coche because of her interdisciplinary research on data governance laws and their implications for international businesses. Her PhD, supervised by Prof. Ans Kolk and Prof. Martijn Dekker, explores how data regulations shape global business practices and what this means for responsible management and policy.

During her visit, Coche delivered a lecture for students and a workshop for international business educators. The sessions focused on the legal and ethical implications of data governance and their broader implications for universities and educators.

Coche believes that there’s is a wide range of consequences for universities both at the individual and organisational level. The main takeaway is for all university staff to be aware of the privacy and ethical risks of day-to-day activities. This includes online teaching, for example, or using AI for research. Coche: 'This is where a lot of issues occur and therefore can be avoided'. 

She also points to wider geo-political implications at the organisational level. One such issue is digital sovereignty. 'For example, I found out that many people at universities are still not aware of data transfer laws and policies. This has a huge impact on transnational research projects', explains Coche. 'That's why it's essential for everyone at university to understand that we are all part of this ecosystem and have some important responsibilities'.

Building bridges

This collaboration aligns perfectly with Coche's PhD research goals and her aim of building bridges between law and business. This is something that is essential for guiding responsible digital transformations.