Call for Applications for the Doctoral Programme in Business Administration 

For the Fall 2025 semester, the University of Nicosia announces the opening of three (3) positions for admission to the Doctoral Programme (PhD) in Business Administration. 

How to apply:

Applicants should indicate in their application documents the specific PhD position of interest and/or the name of the corresponding Research Supervisor, where applicable.  

The application must be submitted only via the online procedure available at: https://www.unic.ac.cy/apply

ONE (1) POSITION IN DIGITAL BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION

This call invites PhD proposals for topics relevant to “Digital Business Transformation”. However, it is also open to any good/interesting research proposals in the wider area of Strategic Marketing Management.

General Field: Digital Business Transformation

Possible Specific Topics:

• Digital Transformation in Management or Marketing
• Digital Innovation Management or Marketing
• Digital Strategy Development
• Digital Management/Marketing for Sustainability (or ESG)
• Digital Stakeholder Engagement
• Digital Co-creation and consumer engagement
• Digital Entrepreneurship / Digital Social Entrepreneurship
• Other (open to relevant ideas)

Digital technologies (including Information & Analysis Technologies, Artificial Intelligence, Social and rising Media, Customer Relationship Management Systems, Digital Marketing Communications Channels, Big Data etc.) are reshaping the landscape of business planning and implementation, particularly management marketing. And while these digital tools are relatively clear in their capacity to execute specific functions within the business operations (market analysis, customer profiling and relationship management, communications, mass customization etc.), how they can be used in the overall strategic management and/or marketing design of an organization is still unclear.  

Empirical research is thus requisite in describing and prescribing how digital technologies may be used, not simply as tools within organizational strategic and/or marketing planning, but as integral parts of it, or even as its very foundations.  

We therefore call for PhD research proposals that deal with this question in an array of industry and typological contexts, including, but not limited to: Strategic Marketing/Management, International Marketing/Management, Consumer Behaviour, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Internal Marketing and Customer Relationship Management; and applied in any of varied industry contexts, such as construction and/or real estate, food and agriculture, services, manufacturing, SMEs, governmental and non-governmental organizations. 

IMPORTANT: Interested candidates need to pursue this Ph.D. must: 

1. Do so on a fulltime basis 
2. Be based in Cyprus
3. Have some background in scholarly or industry (business) research 
4. Aim for scientific research and publications, adjacent to, but beyond their strict PhD scope as well. 

Research Supervisor: Professor Alkis Thrassou 

TWO (2) POSITIONS IN MARKETING MANAGEMENT, IN THE FOLLOWING TOPICS: 

Slow Fashion: The growing awareness of environmental and social concerns about sustainability has initiated a slow fashion movement against fast fashion. Sustainability involves the capacity to meet today’s needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs (The World Commission on the Environment and Development, 1987). Slow fashion brings environmental and social responsibilities to the fashion industry and its stakeholders. Research that examines consumer attitudes towards slow fashion suggests that slow fashion is still in the developmental stage.  The PhD proposal should focus on the concept of ‘Slow Fashion’ and suggest areas or/and issues that are critical and worth exploring. 

Sustainable Luxury: What was once a niche market with a specific target audience is now fragmented.  Sustainable luxury is a new and evolving requirement of brands driven by the luxury consumer. What is the relationship between luxury and sustainability? Friends or foe? Is this relationship a paradox or is it becoming the new norm?  Has the luxury sector been affected by the ‘slow fashion’ movement? Do luxury fashion brands use sustainable practices? The topic can be explored from either a business or a consumer perspective or both.  

New Technologies, Service Quality & Customer Satisfaction: The role new technologies play in terms of service quality and customer satisfaction especially in the context of heightened competition, economic instability, and consumer changing consumer behaviour.  The study should focus among others on how new technologies (for example, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, etc.) are challenging companies today, how new technologies have helped businesses to cope with the challenges created by the pandemic, as well as how the pandemic has shaped the marketing and corporate communications fields.  Is the service experience enhanced or decreased and are customers today seeking a more personalised service and customization in an era where companies prioritise fast, efficient, and standardised service provision. How new technologies have transformed the service encounter, and impacted service quality and customer satisfaction?  

Internal Marketing & AI: the notion of ‘internal marketing’ has received attention from both academics and practitioners. Its underlying idea is viewing and treating employees as ‘internal customers’.  AI has the potential to personalize employee experiences, streamline communication, and provide valuable insights for improving employee engagement, productivity and morale. By leveraging AI, internal marketing teams can create more relevant and effective communications, automate repetitive tasks, and gain a deeper understanding of employee needs and preferences. The proposed PhD research study can focus on the link between internal marketing and AI. How AI becomes a core component of business operations? How does it impact the workforce? How does it impact employee well-being? How does it affect service quality and customer satisfaction?  Are there any downsides? Are there any challenges? What factors are impacting the successful implementation of AI in the internal market? 

Any of the following topics: Marketing Communications, Consumer Behaviour, Customer Engagement, Brand Loyalty  

Marketing communications involve coordinated strategies and media channels to present and promote a company’s products or services. They aim to build awareness, reinforce brand identity, and demonstrate overall value to the target audience. Customer engagement focuses on establishing meaningful interactions that encourage positive experiences, loyalty, and feedback. Effective communication and engagement often lead to repeat business and long-term relationships. Channels such as social media, email, and community events help maintain ongoing interactions and adapt to consumer preferences. What are the challenges in integrating alternative tools and media? How is the new marketing communications landscape evolving? What are the key challenges in engaging Gen Z consumers and build brand loyalty? The post invites applicants to suggest future research directions on these and other similar concepts.  

Research Supervisor: Prof. Ioanna Papasolomou