The PhD in Quality Management focuses on all activities that must be performed to maintain a desired level of quality and excellence in an organization. The curriculum gives emphasis to the various changes that have occurred in recent years in the way managers design and implement a quality management strategy and processes to gain competitive advantage. These changes have been triggered by highly dynamic business environments, the emergence of the 4th industrial revolution (digital transformation), global product supply chains and recalls, consumerism, and the need to adapt to new customer behaviors and preferences for products and services. The PhD program has been influenced by these changes with an aim to enable Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) graduates to apply discipline-based theory with strict adherence to rigorous research methodologies, ethics and devise innovative solutions that hold both academic rigor and contextualized practical relevance.

The PhD program adopts a multidisciplinary approach to quality theory, research and problem-solving interventions that lead to sustained continuous improvement and learning. In doing so, it draws from various strands of knowledge related to social sciences, information technology, service sciences and data analytics, to name but a few, to assess operational efficiency, identify adverse factors affecting continuous improvement and enhance the potential for desirable quality outcomes in various organizational settings. The multidisciplinary approach of the program also facilitates admission of eligible candidates with different educational degrees and practical experiences.

Overall, the PhD in Quality Management supports graduate employability in academia and in industry with rigorous research and analytical skills. It gives graduates the opportunity to test their innovative ideas through the lens of organization theory and address emerging quality management paradigms in the era of accelerated globalization, rapid technological innovation (quality 4.0), and the emerging experience economy.

The program consists of a total 60 credits, of which 30 credits are core and elective courses (e.g., research methods, quality management, service quality and excellence, strategy and organization theory, performance measurement) and the remaining 30 credits are assigned to the dissertation.  

Via HBMSU's interactive smart learning platform, the HBMSU Smart Campus, Ph.D. scholars will be able to take the program in any part of the world, through interactive online sessions, without disrupting their schedule. It is based on a highly successful blended learning model, that is unique to the region and has received full accreditation and support from the UAE Ministry of Education's Commission for Academic Accreditation.

This program is accredited by the UAE Ministry of Education’s Commission for Academic Accreditation.

For an overview of core units and electives you can study in this course, please see study plan.

Admission Requirements: The applicant must hold a Master's degree from an accredited university with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 Scale or its established equivalent. If the master’s degree is not relevant to the intended Ph.D., the applicant must have an academic distinction at the bachelor’s degree with a CGPA above or equal to 3.5 on a 4.0 scale as assessed by the dean of the school. A candidate for the Ph.D. program will be required to sit for a formal interview to evaluate his/her fitness for the Ph.D. program. For full admission requirements and language requirements, please see Doctorate Admission Requirements.

 

For in-career applicants based on full-time employment, we offer a part-time Ph.D. study plan. This study plan track has a flexible enrollment period based on 3.5 years minimum and 5 years maximum study.

Target audience

This program is designed for individuals interested in attaining the highest academic degree awarded in the study of management science, enabling them to pursue an academic career as a researcher and educator.

Program Goals

Produce new contributions to knowledge and understand the philosophy and guiding precepts of quality management as a discipline and profession.
Identify gaps in knowledge using research as underpinned by methodological rigor, ensuring relevance to practices in quality management.
Identify gaps in knowledge using research as underpinned by methodological rigor, ensuring relevance to practices in quality management.
Master effective communication and information technology skills to synthesize, appraise and present the learner’s produced research findings and conclusions to a range of audiences.

Program Outcomes

Demonstrate independence, creativity, governance of processes, academic integrity, and professional ethics in all aspects of the conduct of research and in the communication and dissemination of the research findings.
Demonstrate leadership and originality in resolving quality problems and concerns through effective communication and working with others.
Analyze and critique current professional knowledge and practices in quality management and design continuous improvement programs that ensure the maintenance and promotion of professional ethical standards in rectifying identified gaps in diverse contexts.

Career opportunities for Doctor of Philosophy in Quality Management

  • Chief executive officer
  • Chief operation officer
  • Public or corporate policy maker
  • Innovative product development (R&D)
  • Academic researcher
  • Professional service business consultant
  • Product research and developer
  • Collegiate level teaching
  • Training specialists
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