IACBE accreditation helps to ensure that the business degree is of high-quality. IACBE-accredited programs have undergone a rigorous self-evaluation and on-site evaluation by highly-trained reviewers. In addition, the institution and its academic business unit have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in business education and are involved in a continuous quality improvement process based on the assessment of student learning outcomes. Our DBA program holds the IACBE accreditation so you can trust that the paperwork is in order.

We embraced blended and online learning principles in our academic offerings. This shows by our high-tech e-learning platform and other integrations of technology and forms of content and support. We try to minimize travel time and expenses for our DBA candidates so they can focus on a healthy work/life/study balance. With our blended and online learning approach, DBA candidates can study when and where they want. All required study material is found on the e-learning platform, we organize regular digital events for candidates to join and interact with professors, and throughout the academic year we host multi-day workshops in various parts of the world. Enrolled candidates get help with accessing multiple digital libraries to find resources for their research.

From our years of experience running DBA programs worldwide, we know that lots of candidates struggle with the academic process and employing a structure in their work. That is why we created our highly structured program combined with intensive support. Our DBA program is chopped into three phases and visualized in the 10-step program approach. From the start, enrolled candidates receive a comprehensive rubric showing them on which variables their deliverables are assessed, and we provide templates guiding our candidates through the process. Each DBA candidate gets a supervisor and a mentor appointed.

The supervisor is a highly experienced PhD holder with relevant knowledge and skills, he or she will be appointed based on the initial research proposal. Your supervisor is the second important individual during your DBA program. He or she will proactively reach out to you at least once a month to receive a progress report, he will give clear feedback on your work, he can spend a decent number of hours a year helping you, and the will guide you through the coursework.

Our mentors are dedicated individuals who help our candidates find their way around SSM Research Center. They will be in close communication with the DBA candidate and his supervisor. The mentor is something like a friend, a supporter, a motivator, an advocate, and a listener. You can use the mentor for non-essential, non-academic aspects of your doctoral journey.

At SSM Research Center, enrolled DBA candidates are the center of our business. We thrive on motivated and disciplined candidates and to help them reach the finish line, we must be flexible. One cannot control all things in life, that is why we offer the possibility to our candidates that they can tailor their learning program. There is only one hard deadline; one must finish within two years after enrollment. Applicants can start whenever they want because we do not have admissions deadlines. With this flexibility, our candidates can continue their day job earning while learning. This makes the program more affordable and accessible to those with a highly demanding day job. The flexibility is also shown in our policy regarding the research topic. We strongly advise DBA students to research something with a tight link to their daily work. In that way, students can work on their research simultaneously, reducing the additional hours required to do the work.

Embarking on a DBA-journey is a massive decision for all. It might be the very crown on one’s career or one of the hardest intellectual challenges one will face in their career. Our candidates are already successful in business before enrollment and what they all have learned is that together everyone achieves more. That is why SSM Research Center offers networking possibilities and help with personal branding throughout the process. All enrolled DBA candidates get their own section on our website, positioning themselves as an expert in their field. We also have a private LinkedIn group for all experts, supervisors, candidates, and alumni where members can share and connect with one another. Our supervisors are motivated to co-publish articles with their candidates and the mentors will train and coach candidates with digital personal branding.

As an institute for higher education, SSM wants to contribute the leaders of tomorrow that further social and economic development in their regions. Therefore, we promote a research agenda in our doctoral program. On that agenda we have a few fields that are key aspects of social and economic development, namely: competitiveness, logistics management, high performance organizations (HPO), small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurship.

Recognition of prior learning (work-based entry route)

To enroll in the PhD program you need, next to a sound command of the English language, one of three things:

1. To prove that you’ve attained a masters degree;
2. To prove that you’ve got sufficient working experience;
3. To be able to present recognition of prior learning.

What is Recognition of Prior Learning?

This is where we accept a previous qualification as meeting the learning outcomes (or covering the syllabus) for a course or module, so you don’t need to take it as part of your degree. This reduces the number of modules (and the length of time) required to complete your degree.