PhD in Business and Technology

Program Description

The PhD in Business and Technology is an advanced doctoral program designed to develop researchers and academic professionals capable of addressing complex challenges at the intersection of business, technology, and innovation. The program promotes interdisciplinary research into the ways technological developments, digital transformation, and innovative business practices shape organizational performance, competitiveness, and economic development.

Through rigorous research training and independent scholarly inquiry, doctoral candidates develop the theoretical knowledge, methodological skills, and analytical competencies necessary to investigate contemporary business challenges and contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge. The program encourages research on business innovation, technology adoption, digital transformation, entrepreneurship, organizational development, and the strategic management of technological change.

Graduates are prepared to pursue academic and research careers, contribute to innovation and strategic decision-making in business organizations, and support the development of evidence-based policies and practices that respond to emerging economic and technological challenges.

Mission, Vision & Objectives

Mission

The mission of the PhD in Business and Technology is to advance scientific knowledge and develop highly qualified researchers capable of investigating the interactions between business, technology, and innovation. The program promotes rigorous, original, and interdisciplinary research that addresses contemporary economic and organizational challenges, contributes to theoretical and methodological development, and generates insights relevant to business practice, technological progress, and sustainable economic development.

Vision

The vision of the PhD in Business and Technology is to become a recognized doctoral program for research and academic development at the intersection of business, technology, and innovation, fostering scientific excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and international research engagement. The program aspires to contribute to the development of new knowledge, innovative business practices, and evidence-based solutions that support organizational competitiveness and sustainable economic and technological transformation.

Objectives

The PhD in Business and Technology aims to:

· Develop advanced research competencies in business, technology, and innovation, enabling doctoral candidates to conduct independent, rigorous, and original scientific research.

· Advance interdisciplinary knowledge by integrating business theories, technological developments, and innovation perspectives to address complex organizational and economic challenges.

· Promote scientific innovation through the development of original research that contributes to theoretical advancement and the understanding of contemporary business and technological phenomena.

· Strengthen methodological expertise by equipping doctoral candidates with advanced qualitative and quantitative research methods, analytical tools, and evidence-based approaches to scientific inquiry.

· Investigate digital transformation and technology adoption and their implications for business models, organizational processes, productivity, and competitiveness.

· Foster research on business innovation and entrepreneurship, with particular attention to the development of innovative solutions, new business models, and sustainable entrepreneurial initiatives.

· Enhance strategic and managerial capabilities to analyze the relationship between technological change, organizational development, and strategic decision-making.

· Encourage research with practical relevance by addressing real-world business challenges and generating findings that can inform managerial practices, organizational strategies, and economic policy.

· Prepare future academic and research professionals capable of contributing to higher education, scientific publications, research projects, and the international research community.
· Promote responsible and sustainable technological development by examining the economic, organizational, ethical

Admission Criteria

To be admitted to the PhD program in Business and Technology, applicants must meet the following admission criteria:

· Academic qualification: Hold a Master of Science degree, an integrated second-cycle degree, or another equivalent degree in Business and Technology or in related fields, such as Economics, Finance and Accounting, Marketing, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Information Systems, Computer Science and Information Technology, Industrial Engineering and Technology Management, or in other related fields deemed appropriate by the Scientific Committee of the Department of Economic Sciences and Finance.

· Minimum cumulative grade point average: Have a cumulative grade point average of at least 8 out of 10 in the Master of Science program, integrated second-cycle degree, or another equivalent degree in the field of the PhD program or in a related field previously determined by the Scientific Committee of the Department of Economic Sciences and Finance.

· English language proficiency: Demonstrate a minimum English language proficiency level of C1, certified through internationally recognized English language tests, as specified in Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth Instruction No. 52, dt. 3/12/ 2015, “On the Determination of Foreign Language Proficiency Levels and International Tests for Admission to Second- and Third-Cycle Study Programs at Higher Education Institutions,” as amended.

The recognized tests include:

o Cambridge

o IELTS

o Internet-based TOEFL (iBT)

o Paper-based TOEFL (ITP)

o TOEIC

o GESE

o APTIS

The English language examination is offered to students at Western Balkans University on its premises, within the framework of cooperation with the British Council Albania.

· Employment requirement: Be employed by a higher education institution or a research center.