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INDUSTRY & RESEARCH
Business savvy
Flinders develops Australia ’ s first PHD-MBA program .
By Emilie Lauer
Flinders University has unveiled a new PhD-MBA program to start in 2023 for postgraduate candidates who wish to nurture their career opportunities .
Said to be the first of its kind in Australia , the program will enable students to gain skills in entrepreneurship , business and commercialisation .
Flinders MBA director and co-lead of the new PhD-MBA , Carla Dias Wadewitz , said while PhD students are highly knowledgeable and confident in their field they can often lack business skills .
“ Graduates will finish with an intense knowledge of their scientific field , plus business , management , technology , Industry 4.0 and 5.0 , sustainability , innovation and entrepreneurial skills ,” Ms Dias Wadewitz said .
A recent survey from the Graduate Management Admission Council showed
that in 2021 , recruiters worldwide planned to hire MBA graduates as a priority , reaching 91 per cent of hires .
Data also revealed that business graduates earn 77 per cent more than those with a Bachelor ’ s Degree .
“[ It ] will give students a ‘ real edge ’ when taking their research expertise into the job market ,” she said .
The newprogram will begin this year and will allow all PhD students , including international students , from all fields to add an accelerated MBA qualification to their postgraduate studies .
The double degree will take four years to complete with students undertaking one MBA subject per year for three years before completing the remaining nine subjects in the final year .
Program co-lead Professor Harald Janovjak said the MBA will help researchers get ready to tackle ‘ real world ’ problems in Australia and internationally .
“ Many [ researchers ] have expressed the desire to draw skills from different disciplines , and to be ready for industry ,
Flinders PhD-MBA program co-leader Carla Dias Wadewitz . Picture : Supplied .
not-for-profit organisations and government ,” Professor Janovjak said .
“ The story behind this new PhD-MBA is a story about listening to our next generation of researchers .”
Students will gain experience in leadership management , business strategy , finance , innovation , commercialisation , sustainability and entrepreneurship .
It will also incorporate multiple work placements to engage with research end users in an industry internship .
Adelaide chief engineer of Micro-X a high-tech X-ray imaging company Anthony Skeats welcomed the announcement of the new double degree program .
Mr Skeats , who frequently employs Flinders ’ undergraduate and postgraduate students , said the new PhD-MBA will be beneficial for companies as researchers will have a better business mindset .
“ The opportunity to combine students ’ scientific knowledge and business acumen will fast-track their careers and be invaluable to their future employers ,” Mr Skeats said . ■
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