Durham University Business School relaunches DBA programme for senior executives with Fudan University

Durham University Business School, UK, and the School of Economics at Fudan University in Shanghai, China, have announced the relaunch of the Durham Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) at Fudan in 2018.

The Durham DBA at Fudan is an executive programme designed specifically for high-achieving senior professionals in management, finance and public sector roles, looking to further develop their business acumen by enhancing their research, analytical and critical thinking capabilities.

Positioned as an industry-focused alternative to a PhD, the DBA programme is taught on a part-time basis over a period of four to six years, and provides students with an in-depth analytical approach to understanding and applying effective leadership and management strategy in their respective industries and professions.

Unlike an Executive MBA, students will be required to produce original research alongside their education, presenting their findings at industry and academic conferences.

Students will benefit from the opportunity to study internationally and engage with world-class faculty and visiting professors, business leaders, global firms and innovators.

Programme Director for the Durham DBA at Fudan, Sarah Xiao said,

“This is a different degree from the traditional scholarly PhD programmes, which train students in basic research skills for more academically-focused career paths. The curriculum of the DBA has not been built to be judged by its publication in top academic journals, but rather by the impact potential it holds for the modern business environment.”

Originally launched in 2007, and the first of its kind in China, the Durham DBA at Fudan has built a history of academic excellence. It was among the first DBAs delivered overseas to pass the UK Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) high quality inspection standards.

The Durham DBA at Fudan has been reviewed and restructured by both institutions to ensure the curriculum continues to meet the rapidly changing needs in the global business environment.

Changes to the programme from 2018 include;

• The opportunity to study at both Durham’s and Fudan’s campuses in the UK and China respectively and, for the first time, visit San Francisco’s Silicon Valley as part of a new study module on Design Thinking for Innovation
• The option to tailor studies by following one of two elective pathways;
- a Finance module, which requires students to build a robust grounding in the theory of modern finance and an understanding of how academic theory may be applied in a corporate setting, and;
- a Management module, which requires students to get to grips with applied behaviour analysis in order to create functional, ethical working environments, and provide advanced business data analysis and consultancy.

Professor Zhang, Dean of the School of Economics, Fudan University said;

“As one of the top three universities in Mainland China, Fudan is very honoured and happy to work with Durham University Business School on this DBA programme. I believe that we, as two globally prominent research communities, will ensure students are at the centre of lively debate and have access to experienced diverse academics and managers from around the world.”

Professor Susan Hart, Dean of Durham University Business School said,

“An international learning community empowers students to develop as global citizens, within an environment that fosters cross-cultural perspectives. This is at the heart of our School’s strategy, and we are privileged to be working with Fudan University. This innovative research-led programme, will provide a world-class educational experience that delivers intellectually leading, contemporary and challenging learning."

Enrolment for the Durham DBA at Fudan is currently open.

Further information on the programme and how to apply, can be found online via the Durham University Business School website.

/ENDS

For more information please contact Kerry Ruffle at BlueSky PR – kerry@bluesky-pr.com / +44(0)1582 790701