Executive

PhD in
Management
Sciences

The first Executive PhD

program in Belgium
 Welcome

Executive phd Program

Welcome

As the Dean of Antwerp Management School, I strongly believe that competitive, yet sustainable
advantages in both management education as well as in the business world can only be achieved
through responsible decision-making throughout all activities and strategic decisions. I’m
convinced that rigorous academic research with an immediate relevant impact on the real world is absolutely
necessary for growing in a highly competitive environment.

One of the main objectives of Antwerp Management School when it comes to management and business
education is thus to make the shift from mere knowledge transfer – the traditional aim and intent of management
education – to the broader development of responsible managers, leaders and ‘Global Citizens’ who create and
transfer knowledge to improve both business, society and academia. We hope you will embark with us on this
journey. It will boost your career, benefit your company and thus the wider
society in which you work and live. Thanks in advance for your enthusiasm and creativity...

Prof Dr. Paul Matthyssens

— Dean of Antwerp Management School

Which one of us can claim to possess all the knowledge we need to face the challenges confronting our
organizations today? How can we create knowledge based on contemporary scientific insights, while also taking
the practical implications in offices and on factory floors into account? Why should we search for answers
separately, when together we can achieve so much more? We would like to collaborate with Executive PhD
students and other partners by setting up projects and research focused on specific topics to search for knowledge
and insights that are both interesting on a content-level and relevant on a practical level. Our combined expertise
will create added value for all participants. We want to concentrate on specific themes and excel at them.
With each PhD Research Proposal, we strive for ‘thought leadership’ in our fields of expertise, we want to detect
trends faster and look for the answers we need, together. As an Executive PhD student, you will be part of one
of our Expertise Centers, participating in our story of co-creation, engagement and knowledge creation and
transfer.

Prof Dr. Bart Cambré

— Director of knowledge & research, head of the Antwerp Management School Expertise
Centers, Professor of Business Research methods and holder of the chair on business research
methods

Executive phd Program

 Welcome,

Leading today’s rapidly changing business with in-depth and rigorously researched insights.
Staying ahead of the competition by relying on evidence-based management research.
Meeting the triple bottom line while improving professionally. These are the challenges
leaders face today. The Executive PhD Program at Antwerp Management School offers
high potentials a unique learning opportunity that combines the latest academic knowledge
with practical relevance. It offers a competitive advantage to its participants in every
respect. Choosing our Executive PhD allows our participants to boost their critical thinking,
improve their solution-oriented assessment, and enhance their skills to underpin, defend and
implement new ideas.

Having obtained an Executive Doctorate myself, I know what it takes to combine work with
undertaking in-depth research that spurs reinvigorated business initiatives. It’s a life-changing
learning journey that requires a great deal of time management, open-mindedness and above
all, perseverance. However, it’s highly rewarding in terms of personal development while
making a significant contribution to both practice and knowledge. The unique approach of
this Executive PhD Program lies in combining all these aspects – both on a professional and
practical level – while surrounding every PhD candidate with top-notch academic support
and a myriad of opportunities to bring their research to the forefront of innovative solutions.

It is my personal aspiration to help design a program that will have a significant impact on
the participants’ professional life, their organizations, and even wider society. In doing so, we
truly live up to the school’s values to help executives in create sustainable value to become
global citizens, mastering the art of making decisions and leading people. This Executive
PhD Program brings one extra value to the table: making a difference by generating
applicable knowledge.

