I joined the EBS DBA programme in November 2004 and graduated in November 2009.
In the course of the programme I earned a Master of Science degree after completing the study part of the programme in 2006.
Going through the programme has been an intense experience. I can say this relating to the knowledge and the research experience I gained, as well as the personal dimension.
The course helped me to enhance my education in the field of business and to build on what I had already learned in the MBA programme. In the DBA programme, it was advantageous to be able to choose from a larger number of elective courses, giving me more options.
Never having done primary scientific research before, this part of the programme was a particular challenge for me. Successfully completing my research and doctoral thesis opened up an entire new chapter in my professional experience.
Working closely with my mentor and supervisor for three years on the research project was an enriching personal experience. Being guided through the process – overcoming setbacks and delays – for such a long period of time and on such a demanding level was an experience that led to personal growth. I will treasure it for years to come.
Writing a doctoral thesis is a journey. And like any expedition the companionship makes a big difference! Once more in my life I came to realise that is not only the work that keeps you motivated, it is the people around you that make it interesting and worthwhile.
And talking about the work, don't fool yourself: it is a lot of work. Dedication, perseverance and the ability to accept criticism with a light heart and start all over again, are just a few of the many qualities that you'll need in order to succeed. While the EBS MBA program interplays flexibility and performance, the EBS DBA takes it to a higher level. From administration to the Research Committee, everybody is committed to your success.
I've experienced prompt feedback, a constructive approach and a genuine commitment to excellence. The warmth and famous Scottish hospitality in conjunction with a high degree of professionalism surfaced throughout the duration of the program.
The defence phase of the degree, as much as everybody fears it, was my most fulfilling academic experience ever.
The learning that goes into the DBA degree goes beyond academics: I've learned to manage industry, peers, and supervisors, due dates, family and professional relationships while conceptualizing and proofing academic theories. Not an easy undertaking, yet the resilience and expertise developed in the process are the pinnacles of my future professional career.
Thank you EBS for this experience.
I chose to study with EBS for several reasons.
Firstly, through the Heriot-Watt University I was reassured that my qualifications would have the worldwide credibility of a 'Royal Charter' UK university, a credibility that was further justified by notoriously tough examinations. Next, the independent nature of the programmes, with no residential or group study requirements, combined with self-contained notes, meant that my study time was used very effectively. Finally, the flexible structure allowed me to combine a busy career with life-long learning.
My work commitments ranged from fairly busy to frantic, so I studied when time permitted and I tentatively sat exams one by one, even taking a year out along the way. I persisted though, and after four years, I travelled to Edinburgh with my family to graduate as an MBA with Distinction.
Afterwards, I took some time to reflect and enjoy my free evenings and weekends, but I had a nagging curiosity - what next? - it was between learning the piano and doing a Doctorate.
I looked at the courses available with EBS starting bottom of my choices as I wanted to expand my portfolio of universities. However, as I did my assessments, EBS crept up the list as the best fit for my circumstances. I made the application and took the plunge to do the EBS DBA.
With my experience of the renowned EBS pedagogy, I completed most of the examinations within one year and took the milestone option to graduate with an MSc, once more with Distinction. I was on the research element of the Doctorate, which was new territory for me.
The road from research proposal to final thesis and viva voce was long and winding, with quite a few pot-holes along the way. At times, progress was painfully slow, and for a period of more than a year I seemed to be stuck in a rut, although I never doubted my destiny. Finally, with a tactful prod from my supervisor, Dr. Bill Wallace, and the encouragement of many others from EBS, the research came together and my thesis and viva were done.
For my Doctorate, I chose to graduate in Hong Kong, again with my wife and sons in tow. Our boys are much bigger now – they have seen the value of persistence.
My academic pursuit at EBS was from February 2005 to March 2011.
The flexible nature of the programme and the facilities for distance learning students at EBS enabled me to work and finance my studies at EBS without much difficulty. The course materials provided were comprehensive enough that I did not seek for any text books to supplement my studies. The online facilities at EBS enabled me to access relevant library materials and to communicate with my supervisor as if I was on campus.
At the DBA stage of my studies, my mentor professionally guided me to produce an acceptable proposal to meet the requirements of the EBS DBA Research Committee. The research stage was equally challenging and I am proud to say that I communicated with my supervisor 382 times. Statistically, this indicates an average interaction rate with my supervisor once every third day over the three year period (2007 to 2010).
This shows the high level of dedication and commitment of staff at EBS. It was not surprising therefore, that with hard work and the support received from the business school, I was able to complete the DBA programme on schedule.
I must say that the rigorous nature of the programme and the discipline of meeting objectives stated in the monthly EBS DBA Research Evaluation Reports have built my confidence in my career as a senior public service worker in Ghana.
To prospective business students therefore, though there are many business schools world-wide, hence difficult to knowing the school that completely meets one's future development. However, the selection of EBS to do my doctorate degree was the best decision I made in my academic endeavour as it has prepared me for the challenging and exciting opportunities out there.
When I decided to study for a DBA degree my two overriding criteria for selecting a University were that it should offer a full distance-learning international programme that was flexible enough to accommodate my travelling schedule.
The EBS DBA fully met and exceeded my expectations. Firstly the study component of the program equipped me with research skills that proved to be a key success factor for my research. Secondly the EBS DBA roadmap with clearly defined tollgates
instilled discipline in my work and constantly reassured me that I was making progress. Lastly my interactions with my research supervisor were greatly enhanced by the EBS web based learning platform.
There were no unnecessary delays while I waited for feedback or an appointment to discuss with the supervisor.
I strongly recommend the EBS DBA program.
In year 2000 my current boss asked me what my plans were for changing a negative cash-flow into positive. The question gave me an unpleasant feeling of helplessness that made me realise that I lacked competence and tools to deal with business issues.
I decided that I needed business training and this led me to the EBS MBA programme, which had the flexibility and reputation I looked for. I enjoyed studying the courses, but more importantly each course made me feel better equipped to deal with the business problems I faced in my own work.
When I was in the final stages of the MBA programme, EBS suddenly launched the DBA programme. Though, I was aware that the self-study pathway for the DBA programme would be a daunting task, the attraction of being trained in applied research based thinking and methods to define, implement and evaluate real business issues drove me to go for the challenge.
The EBS DBA programme should definitely not be taken lightly, but at least EBS provides you with experienced researchers to guide you. Personally, I loved working with my mentor during the research proposal stage, and I will forever be indebted to my supervisor for supportive and inspiring guidance from the early phases of the literature review to the viva voce examination.
The DBA has been an incredible experience. The programme has not only trained me in applied research based thinking, but has also broadened my understanding of strategic management. However, the greatest experience of all has been to prove to myself that I was capable of overcoming the intellectual challenge to conduct research at doctoral level.
