Dr. iur. David Costa, Dean
Doctor David Costa is one of the founders of Robert Kennedy College. In his current capacity as Dean of Faculty, he oversees the faculty review process and several of the college’s academic programmes.
He holds a Dr. iur. (Doctor Iuris, Doctor of Laws) degree from the University of Basel, Switzerland, where he researched the law and regulations related to synthetic investment products. With further Law degrees from Scotland (Robert Gordon University, LL.B), England (University of Northumbria at Newcastle, LL.M International Trade Law) and the United States (Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, LL.M in U.S. Law), he has acquired extensive expertise in Comparative Law.
In addition to his legal qualifications, Dr Costa holds a BA in Business Studies from the University of Derby, an MBA in eCommerce from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, and a PhD in Strategy, Programme and Project Management from the École Supérieure de Commerce de Lille for which his doctoral thesis was a study of index-based commodity investments.
He lectures at Robert Kennedy College in Contracts Law, Transnational Business Law, Investment Law and Money Management, and is a frequent guest on business TV channels such as CNBC Europe and Bloomberg Television. He is the author of Money.ai.
Stefano Costa, CFO
Stefano Costa is a co-founder and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Robert Kennedy College in Zurich, Switzerland. Since the college's inception, he has been instrumental in shaping its vision to make high-quality education accessible globally through online learning. With a strong background in finance and strategic planning, Stefano ensures the institution's financial stability and growth.
He holds an MBA from ALTIS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, Italy, which has equipped him with advanced skills in business management and finance. Under his leadership, Robert Kennedy College has expanded its online programmes in collaboration with prestigious universities. Stefano's strategic oversight allows the college to invest in innovative technologies and partnerships, enhancing the student experience and bridging geographical gaps.
Beyond his financial duties, Stefano is dedicated to the college's mission of democratizing education. He collaborates with cross-functional teams to foster continuous improvement and innovation. His leadership supports operational excellence and reinforces the institution's reputation in global online higher education.
Prof. David Duffill, Deputy Dean
David Duffill has an MA in Engineering Science (First Class Honours) from Oxford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He was the Oades and Stafford Scholar (1967-1970) at Pembroke College, Oxford and in 1970 was awarded the Maurice Lubbock Prize for best performance in the Honour School of Engineering Science. In 1975 he won a Harkness Fellowship from the Commonwealth Fund to support his studies at Harvard.
He had been a professional consultant for almost 20 years when in 1997 the company in which he was a partner was sold to Renaissance Solutions in the USA. Two years later, he and three colleagues left Renaissance to start TCI Consulting, a virtual consultancy specialising in helping clients by providing strategy inputs and business intelligence for their strategic planning process.
While Professor Duffill’s recent focus industrially has been in the healthcare, automotive, and construction materials markets, his experience covers a broad range of industrial and service organisations. A substantial part of his current consulting activity is in competitive intelligence, including helping clients to benchmark their cost position against key competitors.
Dr. Radu Negoescu
Dr Radu Negoescu has an MSc in Computer Science and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies from the Polytechnic University of Bucharest. He has worked in the software and services industry in Romania, later joining RKC as their Chief Software Architect.
After a short intermezzo during which he quenched his life-long thirst to study law at the University of Neuchâtel, he went back to his original field of study and obtained his PhD in Computer Science from the Ecole Politechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in 2011. His research involved using probabilistic models for the modelling and understanding of online communities in social media with a focus on human behaviour in photo-sharing environments.
He has been back at RKC since June 2011 as the Programme Leader for the MA in Leading Innovation & Change, as well as tutoring and looking at new ways in which technology can make students’ study-life easier, more enjoyable, and more rewarding.
Mihai Secașiu, CTO
Mihai Secașiu is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Robert Kennedy College in Zurich, Switzerland. He plays a pivotal role in driving technological innovation at the college through the application of artificial intelligence.
Mihai's forward-thinking approach has significantly enhanced the institution's operational capabilities and global outreach, contributing to its success in delivering accessible education worldwide.
With a strong background in technology and innovation, Mihai continues to explore new ways to integrate cutting-edge AI solutions into the college's operations. His dedication to advancing technological capabilities not only streamlines internal processes but also enhances the overall experience for students and staff alike.
Veronika Ajtai, Director of Online Learning
Veronika Ajtai is the Director of Online Learning at Robert Kennedy College in Zurich, Switzerland. She plays a pivotal role in developing and enhancing the college's online learning platform, significantly improving the educational experience for students worldwide.
With her expertise in educational technology, Veronika ensures that RKC's virtual campus remains innovative and user-friendly, contributing to the institution's mission of providing accessible, high-quality online education globally.
Her dedication to continuous improvement has led to the integration of interactive learning tools and the adoption of best practices in online education. Veronika collaborates closely with faculty and technical teams to implement features that enhance student engagement and facilitate effective learning, reinforcing RKC's position at the forefront of e-learning.
Sebastian Soltan, COO
Sebastian Soltan is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Robert Kennedy College in Zurich, Switzerland. He oversees the college's operations, managing relationships with partner universities and ensuring seamless collaboration across all departments.
Sebastian's strategic leadership contributes to the efficient delivery of RKC's programmes, reinforcing the institution's mission to provide accessible, high-quality online education worldwide.
His focus on operational excellence and process optimization has been key in maintaining the college’s strong reputation for delivering flexible, high-quality education. Sebastian works closely with both academic and administrative teams to ensure that RKC remains agile in responding to the evolving needs of students and partners in a dynamic global education landscape.
Dr. Alistair Benson
Alistair Benson turned to Business Studies after 15 years of research in the medical field. After completing his MBA, he devoted himself to higher-education teaching and postgraduate research supervision at both Master and Doctoral levels, activities in which he has been deeply involved for the past 35 years. One of his major interests in teaching is leadership in organisations.
In his position as Academic Director at Robert Kennedy College, his responsibilities involve developing, monitoring, and assessing current teaching practice, as well as reviewing relevant materials and delivery channels.
Emeritus Professor Gabriel Jacobs
Before retiring from his Chair of Business Information Technology at Swansea University, Professor Jacobs’s primary teaching and research interests included multimedia applications, business telematics, and computer-assisted learning. In 1993, he helped found the Association for Learning Technology, and for nine years was Editor, then Executive Editor, of its journal ALT-J. Before that, he was Joint-Editor of the journal Interactive Multimedia.
Prof. Jacobs directed a number of major European-funded projects related to small businesses, multimedia, and e-learning. He has published extensively in the areas of IT and general business management and continues to research in these areas.