MSM Executive PhD in Private Sector Development: a truly unique experience
Recently, MSM welcomed the participants of the second intake of the MSM Executive PhD in Private Sector Development for their second on-campus workshops. The workshops involved refining a conceptual framing and how to complete the literature review. In addition, the participants presented their work so far to receive feedback but also to learn from each other.
Current Executive PhD participant Franck Madimba from Congo had three reasons to join an Executive PhD programme; to fulfil an old dream, to share the knowledge he acquired throughout his professional career and to step outside his comfort zone and grow. “At the beginning of my professional career, I was lecturing at my university, and I dreamt of one day being able to finish my doctoral studies, become a professor and continue to share my knowledge with young students. In addition, in my field of profession I found that my area of interest was not sufficiently addressed in the available literature or was simply ignored. This motivated me even more to enrol in a programme to rigorously study the phenomenon of interest and to hopefully advance the general knowledge on the issue.
I specifically choose to follow an Executive PhD programme outside of my home country. I have spent most of my life in my home country where I was educated, and I've been working for nearly 16 years. In this context, I proved myself. I have gradually climbed the ranks and am currently Inspector General of Finance. Doing a doctorate in this context would not add much to my knowledge as I have developed strong certainties on several topics over time. The idea of a PhD in another context seemed better suited to help me grow further and also learn from others. That is what motivated me to look for an Executive PhD programme outside my home country.”
The MSM Executive PhD programme is offered part-time, both on-campus and online. This combination works perfectly with the busy schedules of many professionals and is also one of the reasons why Franck choose the MSM Executive PhD programme. “I needed a part-time programme that allowed me to take part in both face-to-face and online sessions. That is the magic of the programme offered by Maastricht School of Management | Maastricht University, which allows you to go there just twice a year for on-campus sessions in addition to the online sessions.
Moreover, the prestige attached to Maastricht University (UM) is well established. It has built up a solid reputation and is now recognised as one of the best young universities in the world, especially as it generally ranks highly in national and international evaluations. Being admitted here can only be a source of pride.”
Franck highlights the multicultural and multi-sectoral composition of the group. “On my first day on campus, I was a bit anxious, I honestly admit :). I did not know what to expect. I could not stop imagining how my future colleagues and teachers would be like, especially as it was my first time in the Netherlands, in Maastricht.
However, when I walked through the door of my classroom, I was surprised to find a classroom full of my colleagues, aged between 25 and 45, from practically every continent and working in sectors as varied as consultancy services, support for SMEs, aeronautics, textiles, government official, lecturing, etc., but all sharing the fundamental idea that the private sector is the driving force behind the development of any country.
This multicultural and multi-sectoral aspect is the crowning touch to all the exchanges that take place as part of the programme, enabling us to see how the same problems facing our different societies are addressed in different contexts and sectors, making this MSM Executive PhD programme truly unique."
About the MSM Executive PhD in Private Sector Development
The part-time Executive PhD programme in Private Sector Development (preferably for Emerging Economies) allows working professionals and researchers with full-time or part-time jobs to combine their careers with obtaining a PhD. The programme provides advanced training in the theory and skills crucial to private sector development, design and research. As the highest academic qualification, obtaining a PhD will improve your career prospects both in academia and in business. In addition, you will make an original contribution to your field of interest that will add to previous research.
During the programme, you will benefit from the extensive knowledge and expertise of the key lecturers and supervisors in the programme, who are leading scholars in the fields of the research themes. By joining the programme, you will become part of the stimulating and challenging research community of Maastricht University School of Business and Economics (SBE) and Maastricht School of Management (MSM).
Would you like to join the Executive PhD programme as well?
The next intake will start in May 2025, followed by an intake in May 2026. Click here for more information about the programme, the admission requirements and how to apply. The application deadline for the May 2025 intake is 1 December 2024. In case of any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us via msm-phdadmissions@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
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