Why choose an Executive DBA? The motivation needed for long-term studies
The need or desire for a career change, professional development, or new occupation are just some of the reasons for returning to study for a long period of time. This commitment stems from several types of motivation, explains Stéphane Thion, Program Manager of the Executive Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) program at TBS Education.
Stéphane Thion, as Program Manager of the Executive Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) program, a professional doctorate accessible from Masters or MBA level, can you tell us a little about this curriculum, which is academic, scientific and tailored to the business world?
The aim of the program, a professional doctorate, is to equip decision-makers with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate effectively in today’s uncertain and complex business environment. The idea is not to impart the latest fashionable and perhaps ephemeral techniques, but rather to emphasize mastery of the scientific method, a rigorous academic approach that is just as relevant in the economic context. It involves developing analytical thinking, i.e. the ability to conceptualize a problem, collect and analyze data, and evaluate possible solutions, taking into account the many cognitive biases. This skill is now particularly sought after by many recruiters, as highlighted by the latest Future of Jobs Report from the World Economic Forum. It is the number one skill required by today’s managers and offers a definite competitive advantage on the job market.
Who are the candidates for the TBS Education Executive DBA program today?
Classes of around fifteen people include French, bi-national and foreign students from every continent. They are teachers, managers, CEOs or NGO directors, consultants and even politicians. They are between 30 and 50 years old, and a quarter of them are women. We’re working towards greater gender parity!
What motivates them to choose such a long academic path?
It’s true that the four-year course is a long one. Candidates must therefore be enthusiastic and resilient. There are different kinds of motivation: intrinsic, meeting the need to acquire new knowledge and skills, or extrinsic, corresponding for example to the need to stay ahead of the competition or to attain a more prestigious position.
This motivation is expressed differently according to age: younger people come to obtain an additional degree, which is particularly true for people from English-speaking or Middle Eastern cultures; older people come to acquire additional knowledge and skills. Motives can also vary according to the student’s profile: teachers need this qualification to establish their legitimacy, consultants to develop their expertise and gain a competitive edge.
Ultimately, intrinsic motivation often proves to be the best driving force: it is this quality that will enable candidates to persevere until they achieve what they set out to do. At the end of the course, learners unanimously agree that they have acquired much more than they had initially anticipated.
