Dr. Iryna Strutynska is a British Academy CARA Research Fellow who joined the Institute for Digital Technologies (IDT), Loughborough University London in August 2022. She is also a Professor in the Computer Science Department at Ternopil Ivan Puluj National Technical University, Ukraine. Prof. Strutynska's research program focuses on studying the experience of the UK and EU countries in the digital and sustainable transformation of micro and small businesses, with the aim of implementing this experience in Ukraine.
Academic background
Dr. Strutynska received her Doctoral degree in Economics from Zaporizhzhia National University, Ukraine, in 2020, with postdoctoral research qualifications (Doctor Habilitov). Her dissertation focused on digital transformation as an imperative for the innovative development of business structures. Prior to that, she earned a PhD in Economics from Ternopil Ivan Puluj National Technical University, Ukraine, in 2012.
Dr. Strutynska’s research focuses on digitalisation and sustainability, particularly on the Twin Transition of businesses towards Industry 5.0. She is currently developing DigSME Digital Service designed to help micro- and small businesses in the UK and Ukraine assess their digital and sustainable maturity levels and create tailored transformation roadmaps. She has published numerous scientific articles in leading academic journals indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, and other scientometric databases.
Dr. Strutynska is the coordinator of several international projects, including:
- Development of an Online Digital Maturity Assessment Tool for SMEs in Post-War Recovery of Ukraine (British Academy / CARA / Leverhulme Researchers at Risk Research Support Funding, 2024);
- European Practice of SMEs Digitalisation for Sustainable Industry 4.0 (DigSME) (Erasmus+ Jean Monnet Module, 2022–2025).
She is also a team member on projects such as:
- Smart Manufacturing Innovation, Learning-labs, and Entrepreneurship (SMILE) (Innovation Capacity Building for Higher Education, 2022–2024);
- Investigation of the Challenges and Opportunities of Communicative Interaction between the Public and the Authorities in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic (2021);
- Ecologically responsible business: research and implementation of European experience Member of the Erasmus+ Jean Monnet Module “Ecologically responsible business: research and implementation of European experience” (564645-EPP-1-2015-1-UA-EPPJMO-MODULE) (2015-2018);
- The Centre of Competence on Entrepreneurship and Business Education Participant and performer of project «The Centre of Competence on Entrepreneurship and Business Education» (joint project of Ternopil Business School and Estonian Business School) (2018);
- Inter-universities Start-Up Centres for Students' Innovations Development and Promotion Member of the Tempus project “Inter-universities Start-Up Centres for Students' Innovations Development and Promotion” (530349-TEMPUS-1-2012-1-FR-TEMPUS-JPHES) (2012 – 2015).
Dr. Strutynska is actively involved in supporting Ukrainian entrepreneurs through her work with TERN - The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network (London, UK, 2023–2025).
She has extensive experience in mentoring startups and fostering digital and sustainable transformation in small businesses.
She is a member of the focus group for the Ternopil Regional Development Strategy (2021–2027) under the Ternopil Regional State Administration (Ukraine).
In addition to her research, Dr. Strutynska teaches courses on Digital Transformation, Digital Marketing, Project Management for Local and Regional Development.
Awards, Grants and Scholarships
Dr. Strutynska has received multiple prestigious awards and scholarships, including:
- Scholarships from the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (2014–2016; 2018–2020; 2022–2024);
- British Academy / CARA Research Fellowship (Researchers at Risk) (2022-2025);
- Award Grant British Academy / CARA / Leverhulme Researchers (2024).