Russian Book Launch of “The Power of Art-Based Pedagogies” Held at HSE Graduate School of Business
The event brought together invited international speakers, GSB faculty members from the departments of strategic and international management, operations and logistics and business informatics, and guests from academia and business to discuss the role of art-based approaches in management and business education.
The book is co-edited by Dr. Ekaterina Ivanova, Associate Professor of HSE University GSB, Dr. Divya Singhal, Professor of Goa Institute of Management and Dr. Isabel Rimanoczy, Co-Chair of PRME Working Group on the Sustainability Mindset. It examines how artistic and creative practices can transform educational experiences, foster empathy and creativity, and contribute to the development of responsible and sustainable mindsets.
The book published in 2026 by Routledge in the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) series brought together 36 authors from 17 countries and includes 22 chapters presenting innovative teaching practices based on art-based pedagogy. The team of co-editors presented the book, structured around four thematic sections, showing examples of chapters from each of them:
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Educators as artists.
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Experiential learning through art.
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The creation of aesthetic learning space.
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The use of technologies and crafts in art-based pedagogy.
The interactive discussion was facilitated by Dr. Anna Veselova, Associate Professor of GSB, Head of ESG Center. Participants of the event shared examples of creative practices used in educational settings, including music, museum visits, photography, drawing, performance, cooking, cultural heritage, and digital technologies. These examples demonstrated how art-based pedagogies can encourage non-linear thinking, deepen student engagement, support meaningful learning experiences in education for sustainability. The participants also discussed the relationship between aesthetics and ethics in education. Particular attention was given to the importance of making artistic learning activities transparent by clearly explaining their purpose, methods, expected outcomes, and relevance to students’ development.
A special contribution on the role of culinary art-based pedagogies in sustainability education was delivered by Professor of GSB Michael Akim, one of the book’s authors. Examples presented by GSB faculty – Senior Lecturer Tom Rawlins, Professor Zeljko Tekic, and Professor Ivan Prostakov illustrated how creative approaches can help students engage with complex sustainability challenges in more personal, reflective, and transformative ways.
The seminar also introduced the newly established PRME Working Group Arts for Impact, co-chaired Dr. Ekaterina Ivanova, Associate Professor of HSE University GSB and Dr. Divya Singhal, Professor of Goa Institute of Management. Participants were invited to engage with the broader PRME community through its chapters, particularly PRME Chapter Eurasia, where GSB is actively contributing in the last 3 years, Working Groups, and other initiatives supporting responsible management education.
The book has also received high praise from the international academic community and leaders of leading business schools. More than 25 endorsements were contributed by prominent figures in management education and sustainable development, who expressed their support for the book and its authors. Experts, emphasised the significance of the publication and the educational practices it presents, drawing on the rich heritage of the arts:
R. Edward Freeman
Bachand University Professor, The Darden School, University of Virginia
"As we move into the Age of Artificial Intelligence we keep our distinctive humanity through the creative arts. This volume is a wonderful compendium of how to use the creative arts to make business better."
Professor, Director, Graduate School of Business, HSE University
"Exploring and unpacking the maximum potential of human creativity is one of the key challenges today for management educators, researchers, and practitioners. This book is an impressive collection of concepts and tools of arts-based learning which is critical for advancing creativity. A must-read for everyone involved in management development."
Katell Le Goulven
Executive Director, Hoffmann Institute, INSEAD
"The sustainability crisis demands urgent, all-in action and fresh approaches. This book offers inspiring illustrations of how art-based pedagogy can open minds, spark sustainable innovation, and fuel transformative change. It’s a hands-on invitation for educators to broaden their teaching methods and embrace new tools to increase real-world impact. I’m excited to take on this challenge."
The discussion benefited from the diverse perspectives and questions of HSE GSB faculty members. The exchange highlighted the importance of collaboration and continued dialogue in advancing responsible management education.
The GSB Department of strategic and international management, as an event organiser hopes that the seminar will encourage further engagement by HSE GSB faculty members in research supporting the PRME. Future collaboration may include new books, special issues or journal articles, or devoted to responsible management education and its contribution to sustainable development.
Associate Professor of HSE University, Graduate School of Business
“Leading this book project was an important opportunity to create a publication that combines academic value with practical relevance for educators. I am truly grateful to a dream team of co-editors - Isabel Rimanoczy and Divya Singhal - who made it possible. I hope this book will inspire further applications of art-based pedagogy and serve as the foundation for continued research, collaboration, and future publications in responsible management education.”
Professor of HSE University, Graduate School of Business
“Working with the book’s editorial team provided me with a unique opportunity to combine a technocratic approach—including the analysis of supply chains and carbon and water footprints—with the integration of spiritual values and practices. Art should be comprehensible, affordable and accessible. This approach can significantly broaden students’ horizons and deepen their engagement with sustainable development practices by enabling them to explore both the history of the issue and the application of their talents and knowledge in everyday life. Art can also serve as a form of self-expression and help shape personal habits and values”.
Associate Professor, Head of ESG Center, HSE University ,Graduate School of Business
"I congratulate my colleagues on the publication of this monograph! This book is an excellent source of ideas for new formats for student engagement and diversifying the educational experience. The approaches described in it can be viewed not as a one-size-fits-all solution, but as a useful starting point: creative assignments, reflective practices, working with metaphors, and group formats help to take a fresh look at familiar material and increase student engagement. For the GSB, this is a valuable opportunity to discuss how such methods can complement existing educational models and enrich the learning process."
Deputy Director HSE University, Graduate School of Business
"In a context where the main focus of teachers and students is now on the use of artificial intelligence, the necessity of artistic and creative practices in the educational process for the development of creativity and empathy takes on special significance. The success of any business project largely depends on the quality of the relationships between its participants, and this, without a doubt, needs to be learned. It is gratifying that the Graduate School of Business is not only a participant but also a leader in the global trend of implementing principles of responsible management education. Congratulations to my colleagues on the publication and I wish you to continue your fruitful work in this field!"
