Research profile

I have so many ideas that may perhaps be of some use in time if others more penetrating than I go deeply into them some day and join the beauty of their minds to the labor of mine. G. W. Leibniz (1646–1716)

Life is too short to tolerate indecisions ©2012 by Romeo V. Turcan

Romeo’s main research interests include emergence, legitimation and institutionalization of newness and theory building across diverse disciplines and contexts; de-internationalization and re-internationalization of firms.

Leadership

Romeo is the founder and leader of an inter-disciplinary, inter-sectoral, inter-technology and inter-national collaborative research programme, Theory Building Research Programme (TBRP), www.tbrp.business.aau.dk. He led 8 externally funded projects of over 8 million EUR. 

Internationalization

• 2025...     Life Member, Clare Hall, College, University of Cambridge, UK
• 2025       Visiting Fellow, Clare Hall College, University of Cambridge, UK
• 2023-24  Visiting Professor, Cambridge University Sociology Department, UK
• 2022...     Adjunct Professor, Trinity Business School, Ireland
• 2019...     Visiting Lecturer, ERASMUS+ Mobility of individuals–Staff mobility
• 2009       Visiting Lecturer, East China University of Science and Technology, China

Policy experience

• 2024-26  DK National Expert to Horizon Europe, Ministry of Higher Education and Science, DK
• 2022-23  EU Key Expert, Ministry of Education and Research, Republic of Moldova
• 2014        Advisor, Yukon Government, Yukon, Canada
• 1993...     MD National Expert, prior to commencing his academic career Romeo worked in a range of posts involving public policy intervention in restructuring, rationalizing and modernizing business and public sectors in Moldova such as power, oil, military high-tech, management consulting, ICT and higher education.

Business experience

• 2025...    Board Member, BRIDGES for Dementia Network, UK
• 2025...    Board Member, People & Planet, DK
• 2024-...   Advisor (Strategic Development), MultiBank UK
• 2019...    Board Member, International Society of Markets and Development, US
• 2017...    Chair, Organization of Moldovans in Denmark, DK
• 2013-19 Board Member, Enterprise and Parliamentary Dialogue International, London, UK
• 2005-10 CEO, International Association of Business and Parliament - Moldova, MD

Beyond state-of-the-art contributions 

Since Romeo joined AAU, he has developed, singly and jointly, series of substantive and general theories.

Substantive theories:

• Theory of goal alignment (Turcan, 2008)
• Theory of legitimation (Turcan, 2011)
• Theory of captivity (Turcan, 2012)
• Theory of bubbles (Dholakia and Turcan, 2013)
• Process theory of legitimation (Turcan and Fraser, 2016)
• Theory of scoping (Zach and Turcan, 2018)
• Theory of comfort zoning (Deak and Turcan, 2022)
• Theory of newness co-emergence (Wanjiku, Turcan, Andersson, 2022)
• Theory of insider-outsider perceptions of leadership authenticity (Lines and Turcan, 2023).

General theories:

• Theory of hype (Turcan, 2011)
• Metatheory of bubbles (Dholakia and Turcan, 2014)
• Theory of knowledge and structure (Turcan, 2018)
• Theory of search for meaning (Turcan, 2023)
• Theory of social construction of reality (Fraser and Turcan, 2025)
• Theory of intellectual agency (Turcan in Turcan, Fast, Lowe, and Dholakia, 2026)

Selected publications

Turcan, R., Fast, M., Lowe, A., & Dholakia, N. (2026). The Art of Theory Building: Knowledge Creation in Social Science Research. Palgrave Macmillan.

Fraser, N., & Turcan, R. V. (2025). Reconstructing the Social Construction of Reality. British Journal of Sociology, 76(3), 657-662.

Sort, J. C., Taran, Y., & Turcan, R. V. (2025). De-internationalization and Re-internationalization of the Firm: Business Model Innovation for Growth and Survival. Palgrave Macmillan.