Dr. Hugo Marynissen

Academic Director Executive PhD Program

4
Welcome

Contents
Welcome

3 Our Dean’s Greeting

4 Our Director’s Welcome

Program overview

7 Why follow this program

11 Structure

12 The 2 stages

Your benefits, our Assets

16 Who will benefit

19 Why enroll

Admission requirements & process

22 Admission criteria

24 Process

27 The AMS Executive PhD trajectory

About

30 Antwerp Management School

32 The AMS Expertise Centers

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Executive phd Program

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 Program Overview

7
 “My expectation is to gain more knowledge
in a specific topic which is important for the
market.”
- Inci Akkus, CEO, Akkus Consulting (Germany)
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Executive phd Program

Program Overview
Overview
Transfer of Knowledge will become the
most important asset of the 21st century.
The Antwerp Management School’s
Executive PhD Program is a high-level
support program for executives and
C-level managers with a strong ambition
to bring state-of-the-art knowledge
and excellent research skills into the
workplace and society.
Why follow this program
at Antwerp Management School?
Attending this Program should be the
pinnacle of the participant’s personal and
professional development. Over a period of
4 years, you will gain competencies that are
crucial to successfully intensify your career,
both in Academia and Industry.
In this respect, you will:
Participants will acquire a new
mindset and adopt the necessary
methodologies to approach actual
business issues they are confronted
with in their organizations or in
society. Therefore, the program has
a major impact on participants’
professional development.
To thrive in today’s complex,
internationally competitive business
environment, organizations
require leaders who possess
interdisciplinary knowledge, the
ability to think in global terms and
the acumen to design systems that
respond to rapid changing trends.
The Executive PhD Program
offered by Antwerp Management
School helps executives to develop
capabilities to apply relevant
• Acquire the latest theoretical and
practical insights in your chosen
management field and learn the
skills of advancing knowledge
through methodologically robust
applied research methods.
• Demonstrate the ability to
develop original contributions to
existing knowledge.
• Learn the skills needed to
transfer knowledge in both
academic and business
environments, in oral and
written form.
knowledge and research skills to
contemporary business problems.
The Executive PhD Program also
addresses the life-long learning
aspirations of intellectually active
professionals who already possess
advanced degrees in their fields yet
wish to continue their education on
the highest level.
The Executive PhD Program is
developed and supported in close
collaboration with the University
of Antwerp, which will issue the
PhD degree in Management
Sciences after a successful defense
of the doctoral thesis.
• Gain broad insights into
your specialization through
membership and collaboration
within the Antwerp
Management School Expertise
Centers.
• Be part of a Top ranked
international management
school.
9
Executive phd Program
10

Executive phd Program

Program Overview

The purpose of the Executive
PhD Program is to advance the
development and practice of
effective organizational leadership
by providing senior-level executives
with:
• Knowledge and expertise
required to identify, understand
and successfully tackle the
interdisciplinary, big-picture
issues that characterize global
business management today.
• Skills in formal social inquiry
required to define and
address complex issues and to
disseminate knowledge related
to their profession in a variety of
means of expression to influence
both practical and public
policies.
• An interdisciplinary, globally
oriented perspective unavailable
in traditional advanced degree
programs.
• Evidence based management
skills and insights that will spur
new solution-oriented thinking in
both organizations and society.
• A unique learning opportunity
that combines the latest
academic knowledge with
practical relevance.
• The ability to strengthen their
critical thinking, improve
solution-oriented assessment,
and enhance their skills to
underpin, defend and implement
new ideas.

The AMS Executive phd Program: Structure

Stage 1 Stage 2

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

Setting the standards Undertaking the doctoral research

Research Methodologies
Supervised research
Coursework
Learning advanced teaching and lecturing skills
Assignments
Writing and defending a doctoral dissertation
Research Proposal

Throughout the Program

PhD-circle meetings
Participation in conferences and doctoral colloquia
Membership & support Antwerp Management School Expertise Centers

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

Acquire Knowledge

Develop Knowledge

Transfer of Knowledge
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Executive phd Program

 The AMS Executive phd Program: Content

Stage 1

Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 Module 4 Module 5

year 1 year 1 year 1 year 1 year 2

Research
Choosing a Developing Starting
design Quants / Research
research topic / a research the doctoral
Quants / design
Literature proposal / Quals work
Quals

Assignment I Assignments II & III Assign

Submission dates
Year 1 Year 2 Year

Draft Research Proposal (RP) Final RP

Literature review

Quals Design

Quants Design

The Executive PhD Program contains
both compulsory and elective elements,
which should lead the participant to
a PhD within 4 years.
- Stage 1 is expected to last
16-18 months. Participants
acquire in-depth knowledge
about quantitative and qualitative
management research methods.
considerable attention will also be
devoted to literature search and
to the skills needed to transfer
knowledge. They gain broad
insights into their specialization
through membership and
collaboration within the Antwerp
Management School Expertise
Centers.
Every intake is developed according
to a ´cohort´ principle with a
network of Faculty supervising,
guiding and advising the entire
intake.
Successful completion of all
modules and assignments provides
all the elements required for an
academically robust PhD research
proposal.

