Call for Applications for the Doctoral Program in Business Administration

Subject of the Call

For the Spring 2020 semester academic year the University of Nicosia announces the opening of four positions for admission to the Doctoral Program (PhD) in Business Administration.

Positions Available

1. One (1) Post in the following topic: Technology and Employment in Tourism and Hospitality

The ongoing digitization of service interactive work calls for an investigation of how technologies effect and affect organizational form. Organization can no longer be thought without socio-technical mediation. Emerging technologies like robots, artificial intelligence, platforms and disruptive innovations such as blockchain, could easily be explored as part of a ‘digital shift’, reconfiguring the ways in which management and control, innovation and entrepreneurship take place. The appointed PhD student will have the opportunity to advance our understanding on technology diffusion and its impact on employment.

Research Advisor: Leonidas Efthymiou, Assistant Professor, [email protected]

2. One (1) Post in the following topic: Work and Employment in Tourism and Hospitality

As part of Critical Management Studies (CMS), the PhD candidate will work to advance our understanding on current issues in the field of employment in service organisations, especially hotels and tourism establishments. The candidate can pursue research in any area of CMS, such as power, control and resistance in organisations; Emotional Labour; Aesthetic Labour; as well as post-structuralist writings in Labour Process Theory (LPT).

Research Advisor: Leonidas Efthymiou, Assistant Professor, [email protected]

3. One (1) Post in Finance in the area of Applied Finance.

In light of the dynamic nature of local and international financial markets, facing constant challenges, related research combining theory and informed decision-making has become necessary. The PhD candidate will enhance his/her academic rigor, knowledge, critical and analytical skills, as well as implement real-life data analysis techniques in the area of Applied Finance. Specific topics could be related to Investments/Portfolio Analysis, Corporate Finance, Financial Risk Management, Asset Pricing Multi-factor Models, International Finance, Financial Modelling and Forecasting.

Research Advisor: Haritini Tsangari, Professor, [email protected]

4. One (1) Post in the following topic: Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has never been more important. In recent years, the impact of corporations upon our world has become undeniable (Chaffee, 2017). Citizens nowadays demand a responsible business behavior from all kinds of orga­nizations (for-profit and not-for-profit), corporations and their leaders who have become aware of the crucial role of social responsibility in seeking performance excellence and sustainable growth (Antonaras et al, 2011). The last decades witnessed a vigorous debate over the role of corporations in society (Basu and Palazzo, 2008). Interest in CSR became intense as shareholders, consumers, activists, governments, and society in general called for higher standards of business.

CSR has been for years the subject of a considerable number of inquiries and debate between academics and practitioners (Ibrahim et al. 2006). A great number of private and public organizations have developed extensive CSR programmes intended to enjoy the abundant benefits resulting from CSR practices, especially stakeholder goodwill and competitive advantage. Organizations are regarded as key drivers in the process of creating a better world, and are required to exhibit considerable CSR (Friedman and Miles, 2006). They are spending millions into various kinds of CSR strategies in an effort to strengthen their reputation, improve relationships with stakeholders and gain a competitive advantage (McDonald and Rundle-Thiele, 2007). The term includes respecting human rights, fair treatment of the workforce and customers, being good corporate citizens of the communities in which organizations operate in, as well as conservation of the natural environment.

Research proposals in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility could focus on the following topics, but not limited to:

1. 1. Developing a Corporate sustainability & responsibility framework for SMEs
   2. Measuring the socioeconomic impact of CSR activities/strategies
   3. CSR as a framework for managing corporate risks
   4. The role of internal auditing in CSR (non-financial) reporting

Research Advisor: Alexandros Antonaras, Associate Professor, [email protected]

Admission Requirements and Procedures

1. • An accredited master’s degree
   • Proof of English proficiency. This is provided by EITHER a degree from an English speaking university OR TOEFL (paper based test 600, computer based test 250, internet based test 100) OR IELTS 6.5.
   • An initial 2000-word research proposal outlining the research theme, aim and objectives, possible gap/s and proposed research methodology
   • A Personal Statement of 500 – 1000 words outlining applicants’ individual competences and strengths and providing their reflections regarding the expectations and value of the programme as well as to their personal advancement and career development
   • Letters of Recommendation – Two recommendation letters from individuals who have known the applicant in their educational or professional capacity
   • Good academic record