DBA program at HKUST is pushing the frontiers
Candidates for the DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) offered by HKUST Business School should be prepared to undertake a rigorous but rewarding academic journey.
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The four-year part-time program, which accepted its first cohort in September 2021, is taught by top-tier professors and combines coursework on the frontiers of different disciplines with independent research for a thesis that has direct relevance for today’s business world.
“Our students are a highly select group of senior executives, including corporate leaders, business owners and entrepreneurs,” says Professor Shaohui Zheng, Academic Director for the DBA program. “They are motivated to learn and keen to equip themselves with the benefits provided by formal doctoral training.”
In view of ongoing Covid restrictions, the initial courses in subjects ranging from statistics and financial accounting to marketing and research methodology are currently being taught in hybrid mode over long weekends. Importantly, though, HKUST has high-tech facilities for online classes which make it possible to maximise interaction, with in-depth discussions and group assignments contributing to an immersive learning experience.
Also, since the program is designed to be flexible, students can choose to postpone certain modules until in-person teaching resumes. And, if necessary for work or other reasons, they have the option of extending the period of study to a maximum of seven years.
In general, individual research topics will be decided by the end of the second academic year. Typically, they will relate to practices in each student’s company or industry where challenges exist, improvements are needed, and other sectors should also have something to learn.
Throughout, faculty supervisors will give guidance on the viability of the topic, suitable methodology, useful contacts, and the existing academic literature. The aim, of course, is to produce a first-rate thesis which can not only promote meaningful change, but perhaps also be submitted for later publication.
“This is application-driven research which requires real commitment,” Zheng says. “In Year 3 and 4, there will be residential programs to assess progress and discuss common concerns leading up to the oral defence. Already, though, we arrange regular feedback sessions involving students, faculty and the program office. This allows us to make ongoing improvements - for example, allowing more time for coursework - and optimise outcomes.”
Zheng adds that prospective candidates for the September 2022 intake should have extensive managerial experience and be ready to invest the time needed to cover the course material and conduct research. Striking a balance between study and other obligations can be a challenge, but the current students find faculty members and classmates very supportive, and all of them realise the learning journey will be transformative.
As one of the first cohort, Frederick Mutto is in no doubt about that. He admits to being in the second half of his corporate career and, thinking ahead, sees the DBA as a way to formalise and then pass on knowledge, but also to open up new horizons, possibly in a teaching position.
“I’ve been in my field for 20-plus years,” says Mutto, who is the Hong Kong-based vice president for global customer satisfaction and quality at Schneider Electric. “After that time, you want to show you are qualified as a leader in your area. If I can turn my knowledge and experience into a formal DBA paper, I can establish myself as an expert in this industry.”
So far, he has been impressed and inspired by the quality of teaching and the assigned reading material. In particular, he likes the fact that the theoretical aspects of each topic can be linked to practical situations, and that his company has scope to implement the disruptive strategies, online initiatives and new forms of collaboration discussed in class.
“I find the frontier courses are very relevant, especially on sustainability and green financing,” he says. “It is eye-opening and, with colleagues, I can now ‘create knowledge’ using theoretical justifications for what we do every day.”
For fellow student David Soh, who is the head of research and a portfolio manager for the Asian equity team at RBC Global Asset Management, studying for a doctorate was a long-held interest. In his view, academia requires the same logical problem solving and communication skills that make strong business leaders. And he finds the evidence-based approach to business most refreshing.
“All my cohorts are experts in their areas already,” says Soh. "But we all get to put on the ‘CEO hat’ when we study things through an interdisciplinary approach. In our jobs, we may simply follow best practices and what works. But academia brings a healthy skepticism and a different point of view. You're asked to prove it using science to get to the truth of the matter; that's interesting.”
Looking ahead to the thesis, he is currently interested in researching issues related to general management and transformation.
“I might meet the CEOs and CFOs of well over 100 companies a year,” Soh says. “As an investor, I need to anticipate how these businesses will do in 2-3 years, but the world is changing with new technology, regulations, and ESG goals. I hope to contribute to knowledge that can help CEOs navigate this strategic challenge better.”