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Executive phd Program

 Program Overview

Stage 2 VIVA

Module 6 Module 7 Module 8 Module 9 Module 10 Module 11

year 2 Year 2 Year 3 Year 3 Year 4 Year 4

Doctoral
colloquium
Work in progress Work in progress Work in progress
Project 1 Project 2 Final Dissertation

ment IV
2

Research Project 1

Research Project 2

Optional: AoM Meeting Dissertation

- With the acceptance of their PhD - Participants are expected to

research proposal
and the appointment of a PhD
supervisor, participants progress to
Stage 2.
Over a period of 24-30 months,
participants proceed with their
research, write and eventually
defend a doctoral dissertation.
During this stage, participants
are expected to grow their
competencies in presenting,
discussing and publishing their
research.
attend doctoral Research Colloquia
and seminars on academic
publishing, writing teaching cases
and facilitate case study discussions
in academic and business
environments.
In Stage 2 participants are
managed through a PhD-circle,
which is based on topical themes.
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Executive phd Program

14

Executive phd Program

 our assets
Your Benefits

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Executive phd Program

 Assets

Who Will
Benefit?
You Your Company Society

• Will be able to generate,
interpret and transfer academic
knowledge within your
professional and academic
network.
• Will master business research
tools and methods and be able
to independently apply them to
practical business challenges.
• Will possess knowledge and
experience in academic
publishing and case writing.
• Will obtain a PhD from the
University of Antwerp, which
is a premium ranked and
accredited university.
• Benefits from the insights and
experiences you will bring
to your company as a PhD
candidate.
• Benefits from your ability to
translate and apply newly
developed and up-to-date
knowledge to the specific context
of your sector or business.
• Has the opportunity to capitalize
on your enhanced business
and leadership skills allowing
future company objectives and
strategies to be met.
• Can benefit from you as an
expert in your field to help
change and improve your
environment.
• As part of a community of
global leaders you will forge
solutions to society’s most
pressing challenges.
• As an opinion leader you will
have a beneficial impact on the
world you are living and working
in.

• Are welcome to teach at

Antwerp Management School or
continue your research activities
in one of our Expertise Centers.

“In our Executive PhD Program we surround every PhD

candidate with top-notch academic support and a myriad
of opportunities to bring their research to the forefront of
innovative solutions.”
- Dr. Hugo Marynissen, Academic Director Executive phd Program

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Executive phd Program

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Executive phd Program

 “In my daily job I work half of my time as a medical doctor, and the
other half as a manager. I realized that my career is changing through
management. The value I will bring to my company is how to organize,
finance and manage people in the most optimal way. In an attempt to
improve my skills, an executive PhD is the logical choice.”
- Gert Kuijt, MD – CEO, Maxima Medisch Centrum (The Netherlands)

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Executive phd Program

Assets

Why
Enroll? Facts & Figures

Why should you enroll in the - Coaching through the Nationalities

Antwerp Management School’s Program South America
Executive PhD Program? North America
Be coached and advised by our top
Middle East
Here are just a few reasons... Faculty from all over the world. Belgium

- A part-time PhD program

- Premium-competence of
11 modules (3 to 4 days long) over faculty and peers
Asia
4 years designed to ease the work-
life-study balance. Learn from some of the world’s Europe other
leading managers from various
industries and countries. Africa
- Added value to your work
and your company
- More than a PhD
A curriculum created for
practical influence in real-world Grow as a leader and lift your Industries
and designed to enrich by your personal and professional Legal
Engineering
everyday management challenges. development. Consultancy
Human Resources