Turcan, R. V., Reilly, J. E., Jorgensen, K. M., Taran, Y., & Bujac, A. (2023). The Emerald Handbook of Authentic Leadership. Emerald Group Publishing.

Turcan, R. V., & Reilly, J. E. (2020). Populism in Higher Education Curriculum Development: Problem Based Learning as a Mitigating Response. Palgrave Macmillan.

Turcan, R. V., & Fraser, N. (Eds.) (2018). The Palgrave Handbook of Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Entrepreneurship. Palgrave Macmillan.

Turcan, R. V., Reilly, J., & Bugaian, L. (Eds.) (2016). (Re)Discovering University Autonomy: The Global Market Paradox of Stakeholder and Educational Values in Higher Education. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Dholakia, N., & Turcan, R. V. (2014). Toward a Metatheory of Economic Bubbles: Socio-Political and Cultural Perspectives. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Funding portfolio

Since the foundation of TBRP in 2012, Romeo has attracted, as main applicant, EU funding of over 8 million EUR, and acted as coordinator of 5 EU funded projects and PI of 2 DK funded projects:

• "Reserach on Sociology of Knowledge", Independent Research Fund International Research Stays at Clare Hall, University of Cambridge (2025)
  
• "Getting Out of Comfort Zone", ERASMUS+ Cooperation partnerships in higher education (2024-2027)
• "Reserach on Sociology of Knowledge", Independent Research Fund International Research Stays at the University of Cambridge Sociology Department (2024)
• “Legitimation of Newness and Its Impact on EU Agenda for Change”, Marie S. Curie project (2020-2023, www.lnetn.aau.dk)
• “International Entrepreneurship Network for PhD and PhD Supervisor Training”, Strategic Partnership (Erasmus+) project (2019-2022, www.ietn.aau.dk)
• "Extra staff mobility to contribute to the implementation and sustainability of PBLMD project", Learning Mobility of Individuals (Erasmus+) project (2017-2018, www.pblmd.aau.dk/spillover-effects/extra-staff-mobility)
• "Introducing Problem Based Learning in Moldova: Toward Enhancing Students’ Competitiveness and Employability", ERASMUS+ Capacity Building national project (2015-2019, www.pblmd.aau.dk)
• “Enhancing University Autonomy in Moldova”, ERASMUS+ Capacity Building structural project (2012-2015, www.euniam.aau.dk)

Impact

2024: LNETN project I coordinated "has fully achieved its objectives and milestones for the period... and... delivered exceptional results with significant immediate or potential impact" (review assessment conclusion by the Agency and external experts).

2023: IETN project I coordinated received 'Good Practice' ERASMUS+ Award

2022: The Legislative Proposals developed by the EUniAM project I coordinated were the foundation of a major reform approved by the Cabinet of Ministers to reorganize through merger (absorption) of most of institutions in the fields of higher education, research and innovation. 

2022: PBLMD project I coordinated supports Moldova's efforts toward EU membership by being acknowledged in the Questionnaire of the European Commission as a benchmark for introducing innovative teaching methods in the Higher Education of Moldova.

2021: PBLMD project I coordinated was selected by EACEA among CBHE projects that were implemented during 2015-2020 to offer a training based on the achieved project results during the CBHE Virtual Fair to a worldwide audience

Awards

2017: 1st Degree Diploma – from the Government of the Republic of Moldova for “remarkable success achieved in professional area and active promotion of the image of the Republic of Moldova in the Kingdom of Denmark”

2017: Emerald Award for Excellence for Highly Commended paper with Norman M. Fraser “An Ethnographic Study of New Venture and New Sector Legitimation”

2014: Emerald Awards for Excellence for Highly Commended paper with Nikhilesh Dholakia “Bubbles: Towards a Typology”

2001: Scholarships from Department of Marketing (University of Strathclyde) and University of Strathclyde to pursue my PhD study

