Economic and Management Sciences

Objectives

• To conceptualise, implement, and promote scientific research in interaction with interdisciplinary research teams, focusing on the identification and formulation of relevant scientific problems;
• To stimulate innovation, knowledge creation, and reflective capacity regarding best practices in the fields of Economics and Management;
• To strengthen research skills, competencies, and methods associated with the scientific domains of Economics and Management, enabling students to achieve more promising entry into and progression within academic and/or business environments;
• To provide advanced training in methods and techniques of data analysis with a view to the development of applied research;
• To ensure the rigorous and demanding integration of research results into services provided to the community, in order to respond to the needs of public and private organisations.
   

Struture and Operating Mode

The programme has a duration of three years, with the first year comprising a taught component and the following two years dedicated to the preparation of the doctoral thesis.
The first year is structured around four curricular units for both the Management and Economics branches:
 

Research Methodologies – This curricular unit aims to familiarize students with the scientific research process, in particular with the fundamental steps involved in the preparation of a doctoral thesis project and the development of the thesis itself. It also covers knowledge of commonly used statistical data sources and qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research approaches.

Research Seminar I – Management Branch – This curricular unit comprises a set of seminars aimed at deepening theoretical knowledge and introducing students to the latest developments in the various areas of Management, based on the discussion of scientific articles reflecting the state of the art in each field. Students are expected to become familiar with the philosophy of research in the domain of Management and with different research strategies, thereby complementing the training in advanced quantitative data analysis provided in the curricular unit Research Seminar II.

Research Seminar I – Economics Branch – This curricular unit comprises a series of seminars designed to provide students with the analytical skills and knowledge required to critically address the problems and realities faced by economies. Upon completion of this unit, students are expected to have a broad understanding of the principles of Economics as they apply to the functions of individual decision-makers within the economic system. Students are also expected to become familiar with the philosophy of research in the field of Economics and with different research strategies, thereby complementing the training in advanced quantitative data analysis provided in the curricular unit Research Seminar II.

Research Seminar II – Management and Economics Branches – The curricular unit provides students with the necessary tools to understand the main concepts, the appropriateness, and the limitations of using different advanced quantitative data analysis techniques.

Research Seminar III – Management and Economics Branches – This unit aims to develop the skills required for conducting advanced research, including familiarising each student with key bibliographic sources and search engines, and developing critical analysis and synthesis skills. The ultimate goal of this unit is the design of a doctoral thesis project.

Classes are held in person on Fridays in the post-working hours period (18:30–22:00) and on Saturday mornings (09:30–13:00). All classes are conducted in English.

Curricular units with five or fewer enrolled students operate under a tutorial supervision regime. In such cases, the teaching teams will ensure that the content of the tutorial guidance and, where applicable, the seminars are defined based on the research objectives of the students concerned.

During the second and third years, each student is required to participate in three doctoral days, which provide opportunities to present the research work they have developed.