Research at Webster Vienna

The Effect of Basel III Implementation on SME Access to Financing – A New Study by the Team of Professors: Dr. Fišera, Dr. Horváth, & Dr. Melecký

Dr. Boris Fišera from the Business and Management Department at Webster Vienna Private University, in collaboration with Dr. Roman Horváthfrom Charles University, and Dr. Martin Melecký from the World Bank, have recently co-authored a paper that studied the nuanced impacts of Basel III on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), the backbone of many economies, across 32 Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs).

Their findings highlight that while Basel III aims to enhance financial stability, it presents short-term challenges for SME financing, especially for those with partial financial inclusion. However, they also uncovered that stronger pre-Basel III bank capitalization can mitigate these effects, emphasizing the importance of robust financial systems.

Their research revealed several key insights. (1) Who Gets Affected the Most? SMEs with limited financial inclusion – those with a bank account but no loans – felt the most pressure from Basel III, while those with no prior banking relationships were less affected. (2) Stronger Banks Help: Countries with better-capitalized banks showed fewer negative impacts on SMEs, reinforcing the importance of resilient banking systems. (3) Timing Matters: The effects of Basel III varied over time, with more noticeable challenges in the short term but potential benefits as stability improves. (4) A Complex Balance: Policymakers face the challenge of ensuring financial stability without creating barriers for small businesses – the lifeblood of many economies.

Their findings are particularly significant, as SMEs provide the majority of jobs globally but often struggle with limited access to financing. Additionally, understanding how global regulations like Basel III impact them helps policymakers strike a better balance between stability and growth.

^{Fišera, B., Horváth, R., & Melecký, M. (2025). The Effect of Basel III Implementation on SME Access to Financing in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies. The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, 100, 101956.}

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Prof. Dr. Pernille Eskerod and Mr. Kaung Khant Min Present Research on Advanced Simulations in Higher Education at LIMEN 2024

Prof. Dr. Pernille Eskerod, full-time professor at WVPU specializing in management and organizational behavior, and Mr. Kaung Khant Min, a bachelor’s student in Business Management, presented their research at the 10th International Scientific Business Conference LIMEN 2024. Their study, titled Learning Outcomes in Advanced Simulations within Higher Education – A Systematic Literature Review, examines the role of advanced digital simulations in enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes.

The research explores how simulations improve competencies such as strategic decision-making, teamwork, and adaptability while addressing challenges like team performance, instructor roles, and simulation design. Based on a review of studies from 2018–2024, their findings highlight the superiority of simulations over traditional teaching methods in fostering cognitive, skill-based, and motivational growth.

The authors provide practical recommendations for integrating simulations into higher education curricula, emphasizing their potential to align teaching methods with course objectives. Prof. Eskerod’s extensive research in project management and Mr. Min’s contributions as her research assistant underscore the collaborative effort behind this study, offering valuable insights for modernizing educational practices. 

 

 

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Faculty — Business and Management

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Franco Algieri has analyzed the conflict-ridden EU-China relationship in his latest contribution to the Yearbook on European Integration. In another article for Risk Monitor 2025 of the Austrian Defense Ministry, he discusses the issue of neutrality in the EU and the need for member states to adapt to a changing security and defense political environment.

Franco Algieri: Die Europäische Union und China (The European Union and China), in: Werner Weidenfeld/Wolfgang Wessels (Hrsg): Jahrbuch der Europäischen Union 2023. Baden-Baden: Nomos 2023, 349-354. 

Franco Algieri: Neutralität in der EU (Neutrality in the EU), in: Bundesministerium für Landesverteidigung: Risikobild 2025. Vienna: Austrian Defence Ministry 2025.

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Faculty — International Relations

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Memetic Election Cycles in US Presidential Campaigns

This presentation provides critical insight around the concept of memetic election cycles, examining how memes have become a central tool in U.S. political campaigns since at least the 2008 Obama campaign. Through a review of key literature on political communication, participatory culture, and digital marketing, the study analyzes the evolution of memes as viral political content, but also as a viable means to mobilize the masses behind increasingly polarized political parties and campaigns.

It highlights how campaigns such as those of Obama, Trump, Biden, and Harris leveraged memes not only for voter engagement but also as branding tools that shaped public perception. Using examples from recent election cycles, including the 2016 and 2020 U.S. presidential elections, the article discusses the role of memes as grassroots digital marketing and viral political advertising. Additionally, the research explores the potential influence of memes on voting behavior and the risks of disinformation. The findings suggest that memes serve as a hybrid form of digital folklore and marketing, influencing both electoral discourse and voter behavior.

To be presented at the 12th European Conference on Social Media in Porto, Portugal on Thursday May 22, 2025. 

 

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Faculty — Strategic Communication

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Investigating the Effects of Self-Compassion Training on Adolescent Well-Being

With rising rates of anxiety and mood disorders among teenagers, early intervention programs promoting psychological resilience have become increasingly necessary. Anna Pohl, recent graduate of Webster Vienna Private University’s Master of Arts in Psychology with an Emphasis in Counselling program, has recently concluded her master’s thesis investigating this issue. Pohl’s study examined the impact of a four-week mindful self-compassion training program on anxiety, self-compassion, and resilience among 20 early adolescents at an international school in Vienna, Austria. Using a mixed-methods design, the training was delivered in 35-minute sessions during school hours, with the intervention group receiving 12 sessions of Mindful Self-Compassion training, while the control group participated in Healthy Lifestyle Mentoring classes.

Pohl’s study aimed to replicate previous research suggesting that self-compassion negatively correlates with anxiety and positively correlates with resilience. Results showed a significant negative correlation between self-compassion and anxiety at baseline, but no significant link between self-compassion and resilience. Post-intervention analysis found an increase only in the common-humanity subscale of self-compassion, with no significant changes in other measures or between-group differences. Neither gender nor age influenced outcomes. However, changes in self-compassion predicted changes in resilience, though not in anxiety.

A thematic analysis highlighted the potential of mindful self-compassion training and suggested promising trends aligned with the hypotheses. Pohl’s research highlights the importance of further exploring the long-term effects of self-compassion interventions in school settings, with larger sample sizes and extended program durations.

 

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Faculty — Psychology

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