Professor Afshin Ashofteh from NOVA IMS received the international “Blended Learning” award, funded by the European Commission, for his innovative course "Financial Data Science" in the “Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics” category.

This award, granted by an international consortium that includes Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, and Università di Roma Tor Vergata, recognizes Professor Ashofteh's excellence in introducing innovative methods in financial modeling and Big Data, enabling students to manage and optimize complex financial systems.

As financial and risk analysis become increasingly complex, automation, analysis, and optimization of financial systems require a broad range of technical and soft skills that are often missing in traditional finance and econometrics courses.

The adoption of new technologies to address financial challenges now demands expertise in a wide range of areas, including security, privacy, and legal considerations, among others. The pedagogical approach taken by Professor Afshin Ashofteh aims to meet these challenges.

The “Blended Learning” award reflects the Professor Afshin’s innovative teaching methods and a testament to the talent and dedication at NOVA IMS, establishing the institution as a leader in financial data science and a pioneer in creating innovative educational solutions.