Finance & Accounting

- International Collaboration - Become a faculty member
Research & Education Marketing & Sales

You are part of a bigger, Become one of our respected

heterogeneous group, which you professors and share your Pharmaceutical
Information Technology
will meet during the program. knowledge and expertise.
Petrochemicals
Lingnan (University) College, Construction & Real Estate
Healthcare
the management school of the
prestigious Sun Yat-sen University
in Guangzhou, China, launched
another Executive PhD program
in collaboration with Antwerp
Management School. A first cohort
of Executive Chinese leaders
embarked on a doctoral journey
in September 2016. The courses
take place on both campuses,
in Antwerp and Guangzhou,

42 29 % 58 %
involving faculty members of both
institutions.

Average Women in Working outside

age the program home country

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Executive phd Program

20

Executive phd Program

 Admission

Executive phd Program

Requirements & Process

21
22

Executive phd Program

Admission Requirements & Process

Admission Criteria

Antwerp Management School - MBA or a Master’s level

only admits participants to the
Executive PhD Program with the
intrinsic motivation and willingness
to contribute to academic research
and to become the next generation
business leaders. Candidates must
hold an MBA or Master’s degree
from an accredited academic
institution and must have at least
ten years of professional experience
in the field of management. The
Program is taught in English thus
an excellent knowledge of oral and
written English is required.
university degree in a relevant
field
- Minimum 10 years of relevant
managerial experience
- Demonstrated academic and
professional progression
- Pre-selected research field
which should demonstrate high
potential for high performance
capability in applied business
and interdisciplinary research
and which is consistent with the
Antwerp Management School’s
priorities as defined by the
Expertise Centers’ domains

Application Process - Two letters of recommendation

(one academic and one business)
On www.antwerpmanagementschool.be/executivephd, enter the online application form
and upload the following documents* : - Successful completion of the
intake procedure
• Motivation letter in which you demonstrate your academic and professional
progression.
• Updated Resume/CV.
• A copy of your passport.
• A recent photograph (passport photo).
• Outline of your pre-selected research field and an initial research idea (which should
demonstrate high potential for high performance capability in applied business and
interdisciplinary research and) which is in line with the Antwerp Management School’s
priorities as set by the Expertise Centers’ domains.
• Two letters of recommendation (one academic and one business).
• A copy of your MBA and/or Master’s certificate and transcripts.
• Send scanned versions of your TOEFL/IELTS scores (except for native English
speakers or applicants who completed their undergraduate studies in a native English
speaking country) to the Executive PhD’s Program Manager.

*By applying and/or registering for the Executive PhD Program, you give Antwerp
Management School the formal consent to check all of the provided credentials and
documents.
Once your application file has been accepted, intakes will be organized to get a better
insight of your motivation and perseverance.
All applicants are requested to present their initial research topic during an interview
with one or more Faculty members of the Executive PhD Program.
23

Executive phd Program

 Process
at University of Antwerp
There is a distinct difference
between the Executive
PhD program and the
PhD degree. The program
prepares and supports every
PhD candidate in the best
optimal way to achieve
the required standards for
obtaining the PhD degree.
The program is executed by
the Antwerp Management
School, while the University
of Antwerp will issue the
doctoral degree.
For start dates, fees, requirements and admission procedure, please refer to our
website: www.antwerpmanagementschool.be/executivephd
24
Executive phd Program
In order to align both processes,
independent Faculty Doctoral
Committees of the University
of Antwerp will formally assess
and accept the Executive PhD
candidates.
This will be done after the first
year, based on the candidate’s draft
research proposal. At the end of
the first stage of the Executive
PhD program (after fifteen months)
there will be an evaluation of
the candidates’ progress and a
formal assessment of the various
assignments.
This formal acceptation by the
Faculty Doctoral Committee gives
a green light for establishing the
candidates’ individual doctoral
committee. The decision of the
faculty will be communicated to
the student by the central student
administration.
This faculty Doctoral Committee
has decision-making powers in the
following areas:
- the organization, Quality
Assurance and supervision of the
PhD program
- the decision on admission to the
PhD
- defining the content of any
additional research training
necessary
- the approval of the annual
evaluation reports submitted
by candidates and doctoral
committees
- verification of whether
PhD students have met the
requirements of the doctoral
program before submitting their
doctoral dissertations.
Assignments
- Qualitative Research Design Project
- Quantitative Research Design Project
- Systematic Literature Review
- Research Proposal
Admission Requirements & Process