1999: Scholarship from Scottish Development International (Scotland) and travel grant from Soros Foundation (Moldova) to pursue my MSc study

Education

• PhD in International Entrepreneurship (2006), Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
• MSc in International Marketing (2000), Department of Marketing, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
• Diploma in Ensglish Philology (1995), Department of Post-University Studies, Moldova State University, Chisinau, Moldova
• Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (1992), Air Force Engineering Military Academy, Riga, Latvia

PhD Supervision

Carsten Wehrmann (General Manger International, Tchibo GmbH) "Exploring Internationalisation Effects on Firm Performance: Quantitative Empirical Study among German, Swiss and Austrian Listed Companies" (2019)

Matthias Zach (Head of NPD, Roche Diagnostics) "Exploring the Emergence of New Product Concepts under Uncertainty: A Case of Cross-Functional Teams in the In-Vitor Diagnostics Industry" (2020)

Demet Schaefler (CEO, Spital Heiden, Switzerland) "A study of Authentic Leadership in Organizations: A Case of Public Hospitals in Switzerland” (2022).

Jackson Kinyanjui (Halmstad University, Sweden) “Competing for Legitimation” (2024)

Olga Pojiltov (Aalborg University, Denmark) “Fluid Ethics and Legitimation of Newness” (2024)

Cristian Ziliberberg (Aalborg University, Denmark) “Analysis of Change Narratives and Diffusion” (2024)

Louis Lines (Aalborg University, Denmark) “Brexit, New Europe and Newness Chasm: Cross-Channel Conceptualization of Newness and Tradition” (2024)

Teaching profile

Teaching and supervision tasks

• 2022 Adjunct Professor, Trinity Business School, Ireland, teaching 'Theory Building' to PhD students
• 2021 Visiting lecturer, as part of KA1 – Learning Mobility of individuals – Staff mobility for teaching and training activities to various universities in the EU
• 2021 Lecturer, International Entrepreneurship module and Internationalization of Diverse Formsof Organizing elective
• 2018-2021 Guest lecturer, to NGO leaders and project managers from around the world as part of the EU funded workshops organized by InterCollege
• 2017-2020 Guest lecturer, workshop on PBL organized by AAU PBL in Engineering, Science and Sustainability under auspices of UNESCO
• 2016-2020 Guest lecturer, The Danish ScienceFestival
• Jan 2015 Guest lecturer, DRUID Academy
• May 2013 Lecturer, TBRP PhD course in 'Theory Building' at various EU universities
• 2010-2014 Lecturer, Business Policy and Firm Analysis module (Top-up BSc Bus Econ)
• Sep 2010 Lecturer, IB Theories/ IE modules (MScIB)
• Sep 2010 Lecturer, Entrepreneurship (BSc/MSc, IBC,MIKE, NVC, CIP)
• 2010-2013 Lecturer, Research methods (MSc IB)
• 2010-2011 Lecturer, Theory building, DOME PhD course: Innovation and Entrepreneurship Theory, Denmark
• Feb 2010 Supervisor, semester project, internship, and thesis supervision (BSc/MSc)
• 2009-2010 Visiting lecturer, East China University of Science and Technology; teaching entrepreneurship to MBA students
• 2007-2009 Visiting lecturer, Aalborg University; teaching International Business, International Market Research, Business Policy and Firm Analysis to BSc and MSc students
• 2004-2005 Tutor, Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, Strathclyde University; tutoring Internet Based Business Start-up, Introduction to Business Start-up, Starting High-RiskBusinesses to BSc and MBA students
• 2001-2003 Tutor, Marketing Department, Strathclyde University; tutoring International Marketing, International Marketing Management, Marketing in Small Businesses, Marketing Research, Principles of Marketing, Retail Marketing, and Sales Marketing to BSc students

