The course structure is carefully designed, in compliance with the program characteristics highlighted here:
- You will study with international peers from Thailand and other parts of the world, who you will meet in person during the Joint Study Weeks Lucerne (see Module 1 below) and the Joint Study Weeks Bangkok (see Module 2 below).
- You will be taught by international faculty, thereby interfacing with experts within the European and Asian networks of both the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and Silpakorn University.
- You will be able to study while working from a location of your choice, because all in-person program components are offered in a compact format, thereby limiting travel requirements.
Module 1 – Joint Study Weeks Lucerne / CAS International Management
The DBA program typically begins with the Joint Study Weeks Lucerne, hosted by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Lucerne, Switzerland. In the context of the Joint Study Weeks Lucerne, DBA candidates recruited by both the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts as well as Silpakorn University come together in intercultural teams to investigate and process questions of international and intercultural management in a conceptually and theoretically sound, constructive, and empirically rigorous process. Thereby, the Joint Study Weeks Lucerne equip the candidates with a solid, current, advanced, and practice-oriented international management toolkit to aid them in mastering the international management and leadership challenges of their professional and private lives. Also, the Joint Study Weeks Lucerne will sharpen the scope and focus of candidates respective dissertation projects.
After successfully completing the Joint Study Weeks Lucerne, candidates are awarded a CAS International Management by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (for more detailed information about the Joint Study Weeks Lucerne, please visit the website of the CAS International Management). Thus, while pursuing the DBA program, candidates also graduate with the CAS International Management as an additional degree.
Module 2 – Joint Study Weeks Bangkok
Half a year after attending the Joint Study Weeks Lucerne, DBA candidates attend the Joint Study Weeks Bangkok, hosted by Silpakorn University. DBA candidates recruited by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts again meet and work together with their peers from Silpakorn University. DBA candidates will jointly attend and graduate from the following two seminars: (1) Advanced Business Research and Methodology; (2) Seminar in Business Research and Thesis. While attending these two seminars, DBA candidates learn the analytically sound and empirically correct ways of analyzing practice-oriented research topics. Thus, while attending the Joint Study Weeks Bangkok, DBA candidates work on their respective dissertation projects, and learn how to implement their project in compliance with rigorous academic standards.
For more information about the Joint Study Weeks Bangkok, please refer to the sub-section "Individual Coaching throughout".
Module 3A – Elective
As a third module, you may complement your DBA curriculum according to your development need, your interest, or the expertise you need to advance your dissertation project.
Hint I: If you enter the DBA program without any training in business administration on the tertiary level, we require you to complete Module 3 first – before attending Modules 1 and 2 – by attending the CAS Betriebswirtschaft (This module is in German; we are happy to recommend an alternative in English, please contact us).
As an elective, we recommend the following options (other options might also be possible, but need first to be discussed and approved by the head of the DBA program):
Important: Candidates with advanced degrees (MAS, MBA, or EMBA level)
Prior qualifications at the advanced MAS, MBA, or EMBA level can also be counted as an elective – with a maximum equivalent of 15 ECTS – if the following conditions apply:
- the MAS, MBA, or EMBA-level qualification was awarded by a university / Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, or university of applied sciences; and
- the degree course had a generalist business administration focus.
Hint II: For candidates who wish to acquire the diploma ‘MAS International Management’ while completing the DBA, no prior MAS, MBA, or EMBA-level qualifications can be accredited.
Module 3B – Specialization Module
Module 3B is waived for DBA candidates who acquire the diploma "MAS International Management" while completing the DBA.
The following options are available for Module 3B:
Either attending one Specialization Module in the CAS Betriebswirtschaft (in German); or attending one International Week (in English).
Module 4 – Proposal/MAS International Management
Module 4 consists of writing and successfully defending the Thesis Proposal (see sub-section Individual Coaching throughout for detailed information).
Candidates who wish to acquire the diploma MAS International Management while completing the DBA additionally need to conduct an abbreviated pilot-study of their prospective dissertation project (please contact the head of program for specific arrangements). The data and results of the pilot-study can be directly used for the prospective dissertation project. Thus, the pilot-study for the purpose of graduating with the MAS International Management can be used and directly applied as preparation for the prospective dissertation research.
Module 5 –Thesis
In Module 5, DBA candidates complete their doctorate at Silpakorn University (see sub-section Individual Coaching throughout for detailed information).
DBA-Colloquia
Next to Modules 1 – 5, DBA candidates are advised and coached during DBA-Colloquia, by the heads of program. These Colloquia take place four times over the course of the first year of the DBA program. DBA-Colloquia are attended by DBA candidates recruited by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts only, on campus in Lucerne (attending DBA-Colloquia online is also possible, especially for DBA candidates from abroad). During the DBA-Colloquia, DBA candidates refine their respective dissertation projects, and are provided with all the information they need for successfully embarking on their respective DBA journeys.
Important:
- Before completing Module 4, Modules 1 and 2 need to be successfully completed.
- Modules 3A and 3B are typically taken while or after attending Module 4.
- Modules 3A and 3B can be taken while attending Module 5, but need to be successfully completed before being able to complete Module 5.
