29 March 2023
Professor Muammer Ozer and Dr Tiffany Wong, our DBA graduate, were featured in SCMP
Today’s business world is marked by fast changing events and a highly complex geopolitical environment. Business leaders are constantly challenged to respond and grow their businesses under this landscape. As such, they need the skills and knowledge to tackle the complex challenges that arise while making a lasting impact.
For this reason, the City University of Hong Kong’s (CityU) Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program stands out and attracts senior business executives who are eager to engage in rigorous research to help solve important business problems that have far-reaching societal implications.
“Because our program is a research-based program, we focus on understanding and solving business problems and our program help students analyze, understand and make sense of all the uncertainties by using all the research tools that we cover throughout the program,” explained Professor Muammer Ozer, Director of the programme.
Compared to other DBA programmes which are taught-based, CityU’s programme mainly teaches students how to do research in a given field so that they can gain an in-depth understanding in that area. After learning how to do the research, they can then apply it to solve problems in the workplace.
Students have found this research approach useful and applicable. According to Dr Tiffany Wong who works as a senior executive in the legal industry and who graduated in 2023, she said that the research methodologies that she learnt from the DBA programme have really helped to excel her career.
“As a senior executive, I need to resolve many different types of issues every day. After the programme, I am equipped with a researcher mindset with curiosity and I’m able to identify problems and root causes from different angles, articulate solutions and options based on prior cases and research findings and map out the gaps to be filled in a much more systematic, logical, and efficient manner,” she said.
The part time programme which takes three to six years to complete is part of CityU’s College of Business which has won many accolades including ranking 39th in the world and 5th in Asia in the UTD Top 100 Business School Rankings based on its research contributions from 2019-2023.
According to Professor Ozer, one of the programme’s key strengths lies in its impressive faculty. CityU takes pride in working with world-renowned Professors who possess extensive global expertise and deep knowledge of China, he explained. With diverse perspectives and a wealth of experience, they enrich the learning environment and provide students with valuable insights into complex business issues.
Added to that, the programme also tends to attract a diverse group of students who bring their own experiences and perspectives as well as their passion for problem-solving to the table. This inevitably creates a vibrant learning atmosphere full of enriching discussions and a collaborative cohort that sees fellow students sharing valuable insights from a range of industries and sectors.
“We are much honoured to work with our diverse group of students who are successful business leaders with a passion to solve complex business issues that have implications well beyond the boundaries of their organisations,” Professor Ozer said.
Besides the people, the CityU DBA also promotes innovative learning approaches that makes the research-based course interesting, engaging and practical. For example, it utilizes a spiral learning approach which it calls a “problem-driven and just-in-time learning” approach that allows students to integrate their thesis preparation from their first research methodology course so that these writings do not come as a shock later.
“The unique spiral and progressive learning journey of the DBA puts you at the centre of the student with much Professional support around you including your assigned mentor and supervisor who play a paramount role in your entire journey,” Wong said.
Indeed, the programme is notoriously rigorous, and students must be prepared to put in the effort to make it work. According to Wong, some of the most common challenges that most students face is having a busy job and tight traveling schedule or being unfamiliar with research methodologies. However, she notes that good planning and constant communication with your supervisors will always put you in good stead.
“There is really no hard and fast rule, but you really need to get your hands dirty in order to feel and realise what exactly it is that you want from the programme and how can you accomplish your objectives,” she advises. “The better you plan your work ahead, the more efficient you can complete your tasks. I think this applies to your job and personal goals, too.”
Indeed, the efforts are well worth the investment. According to Professor Ozer, aside from finding a job or getting a promotion, benefits are self-fulfilling as students will be equipped to make meaningful and impactful contributions to the academic, business and social communities.
“What we are offering is a challenging, but an intellectually stimulating and personally rewarding journey that they will never forget,” he said.