Study/programme administration and management

• 2019 Coordinator, initiated, co-designed: International Entrepreneurship module and Internationalization of Diverse Forms of Organizing elective (MSc IB)
• 2018-2019 Semester coordinator (5th semester)
• 2015-2019 Semester coordinator (6th semester)
• 2015 Expert assessment committee chairman
• 2014-2019 Coordinator of PhD program at International Business Group
• 2012-2019 Coordinator of International Business Module (MSc in IBE)
• 2012-2013 Co-created, co-founded, and co-launched Journal of Business Models 
• 2012-2013 Initiated, co-designed and co-founded New Venture Creation semester 
• 2012 Initiated, designed, founded and coordinate Theory Building Research Programme
• 2012 Initiated, co-designed and coordinate TBRP PhD course in 'Theory Building'
• 2011-2017 Designed, implemented and coordinated Student-Company Fair, jointly implemented with Supporting Entrepreneurship at Aalborg
• 2010-2014 Designed, implemented and coordinated Business Policy and Firm Analysis module (Top-up BSc)

Formal pedagogical training

• PBL training: "Introducing Problem Based Learning in Moldova: Toward Enhancing Students’ Competitiveness and Employability", ERASMUS+ Capacity Building national project (2015-2019, main applicant and coordinator.
• Learning and training mobiliy: "Extra staff mobility to contribute to the implementation and sustainability of PBLMD project", Learning Mobility of Individuals (Erasmsus+) project (2017-2018, main applicant and coordinator.

Other qualifications

• Imre, K. N., Zhong, L., Nyraad , A. C. D., Turcan, R., & Gulieva, V. (Ed.) (2021, Dec 16). The Megaprojects at Aalborg University: A review and assessment. Aalborg University Business School.
  
• Turcan, R. V., & Reilly, J. E. (Eds.) (2020). Populism and Higher Education Curriculum Development: Problem Based Learning as a Mitigating Response. Palgrave Macmillan.
• Turcan, R. V. (2020). Liquid Times - Newness and Uncertainty: An Innovative AAU PBL Response. In R. V. Turcan, & J. E. Reilly (Eds.), Populism and Higher Education Curriculum Development: Problem Based Learning as a Mitigating Response (pp. 393-420). Palgrave Macmillan.
• Bugaian, L., & Turcan, R. (Eds.) (2020). Implementing PBL Student-Centered Active-Learning Study Programmes. PBLMD: ERASMUS+.
• Bugaian, L., & Turcan, R. (Eds.) (2020). PBL Student-Centered Active-Learning Study Programmes. PBLMD: ERASMUS+.
• Bugaian, L., & Turcan, R. (Eds.) (2020). PBL Teaching and Learning Sustainability Strategies. PBLMD: ERASMUS+.
  

Pedagogical development and research

• An example of this type of activity could be found in the list of various PBL, pedagogical activities, outputs and outcomes developed and implemented during and after the PBLMD project.

References on my teaching skills

• Testimonials from doctoral reserachers who took part in the TBRP PhD course in 'Theory Building'
• Testimonials from BSc students and entrepreneurs who took part in the Student-Company Fair as part of BSc study programme
• Introducing and implementing entrepreneurship education in the Skipper School in Aalborg

Personal reflections and initiatives

• My personal reflections and thoughts are presented in this article:
  • Turcan, R. V. (2020). Liquid Times - Newness and Uncertainty: An Innovative AAU PBL Response. In R. V. Turcan, & J. E. Reilly (Eds.), Populism and Higher Education Curriculum Development: Problem Based Learning as a Mitigating Response (pp. 393-420). Palgrave Macmillan.
    • It presents a new, revised AAU PBL model that emerged from my experience in engaging in PBL teaching and learning at AAU; guest lecturing to faculty from/at various universities in Europe and internationally; as well as the implementation of the PBLMD project

Administrative profile

Department Council, AAU Business School

Professor Council, AAU Business School

EU Funding Task Force, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities