Sustainability Management Program

The program presents a profound opportunity for PhD candidates deeply committed to addressing 21st-century challenges. These include:

navigating the transition to a carbon-neutral economy for both businesses and consumers,
exploring the feasibility of a circular economy that prioritizes durable, high-quality, and affordable products over planned obsolescence,
delving into the realm of business ethics with a particular focus on the role of spirituality,
ensuring global access to sustainable and high-quality food for all,
and exploring sustainable tourism, AI supported tourism, and innovative forms of mobility.

„I am researching, working on and teaching my PhD subject at the same time”

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Why the Sustainability Management Program?

Our curriculum equips students with both qualitative and quantitative skills essential for transdisciplinary research. Collaborating with partners beyond academia, such as NGOs, citizens, and policymakers, PhD students engage in impactful research initiatives. They actively participate in research projects and teaching activities, and they are encouraged to publish in high-quality international journals.

The program stands out for its diverse group of supervisors, offering research opportunities not only in sustainability-related fields but also in areas like tourism, agribusiness, and business ethics.

Admissions

The application criteria as well as the general rules of the admission procedure are listed in Section 15 of the University Doctoral Regulations, which is available here.

The list of documents to be submitted is available here!

In the application for admission, applicants must specify which programme they are applying for.

Applicants must consult the Programme Director in advance (before submitting the application file) and must include a written recommendation from the Programme Director supporting the fact of the grant.

Applicants must submit their research proposal in English. The oral interview will be held in English.

The expected length of the research plan to be submitted in the application is 5 pages, excluding references. The proposed structure of the research plan is set out in Annex 2 to the Regulations of the Doctoral School.

The written examination concerns the field of management and organizational sciences, in particular knowledge of the research methodology and the subject of specialization chosen by the applicant.

The oral exam serves to assess the applicant’s motivation, professional commitment and aptitude to perform educational and research tasks.

The admission decision is based on a preliminary review of the submitted application materials and the outcome of the oral interview.

The evaluation system for the admission examination is set out in Annex 1 to the Regulations of the Doctoral School.

Preferred areas of future PhD research encompass:

Preferred areas of research interest include:

Sustainability-oriented business models (SBMs) in different sectors, and/or consumer acceptance of SBMs
Low carbon lifestyles and their implementation in an inclusive way. Focus areas: product durability and household energy.
Measuring the impact of sustainability education
Religious convictions and spiritual value orientation in the economy
Ecologically conscious business and the challenges of the Anthropocene
Business ethics theories and practices responding to the multiple crises of the Anthropocene
Impact of climate change on the food supply chain at global level.
Food quality and the impact of short supply chains.
The challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence in sustainable tourism management
Cultural and heritage tourism: trends and challenges
Assessing the resilience of domestic tourism enterprises

For more information, please visit the Facebook page of the Institute for Sustainable Development.

For more information in business ethics related topics visit the website of the Business Ethics Center.