Learning Financial
Methods Benefits
- Residential seminars - SME conditions

- PhD-circle meetings - Training vouchers

- Workshops - Discounts to:

- alumni
- Lectures - non-profit organizations

- Webinars

- Blended learning

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Executive phd Program

 “I want to be ahead
of all upcoming
transformations and this is why
I am doing this research, in
order to solve questions
we are facing.”
- Steven Peeters, Certified Public Accountant,
BDO (Belgium)

26

Executive phd Program

Admission Requirements & Process

The AMS Executive

PhD trajectory

Admission Publication in
academic journals
• Requires a Masters degree
(preferrably with distinction) Not a prerequisite but strongly
• After ± 10 years of experience in a recommended
senior management position
• Acceptance by the Faculty Doctoral
Commission (UA)
• Successful completion of four assignments Participation at
doctoral colloquia
Mandatory
Profile
Early 40’s, pursuing a PhD for
• Gaining in-depth knowledge in own Presenting work
business at conferences
• Further growth in your career
• A career in academia or in consultancy Mandatory
• Becoming eligible to teach

Doctoral thesis
Support
• Based on critical literature review and
• Supervisor and doctoral committee empirical research
• Cohort based • Public defending of the thesis for a
• PhD circles committee of internal & external
• Member of an AMS Expertise examiners
Centers

Program
Built around various competence categories
• Research skills
• Research philosophy
• Research management
• Communication skills
• Personal development
• Part-time over 4 years
• 11 on-site three-day seminars
• Blended learning
• Knowledge transfer to participant’s Bold = Additional for the Executive
organization PhD Program.

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Executive phd Program

28

Executive phd Program

 About

29

Executive phd Program

 Antwerp Management School
About
With more than fifty years of excellence in

management education, Antwerp Management

School has enabled innumerable participants to

achieve executive leadership positions in Belgium

and beyond.

Founded as part of the University of Antwerp,

Antwerp Management School has now evolved

to become an internationally renowned Business

School with several international acknowledged

Programs.

Antwerp Management School differentiates itself

by its thorough entrepreneurial character and no-

nonsense approach. It’s a research-driven Business

School with the different Expertise Center as the

beating heart of the organization.

30

Executive phd Program

About

Mission
Statement
Antwerp Management School is
an international business school
preparing future managers and
leaders for key roles n the global
business community. We help our
customers in creating sustainable
value by cultivating talent to
become Global Citizens, mastering
the art of making decisions and
leading people.
We help our customers
in creating sustainable
As the mission states, Antwerp value by cultivating
Management School aims to
prepare future managers for talent to become
key roles in the global business
community and passionately global citizens,
promotes responsible management,
entrepreneurship, sustainability, mastering the art of
leadership and professionalism.
making decisions and
leading people.

GLOBAL CITIZENS
MASTERING THE ART OF MAKING
DECISIONS AND LEADING PEOPLE

SELF-
AWARENESS
GLOBAL
PERSPECTIVE
SOCIETAL
CONSCIOUSNESS Mission
Leading to Leading to Leading to
House
Cooperation Ingenuity Sustainability

Antwerp Management School’s three central pillars:

