- Successful registration at AQ Austria reflects program quality – First 
Executive PhD Program in Austria – Cooperation between the Entrepreneurial 
School(R), the University of Antwerp and the Antwerp Management School – Next 
start of studies 6th November 2019

Success for the new MCI Executive PhD Program. Recently confirmed by the AQ 
(Agentur fur Qualitatssicherung und Akkreditierung Austria), the doctoral 
program runs in cooperation with the University of Antwerp and the Antwerp 
Management School. Thus, the MCI as an Entrepreneurial School(R) moves up from 
being an organizer to a full content provider in this consortium. The 
registration of the international program follows an extensive audit, which 
certifies that the Executive PhD Program is of the very highest quality in 
teaching as well as in organization and infrastructure. 
 
The four-year doctoral program will start with its third cohort in fall 2019. 
It is aimed at experienced, internationally active executives and managers who 
wish to apply state-of-the-art research knowledge and academic expertise to 
complex managerial and economic issues. In the course of the doctoral program, 
they will pursue practically relevant objectives with academic rigour: They 
will identify scientifically intriguing issues, design relevant research 
questions and then be tasked with solving them independently. At the core of 
the program is the development of a doctoral dissertation, which is to be 
successfully defended at the University of Antwerp. Doctoral students from the 
first year share very positive experiences: "A first-class program that 
combines state-of-the-art science with economic relevance and can be perfectly 
integrated into life and career planning."

Markus Kittler, Academic Director of the program, experienced in coordinating 
doctoral studies and well connected in international higher education, is 
closely familiar with the expectations of doctoral programs. He is delighted 
with this recent development: "The registration resonates with the strengths of 
our program. Our English-language PhD program is internationally oriented; we 
receive applications from all parts of the world as well as from a wide variety 
of professional fields. Our students – well supported by us - delve deeply into 
their own research topics and benefit from the regular exchange of ideas in 
their doctoral peer group."

Susanne E. Herzog, Head of MCI Executive Education, adds, "The Executive PhD 
Program closes a gap in the MCI's academic portfolio and rounds off our 
extensive program in research, studies, continuing education and technology 
transfer. The students in our PhD program combine valuable professional 
experience, cultural diversity and ultimately the ambition to make a difference 
with their research work by creating an entrepreneurial and societal impact."

Advice and registration: Michaela Krauss, michaela.krauss@mci.edu, Tel. 
+43-(0)-512-2070-2121

Photos & further information 
[https://www.mci.edu/en/media-en/news/2145-mci-s-european-doctoral-program-succe
ssfully-confirmed]

Photo - 
https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/947829/Markus_Kittler_and_Susanne_E_Herzog.jpg 
 
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/947830/MCI_Joint_PhD_Program.jpg

Press contact: Ulrike Fuchs, ulrike.fuchs@mci.edu, Tel. +43-(0)-512-2070-1527
 
Source: MCI Management Center Innsbruck