Amir’s Teaching PortfolioEducation-Driven Knowledge and Competencies
My educational journey has profoundly shaped my teaching philosophy and practice. My MBA studies at the University of Oklahoma were particularly formative, offering a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of business disciplines. Furthermore, my specialized training and certifications acquired throughout my bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral studies in accounting, finance and risk management, data analytics, and management information systems have equipped me with a unique, multifaceted, and integrated teaching approach. Beyond subject relevance, my academic background has allowed me to develop a range of skills that have significantly influenced my teaching practice. These skills include the following:
I possess a strong openness to teaching new courses in diverse domains. This versatility has driven me to develop and teach 13 distinct courses throughout my career, reflecting a commitment to broadening my expertise and addressing emerging educational needs.
Having pursued higher education in Iran, the US, the UK, and Canada, I have experienced the opportunities and challenges of studying in multicultural environments. These experiences have given me a deep appreciation for inclusion and the importance of creating a welcoming environment for all students, regardless of their backgrounds.
Not all business school courses should be instructed in the same way, yet all must explore their impact on business and society. My educational background has instilled an understanding of this principle, which I consistently incorporate into my course design and administration strategies.
Among the various teaching methods I have experienced, case-based teaching has had the most profound impact on my practice. My MBA and MSc studies emphasized the value of case-based learning in fostering critical thinking and engagement. Today, I prioritize this method, integrating elements of gamification into my teaching to further enhance student involvement.
My own educational experiences revealed that impactful courses focus on developing competencies that are directly applicable to students’ future careers. This insight has led me to integrate Bloom’s Taxonomy into my teaching practice, with a strong emphasis on fostering students’ abilities to analyze, evaluate, and create in their respective fields.
I recognize the value of peer learning at all levels, particularly among graduate students. I strive to create opportunities for students to engage in collaborative and extracurricular activities that enhance their learning experience. My involvement in case competitions during my time at the University of Oklahoma and the University of British Columbia, both individually and as part of a team, provided me with valuable skills and insights that I aim to impart to my students.
Over the years, I have extended my education through personal readings and formal certifications. For instance, I hold the designation of Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US) after successfully passing the examination. This certification has significantly impacted my teaching practices, enabling me to stay up-to-date with current discussions in data protection, information auditing, information security, legal compliance, and risk management. I maintain this approach of continuous learning, even when I may not find the time to complete certification exams for every course I teach. For example, in Business Analysis and Data Visualization, I stay aligned with industry trends by pursuing formal certifications such as the Salesforce Tableau Data Analyst Certification, Microsoft's Power BI Data Analyst Associate, and the International Institute of Business Analysis' Certified Business Analysis certification series.
Additional study: London School of Economics and Political Science Summer School.
Ph.D., Business Administration in Management Information Systems (Nov 2021)
The University of British Columbia, Sauder School of Business
Dissertation Title: “Role of Heuristics and Biases in Information Security Decision Making”
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Honors/Awards:
· Achieved the Highest Grade in COMM 590B: Business School Teaching Among Cohorts Across All School Departments
· International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) Doctoral Consortium
· President’s Academic Excellence Initiative Ph.D. Award Recipient
· Dean Earle D MacPhee Memorial Fellowship in Commerce ($13,500)
· Sauder School of Business Graduate Award Recipient ($13,000)
· Second place in Blockathon for Social Good Team Competition ($1,000)
MBA, Finance & Risk Management (May 2017)
MSc, Management of Information Technology in Data Analytics (May 2017)
The University of Oklahoma, Price College of Business
Norman, Oklahoma, USA
Honors/Awards:
· Summer Scholar at the London School of Economics and Political Sciences
· Beta Gamma Sigma Academic Honor Society
· Graduated with a 3.86 GPA, Ranking in the Top 5% of the 2015 Class
· Big XII MBA Team Case Competition Winner, Baylor University ($5,000)
· Best individual Q&A award at Big XII MBA Team Case Competition, Baylor University ($1,000)
· MIT/PCB and Anu and Laku Chidambaram Scholarship Recipient, ($1,000)
· Archie and Linda Dunham Scholarship Recipient, ($10,000)
· Russel and Margaret Frakes Scholarship Recipient, ($2,500)
BSc, Accounting (July 2015)
Shiraz University, Department of Economics, Management and Social Sciences
Shiraz, Fars, Iran
Honors/Awards:
· Graduated with a 4.0 GPA, Ranking in the Top 10% of the 2011 Class