Executive PhD participants successfully defend their Research Framework

Participants of the May 2024 intake of the MSM-UM Executive PhD in Private Sector Development programme recently reached an important milestone in their PhD journey: the defence of their Research Framework. This achievement marks the completion of the second stage of the programme and allows participants to move forward to Stage 3, during which they will focus on collecting their data and the analysis of the data.

The MSM-UM Executive PhD in Private Sector Development is designed for working professionals who want to combine their career with conducting high-quality academic research. Over the past two years, participants have developed their research proposal into a comprehensive Research Framework, defining the theoretical foundations, methodology, and direction of their PhD research.

For Annika Drenth, the flexibility of the programme was one of the key reasons for joining. Having always aspired to pursue a PhD, she saw an opportunity to combine academic research with her professional journey in Vietnam.

“I always wanted to do a PhD and saw the development of Vietnam as a great opportunity to conduct research. The Executive PhD programme at MSM gave me the possibility to pursue this ambition alongside my full-time job.”

Understanding digital transformation in Vietnamese workplaces
Annika’s research focuses on digital transformation in the workplace within Vietnamese firms, exploring the impact this transformation has on employees. Living and working in Vietnam, she experienced these developments first-hand, which inspired her to further investigate this rapidly evolving topic.

“Experiencing digital transformation in the country and workplace myself inspired me to better understand this change and the impact it has on people.”

Looking back on the first two years of the programme, one of the most rewarding moments for Annika was receiving ethical approval for the first study. This marked an important step towards the next phase of the PhD journey: collecting data and putting the developed Research Framework into practice.

Combining research, work, and personal commitments
Balancing a PhD with a professional career requires strong dedication and careful time management. For Annika, the journey has been challenging but rewarding.

“It is continuous hard work with very few breaks. I try to focus on my regular job during working hours, so I can dedicate the remaining time to my PhD and personal life. Some weeks I fully block my schedule to focus on my research, while other weeks my work requires more attention.”

Besides developing academic expertise, the Executive PhD journey has also influenced Annika’s professional perspective. The research process has strengthened critical thinking skills and the ability to approach challenges in new ways.

“I view things more critically now, and it has become easier to come up with solutions.”

Developing as a researcher
Although Annika already had professional expertise before starting the programme, the past two years have provided a completely new set of skills related to academic research.

“Everything about research; writing, reading, conducting research, and finding the right academic articles, these are things I thought I knew beforehand. In reality, I truly learned these skills during the past two years.”

When asked what advice Annika would give to other professionals considering an Executive PhD, the importance of having the right support system stands out:

“Make sure you have a flexible job that allows you to spend enough time on your PhD, and have a manager, friends, and family who support you. A PhD is very time-intensive, and it becomes difficult to complete it by only working on it during weekends.”

As Annika and the other participants of the May 2024 intake move into the next stage of their PhD journey, they will continue turning their Research Frameworks into impactful research contributing to both academia and professional practice.

Would you like to join the Executive PhD in Private Sector Development as well?
The next intake will start in September 2027. The application window for the 2027 intake will open in July 2026. Click here for more information about the programme, the research clusters, the admission requirements and how to apply. In case of any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us via msm-phdadmissions@maastrichtuniversity.nl.

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