How is the program structured?

Job and research

The PhD program usually lasts three years, depending on the specific progress made during the program (e.g. in the form of publications). The program starts in October 2025 and suitable talents for PhD positions are selected in advance by the participating universities. Prerequisites for admission are a first-class Master's degree in a relevant sub-discipline such as business administration, business informatics or engineering, significant professional experience, a target-oriented research proposal and a convincing personality.

Parallel to the selection of talents, corporate partners are established for the program. The split between job and research is 70/30, which is why the corporate partners offer 70% positions on relevant content from their own strategy for candidates. The company-related content is recorded in advance through documents and interviews. The program then matches the interests and skills of the candidates with the available company profiles. The defined company position can be filled before or directly at the start of the academic program.

International cooperation

The PhD program is a pioneering initiative that focuses on global collaboration and cross-cultural academic exchange. The program is structured through a unique partner model involving renowned universities from Israel (Tel Aviv University), Finland (Aalto University), Switzerland (University of St. Gallen) and the UK (UWS). The international structure is designed to offer students diverse perspectives, access to world-class research institutions and the opportunity to collaborate with leading experts.

Dissertation and defense

The linchpin of the PhD program is the dissertation, a relevant research paper that provides new insights into the field of research. The dissertation process includes:

  • Preparation of a research proposal: Submission and defense of a research proposal describing the planned research project.

  • Implementation and publication of sub-projects: Implementation of research projects, analysis of results and writing of at least three sub-publications in journals and at conferences.

  • Defense: Presentation of the dissertation to a review committee, defense of the methodology, results and conclusions.