Ph.D. in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Management

The Ph.D. in ICT Management constitutes an integral part of the International Technology and Management Research (ITEMAR) pole of excellence. ITEMAR is a consortium of leading European and international higher education institutions that are actively engaged in cutting-edge research addressing issues at the interface between ICT, management, and associated disciplines. You can consult a list of ITEMAR member institutions. In addition to member institutions ITEMAR further works with other organizations that, although not part of the consortium, by virtue of their demonstrable research agenda constitute a natural and coherent basis for collaboration.

Objective of the program

The objective of the Ph.D. program is to train highly competent academics and researchers in the field of ICT management. The program, which is conducted entirely in English, is of an international and interdisciplinary nature and addresses research issues at the interface between ICT, management, and associated disciplines. The following research themes are central to the Ph.D. program:

• Technological innovation and knowledge management
• Technological innovation and supply chain optimization
• Management information systems and technology
• Information systems management and engineering
• Technology and financial services management
• The web as a source of data
• Technology and ethical issues in society
• Technology and sustainable development 
• Technology and capacity building

Students in the program are encouraged to choose an area of their Ph.D. research which is related to one of the above outlined themes.

Supervision of Ph.D. students

All admitted students to the program are assigned a main thesis supervisor from Telecom Ecole the Management and an additional supervisor from one of the European partner institutions in the ITEMAR network. Thesis supervisors are assigned based on the student’s proposed area of Ph.D. research and available competency among faculty members (full-time or adjunct) of TEM and partner European institutions in the network.

Program duration

The entire program takes three (3) years to complete. It is made up of two components, namely: a) courses, seminars, and research workshops, and b) research leading to the Ph.D. thesis.

Training, thesis preparation and oral defence (Viva)

The course component of the program is based on the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). In order to satisfy the requirements of the course component of the program a registered student must successfully complete courses, seminars and workshops for a total of 60 ECTS credits. These courses, seminars, and research workshops are organized throughout the period of the program (see details below). The remainder of time for the program is devoted to research, thesis preparation, submission and oral defence (viva).

The following comprise the training component of the Ph.D. program. A detailed schedule indicating date and venue of each meeting is provided separately at the start of each academic year. 

In addition to the above students may, if they so desire, be provided the opportunity of visiting a member institution outside Europe for a short period of time (i.e. from a week to two months maximum) for the purpose of library research, participation in doctoral seminars, development of their thesis research under the guidance of an experienced researcher at the inviting institution, etc.

In consonance with the above it is further suggested that students enrolled in the program constitute "virtual", electronically connected teams, working on common projects from different places. Such virtual teams will facilitate monitoring of work in progress. In this respect special validation mechanisms are to be put in place in order to evaluate the effectiveness of team work.