Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Sustainability Management
Lead the Future of Sustainable Business Strategy
Elevate your professional impact with a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) designed for the modern global landscape. At SUMAS, our predominantly professionally-oriented education empowers leaders to tackle today’s most pressing sustainability challenges through advanced research and innovative business strategy.
Innovative Research for Global Impact
The core of our DBA program focuses on the seamless integration of business excellence with sustainable development. We bridge the gap between theory and practice, ensuring that economic growth, environmental management, and social equity are the foundational pillars of every doctoral project.
Our candidates don’t just study the market; they transform it by addressing the complex intersection of profitability and planetary health.
A Holistic Framework for Leadership & Problem-Solving
In an era defined by resource scarcity and organizational volatility, traditional management is no longer enough. The SUMAS DBA is built on a holistic approach to problem-solving.
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Leadership in Crisis: Develop the resilience and adaptive leadership skills necessary to navigate changing organizational settings.
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Systems Thinking: It offers the distinct advantage of viewing a system’s components as a cohesive, interdependent web. By recognizing that every element is intrinsically linked, leaders can unlock creative decision-making at the intersections of these relationships.
Rigorous Research Applied to Real-World Challenges
Our program emphasizes the application of sound theoretical frameworks and rigorous research methodologies to solve complex, real-world sustainability-related issues. As a DBA student, you will:
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Conduct Independent Investigations: Execute systematic research that meets the highest academic standards.
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Master Advanced Methodologies: Select and apply specialized research techniques tailored to your professional field.
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Drive Organizational Change: Produce actionable insights that address critical topics in sustainability management and organizational evolution.
Dr. Elisa Matola, DBA in Sustainability Management, 2017
Program Outline
Academic Year 1
Module LS: Leadership & Sustainability
- Responsible Leadership, Change & Systems Thinking
- How to Create a Winning Culture in Multinational Companies
- Sustainable Innovation and Turning Sustainable Development (SD) into a Competitive Advantage
- Responsible Management Practices & Corporate Social Responsibility
Module RM: Research Methodology
- Philosophy of Science: Philosophical Bases of the Doctoral Thesis
- Practical Research Tools
- Research Design
- Embedding Sustainability Research for DBA
Academic Year 2
Module R1: Choosing Own Methodological Tools
- Financial Evaluation of Sustainability-related Projects
- Methods of Data Collection
- Quantitative Research Methods
- Qualitative Research Methods
Module R2: Final Phase of Research
- Big Data Analysis with Excel
- Data Elaboration and Interpretation
- Analysis and Interpretation of Qualitative Data
Academic Year 3
Module 5: Final Revision of Doctoral Dissertation with Careful Guidance of the Supervisor
- Revision of Literature Review. Drawing Conclusions and Action Plan for Further Applications
- Task – Drafting Doctoral Thesis
Module 6: Public Defence: Viva Voce Oral Examination
- Final Approval of Doctoral Thesis Due 3 Months Post Viva Voce Oral Examinations
- Task – Public Defense: Viva Voce Oral Examination
Entry Requirements
Our university welcomes applications from students who have successfully completed a Master’s degree. Once you have applied, our admissions team will be in contact with you for any further requirements.
- Official certified University transcripts and diplomas, with certified translation if not originally in English
- CV / Resume indicating both complete education and any work experience in reverse chronological order
- Essay of 3000 words stating your research interests, chosen research topic and motivations, theoretical framework as well as expected outcomes of research results
- Photocopy of a valid passport or ID
- If you are not a native English speaker, or if you have not spent the last 3 years in an English-taught school:
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- TOEFL (minimum score of 550 PBT or 80 IBT)
- IELTS (minimum score of 6.0)
- other Standardized English Placement Exams
Useful links
DBA Testimonial
Dr. Ashok Kumar, DBA in Sustainability Management, 2023
The DBA programme at Sumas has been an insightful journey for me.
It influenced how one thinks about issues of sustainability – avoiding getting caught up in advocacy of singular issues without taking into account the broader implications of change – particularly the un-intended side effects.
Fees & Funding
| First Year | CHF 16,000 |
| Second Year | CHF 13,000 |
| Third Year | CHF 11,000 |
Please note that the non-refundable application fee (CHF 200) is not included in these fees.
Kindly note that scholarships or financial aid are not offered for our DBA programs.
How to apply for your DBA
We operate a rolling admissions system for our DBA programs. Please submit your application using our online platform.
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