Executive PhD
Research clusters
This Executive PhD Programme is designed with a strong emphasis on private sector development in emerging and developing economies. Such development is shaped by the interplay of technological advancements, industrial and economic transformation, and geopolitical forces. At the same time, business strategies and consumer behaviours both respond to and influence these dynamics, determining how economies evolve and adapt to change.
To capture this complex interrelationship, the programme is organised into three interlinked research clusters, each providing a multidisciplinary lens through which candidates examine the drivers of private sector growth and transformation in diverse contexts.
Together, these clusters create a comprehensive framework for understanding private sector development in a rapidly changing world. Candidates are encouraged to situate their research at the intersection of clusters, promoting interdisciplinary insights that connect policy, business, and technology dimensions in addressing real-world challenges.
1. Private Sector Development Policy cluster
This cluster examines the macroeconomic, institutional, and regulatory frameworks that shape private sector development. It analyses how public policy, governance structures, and international economic arrangements influence business dynamics, investment climates, and long-term structural transformation, particularly in emerging and developing economies.
Key themes include:
- Industrial policy and structural transformation in developing economies
- The role of institutions and governance in shaping market outcomes
- Inclusive & Sustainable Private Sector Development
- Regional integration and global economic cooperation
The cluster encourages candidates to critically analyse how policy design and institutional arrangements enable or constrain enterprise growth, innovation, productivity, and long-term competitiveness.
2. Business, Investments, and Organisations cluster
This cluster examines the strategic, financial, and managerial dimensions of firms operating in emerging and developing contexts. It focuses on how organisations innovate, attract investment, and adapt to changing market and policy environments.
Key themes include:
- Entrepreneurial ecosystems and firm growth
- Investment patterns, corporate governance, and financial inclusion
- Organisational behaviour and leadership in dynamic markets
- Global value chains and business model innovation
This cluster provides candidates with the conceptual and analytical tools to understand how firms and investors contribute to inclusive and sustainable private sector development.
3. Private Sector Development Technology and Finance cluster
This cluster explores the intersection of technological transformation, innovation systems, finance, and human capital development within the context of private sector development. It examines how technological advances reshape production systems, labour markets, financial structures, and skills requirements, and how firms, institutions, and societies respond to these shifts.
Key themes include:
- Digital transformation and industrial upgrading
- Innovation systems and technology diffusion in emerging markets
- The future of work, automation, and skills development
- Finance for innovation & private sector growth
The cluster encourages candidates to investigate how technological change, financial mechanisms, and labour market dynamics interact to shape productivity, employment outcomes, and long-term competitiveness, particularly in emerging and developing economies.