STATE-OF-THE-ART MANAGEMENT KNOWLEDGE
ANCHORED IN A BUSINESS & ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
mission has been anchored in
a ‘Mission House’ (see Figure) 1. Self-knowledge that leads to
that shows the way in which better cooperation with others,
Antwerp Management School
wants to contribute to developing 2. A global perspective that
the leadership qualities and the leads to ingenuity for providing
responsible management skills of adequate and responsible solutions
these ‘Global Citizens’ who want to to problems and issues,
contribute to a sustainable society.
3. Social awareness and societal
The basis of this ‘Mission House’ consciousness, which contributes to
is formed by state-of-the-art the development of a sustainable
management knowledge that is society.
also embedded in a business and
organizational context. It is not
about pure knowledge; it’s about
knowledge that is linked to practice.
In addition to this basis Antwerp
Management School distinguishes 31

Executive phd Program

 About
the AMS Expertise Centers The Antwerp Management School

Expertise Centers offer a practical and

unique answer to the complex challenges

of the present-day society. Companies and

organizations need tailor-made, innovative

solutions and specific knowledge for the

business issues they are confronted with.

The Expertise Centers bring together

companies and academic researchers to

do research and to co-create sustainable

solutions that create value for all partners

involved. Thus the participants of

this inspiring network gain credibility

as ‘thought leaders’ in their field of

expertise. This is a win-win situation for all

participants in the network.

As an Executive PhD Student you will

become part of one of these Expertise

Centers. Via this full membership you

will get direct access to top academic

thinkers in your field of interest and get the

possibility to start co-creating sustainable

value for the future.

32

Executive phd Program

About

About
PHD-cohorts & PHD-circles

The Executive PhD Program supports all elements of rigorous supervision by an experienced PhD-supervisor
Antwerp Management School’s Strategy model and with relevant inter-vision with the other PhD-students
Research objectives as stated in the different Expertise who learn by reading and discussing each other’s work.
Centers. It is designed to ensure:
Participants become part of a PhD-cohort (= PhD- Furthermore, the support provided by a PhD-circle
students starting their Executive PhD Program at the will be extremely useful for adapting to the academic
same time). world: academic writing, working on conference
papers, presenting academic research and so on.
The idea behind these PhD-cohort is that although
the individual PhD research proposals will differ This collaborative learning approach spurs teamwork
(different angle, different topic, different industry, and leadership skills.
different background, etc.), the process is very similar.
A number of specific ‘milestones’ are part of any PhD:
formulating a research question, choice of methods,
decisions on theory and analysis, formulation of
conclusions, etc.

These milestones will be shared and discussed within

a so called PhD-circle. As such a PhD-circle combines

33

Executive phd Program

 “It provides the opportunity
to get to know a lot of
interesting people
and to learn.”
- Geert Scheipers, Senior partner, Delaware
Consulting (Belgium)

34

Executive phd Program

A career in business academia,
an extraordinary journey
towards rigor and relevance
Why become a researcher?
Business school research has
its roots in the real world and
therefore has an immediate impact
on business and society. This is
why doing research in one of our
Expertise Centers is particularly
stimulating and rewarding.
Why become an academic?
Being an academic professor is
extremely entrepreneurial:
you get to create and transfer
knowledge which has a direct
impact on your field of expertise;
you get to share ideas and insights
with other thought leaders and
experts in an interdisciplinary and
multidisciplinary environment; you
get to develop yourself and others
as the next generation business
leaders and as a person. There isn’t
a single argument for not becoming
one! You’re most welcome to join
the Antwerp Management School
Faculty corps.
To start your own executive phd journey,
go to our website:
www.antwerpmanagementschool.be/executivephd
35
Executive phd Program
 Antwerp Management School
Powered by the University of Antwerp

t Brantijser / Sint-Jacobsmarkt 9-13 / B-2000 Antwerp

T +32 (0)3 265 47 58
F +32 (0)3 265 47 34
www.antwerpmanagementschool.be

Contact us
Dr. Hugo Marynissen
Academic Director Executive PhD Program
T +32 (0)3 265 47 58
E Hugo.Marynissen@ams.ac.be

Elke Tweepenninckx
Program Manager Executive PhD Program
T +32 (0)3 265 47 36
E Elke.Tweepenninckx@ams.ac.be

Accreditiations and rankings

Antwerp Management School

36