News

The Per Brahe Prize 2025 is awarded to Bastian Kordyaka

The Åbo Akademi Foundation has awarded the Per Brahe Prize 2025 to Dr. Bastian Kordyaka from the Department of Business and Economics, and Law at Åbo Akademi University. The prize sum is 15,000 euros. The Per Brahe Prize is annually awarded to a promising researcher who has actively advanced in their research career and whose continued affiliation with Åbo Akademi University is considered particularly valuable.

Dr. Kordyaka holds degrees in psychology and business administration and earned his Doctor rerum politicarum degree in information systems from the University of Siegen, Germany, in 2020. His research focuses on a highly relevant topic: self-representation and social interaction in virtual environments, including esports. The work is interdisciplinary, combining expertise from several disciplines such as psychology, business administration and economics, information systems, and human-computer interaction.

Dr. Kordyaka is employed as an Associate Professor of Business Administration at the School of Business and Economics at Åbo Akademi University. He was nominated by Head of Department Wilhelm Barner-Rasmussen, who in his nomination letter highlights the societal relevance of Kordyaka’s research topic:

“Digital gaming contexts are part of the everyday lives and leisure of approximately 3.5 billion people, forming the foundation of a global industry estimated to generate around 150 billion euros annually. What happens within online gaming environments has therefore implications on a large and rapidly growing sector of our economy, on the recreational activities and well-being of many individuals, and potentially also on societal cohesion through formative experiences of participation and belonging.”

Barner-Rasmussen further describes Dr. Kordyaka as a researcher with high ambition and great future potential. He particularly highlights Kordyaka’s international network and interdisciplinary research profile, both qualities that are especially valuable for a small but multidisciplinary university like Åbo Akademi University.

Dr. Kordyaka says: “My research interests have evolved through a combination of my interdisciplinary academic education and my background in competitive sports. I became fascinated by the changing societal perception of games and esports and wanted to explore which unique features drive behaviors within the virtual context.”

The Rector and all departments at the Åbo Akademi University were invited to nominate a candidate for the Per Brahe Prize, and the decision was made by the Board of the Åbo Akademi University Foundation. A prize committee reviewed the submitted nominations and unanimously recommended Dr. Kordyaka as the recipient of the prize.

The prize was presented by Stefan Wallin, Chair of the Board of the Åbo Akademi University Foundation, during the delegation’s autumn meeting on November 27.

For more information and interview requests:

Dr. Bastian Kordyaka
bastian.kordyaka@abo.fi
Phone: +358 503003298

CEO Lasse Svens
lasse.svens@stiftelsenabo.fi
Phone: +358 500 562 945