Fenntarthatósági Menedzsment

Higher education institutions create social and environmental impact through research, education, social engagement and their facilities. However, while universities’ economic relevance and involvement in technological innovation are widely examined, academic literature and empirical research focus less on their social impact. Measuring social impact is a fluid area which needs further investigation and solid assessment methods. The Phd research project aims to develop a systematic evaluation framework for social and environmental impact of higher education and conduct a comparative assessment of higher education institutions (HEIs), to identify key strategic drivers, necessary supportive programs and actions, desired outputs and outcomes, as well as enhance the transformative power of HEI and their engagement with society, for the sake of reaching a significant, measurable social impact.

The topic is connected to a running research project (2026-2029), titled „Measuring and enhancing social impact of research and higher education” (NKKP Advanced Project, ID: 153372), supported by the Hungarian state and executed by an international research team. Project leader is Prof. Dr. Ágnes Zsóka. The doctoral candidate can benefit from a win-win situation of working as a young researcher, employed by a renowned international research project, while conducting his/her own research and preparing the doctoral dissertation.

PhD supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ágnes Zsóka, agnes.zsoka@uni-corvinus.hu

The design and implementation of innovative business models may provide the transformative change needed to tackle climate change, ecosystem collapse and other environmental problems, as well as social issues including poverty, the lack of education and equal opportunities, poor working conditions and social problems.

Sustainable business models, such as product-service systems, the sharing economy, social entrepreneurship as well as various business models serving the circular economy may contribute to sustainable development by reshaping the traditional interests of stakeholders, including business owners and consumers.

This topic aims at investigating the sustainability implications of emerging innovative business models and identifying potential directions for business in the middle of the 21st century.

Contact: Prof. Gyula Zilahy gyula.zilahy@uni-corvinus.hu

The project seeks to answer the following research question: how carbon footprint can be reduced in an inclusive and climate equality focused way in the household sector? Our research considers the affordability factor and the needs of lower-middle income households together with product durability, sustainable business models and household energy refurbishment. The research is linked to the OTKA-146784 project. Research contracts are available for PhD students.

contact: Prof. Maria Csutora maria.csutora@uni-corvinus.hu

The project analyzes the market structure, pricing, trade flows, and consumer demand for dealcoholized and low-alcohol beverages, with a particular focus on sustainability, innovation, and health-related drivers of market development.

Supervisor: Dr. Jeremiás Máté Balogh, professor (Department of Agricultural Economics)

Contact: Prof. Balogh Jeremiás jeremias.balogh@uni-corvinus.hu

This research examines the economic, social, and environmental implications of rural tourism and its role in promoting sustainable and territorial development in rural areas.

Supervisor: Dr. Jeremiás Máté Balogh, professor (Department of Agricultural Economics)

Contact: Prof. Balogh Jeremiás jeremias.balogh@uni-corvinus.hu

This PhD research focuses on the challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI) and other disruptive digital technologies in the tourism industry, with particular attention to their economic, organizational and social implications. The research aims to examine how tourism stakeholders perceive and adapt to AI-driven innovations, including issues of trust, transparency, skill erosion, labor displacement, and changing human-technology interactions. Using a mixed-method approach, the research may combine qualitative techniques (e.g., interviews, focus groups, digital ethnography) with quantitative modeling (e.g., technology acceptance models, experimental designs) to capture both behavioral and attitudinal dimensions. A key objective is to identify structural and contextual factors that shape successful and responsible AI integration across different tourism subsectors and destinations.

The research is expected to contribute to both theory and practice by developing evidence-based frameworks that support sustainable and human-centered innovation in tourism.

Contact: Kökény László, PhD. Dept. Chair Kökény László laszlo.kokeny2@uni-corvinus.hu

Regenerative and sustainable tourism perspectives represent an emerging and interdisciplinary research field for PhD students, focusing on tourism systems that go beyond minimizing negative impacts to actively restoring ecological, social, and economic capital in destinations. This research area examines how tourism can function as a net-positive force by regenerating natural ecosystems, strengthening local communities, and fostering resilient regional economies. Key scholarly themes include destination governance, stakeholder co-creation, circular economy models, climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and community-led development. From a methodological standpoint, the field encourages mixed-methods research, systems thinking, and longitudinal impact assessment. For doctoral researchers, regenerative tourism offers strong theoretical development opportunities, policy relevance, and practical applicability, particularly in the context of global sustainability transitions, overtourism mitigation, and post-crisis destination renewal.

contact: Kökény László, PhD. Dept. Chair laszlo.kokeny2@uni-corvinus.hu

Risk and security aspects of tourism destinations, service providers, and visitors constitute a focused research area, addressing the increasing vulnerability of tourism systems to natural hazards, health crises, technological risks, and geopolitical instability. This field explores risk perception and communication, crisis and disaster management, destination resilience, and the role of security governance in safeguarding both tourists and tourism operations. Research in this domain contributes to theoretical advancement, consumer and tourist behaviour, and practical policy design by improving preparedness, adaptive capacity, and trust in tourism destinations under conditions of uncertainty.

contact: Kökény László, PhD laszlo.kokeny2@uni-corvinus.hu

The reseach aims to explore the socio-economic and demographic drivers of farm succession in Central and Eastern Europe. The research utilizes a comparative framework between Hungary and Sloveniat o investigate how farm-level economic viability, investment behaviors, and technical efficiency interact with broader life-course constraints and rural income structures. Students will engage with advanced econometric modeling to analyze the „succession effect,” examining how the expectation of a successor triggers modernization and asset accumulation years before a formal management transfer occurs. The project identify how regional poverty risks and health shocks influence the timing and feasibility of farm transitions. This research aims to provide policy-relevant evidence to optimize Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) instruments, supporting a more inclusive and technologically advanced future for European farming systems.

contact: Prof. Imre Fertő, Dsc. imre.ferto@uni-corvinus.hu