phd business administration uae

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DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Introduction.

Welcome to the SSM DBA program

DBA Studies are one of the most challenging and highest rewarding levels in Higher Education. The Swiss School of Management has developed outstanding Doctor Programs. These programs have unique features, which add significant values to Graduates beyond the rewarding Doctor Degree.

Multiple academic collaborations contribute to the exceptional program quality, starting with the involvement of highly renowned and recognized academics as Directors of Studies. Our Doctor candidates are supported on an individual base by both SSM Professors and visiting Professors from a wide variety of international Universities.

Today academia has no more borders. Therefore, the knowledge and expertise of experienced academics influence the structure and content of our Doctor Programs, from which candidates can select the option that accommodates their necessity.

The Doctor of Business Administration will be awarded by the internationally recognized Swiss School of Management. The result is based on delivering studies of highest quality and multiple benefits to SSM’s Doctor candidates. Swiss School of Management is committed to impress and to express: impress through the value of the studies resulting in Degrees, which express the outstanding skills of those being awarded. This gives them the possibility to develop a top career in industries, administration and academia.

Two major pathways are offered to Doctoral Candidates. The first pathway is known as Professional Doctorate. The notion ‘professional’ should not be misunderstood. They are by no means only professional qualifications. Professional doctoral studies have been globally developed and are accepted as fully-fledged doctoral degrees. In contrast to PhD studies, their purpose is applied sciences: research in, what is called, the real world for application in it. Likewise, the most famous degree pathway here is the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA).

Universities around the globe have extended doctoral studies to these professional doctorates for many good reasons. The industries are very interested in such Graduates and this is demonstrated by the results of their job applications, e.g., DBA Degree skills and capabilities go beyond any Master’s graduate. At the same time, these doctoral Graduates are practice-oriented. Consequentially, they are the first choice candidates for top-management positions. On the other hand and without any doubt, PhD studies have not lost their reason and attractiveness.

The Doctor of Business Administration addresses research in business, economy and management. The thesis can be oriented by the students’ personal interest and based on their personal work environment. At the end of these studies, students are awarded with the Title of “Doctor in Business Administration (DBA)”.

Before of the Degree awarding, the DBA thesis has to be written and defended in the viva. The thesis argument is about applied sciences. It consists of 50,000 words, which fulfils the criteria of independent research on a superior level and consequentially demonstrates the internationally acknowledged standards of doctoral studies. Type and style of this research are source-oriented on applied sciences, in which a solid theoretical understanding must be evident.

The variety of topics is extensive and candidates can make their own choice upon approval of the Academic Board. The only request is that the selected research relates to management, business and / or economy. Theory and empirically consistent research, which the thesis delivers, are expected on a superior level. An individual Director of Studies will support each student during the development and writing of the thesis. Students will find personal support, but they are expected to work individually, accordingly to the individual nature of such studies on this high level. Therefore, strict limitations on extent and length of such support are applied.

Structure and Schedule

The DBA Program structure is aligned with international standards of Postgraduate Education and, accordingly, fulfils the criteria of the process of Harmonisation of Higher Education in Europe (Bologna Process). The doctoral program will require the accomplishment of five taught Research Methods modules as first stage. Only the successful fulfillment of all five modules entitles students to progress to the second stage, the thesis level. The successful students will acquire 120 ECTS credits throughout the course:

• 30 ECTS credits through the fulfillment of 5 Research Methods modules (6 ECTS credits per module)
• 90 ECTS credits through the Doctoral’s thesis

The modules are delivered interactively and are based on actual knowledge and research in this pathway. The “Research Methods” modules are taught via lectures and/or seminars and require students attendance. A long-distance learning version will be introduced as alternative form of study as well.

The data collection, the analysis of data and the Doctoral Thesis demonstrating independent empirical research are an evidence of the candidate’s ability and capability to undertake applied defendable and empirical research on the highest level of academic studies.

This program of studies is considered relevant, rich and academically valid thanks to the adoption of the highest standards of Higher Education. Additionally, superior professional standards have been embedded. Learning objectives and module contents are further closely related to the Six Principles of the PRME Framework of the United Nations.

Workshop OUTLINES - Modules

Research methods.

Professional and academic research are vital necessities for modern management to forge ahead. Research is the process of asking the right and relevant questions and of gathering and analyzing the necessary data in a systematic and methodologically sound manner. An important aspect of sound professional and academic research is to embed the research within the body of existing knowledge (applied research) and to add to it (generating new knowledge).

This module will guide you through the research process, from the formulation of the topic to critically detecting and reviewing relevant literature, designing the research project and choosing appropriate methodologies, collecting and analyzing the data and writing the report. Especially for those who are new to research, this workshop will offer a helicopter view of the approaches that researchers use to answer research questions. The other workshops will zoom in on specific parts of the research process and on specific methodologies that can be employed.

Learning Objectives

• Formulate research topic in clear terms.
• Formulate research objectives and questions, hypotheses and propositions.
• Carry out a critical review of literature relevant to the topic at hand.
• Essential skills in reviewing literature: search for recent and relevant articles in (electronic) libraries and on the Internet; using tools to structure the review; know how to use systematic referencing; summarize the review concisely.
• Understand the key methodologies used in modern research. Understand the advantages and disadvantages of quantitative and qualitative approaches. Creatively combine various approaches to generate relevant data.
• Have a good knowledge of the various methods of data collection.
• Be familiar with statistical concepts like sampling, and hypothesis testing. Have an understanding of the main statistical (descriptive and inferential) techniques used to analyze data.
• Know how to structure the report, and the main requirements of a high quality professional or academic report.
• Be familiar with ethical considerations in research, including the concept of plagiarism.

The assessment will be based on one assignment. The assignment consists of two parts. In part one you will be asked to evaluate parts of a sample research proposal written by somebody else. In the second part you are invited to draft a rough plan for your own research project.

In the assignment you are asked to:

Clearly describe the topic;

Formulate research objectives and questions;

• Identify and summarize at least five articles relevant to the study;
• Design your research (in terms of approaches; methodologies; and strategies), and to motivate why the chosen design is effective in meeting the research objectives.

Quantitative Methods & Survey Design

Numbers play an important role in research. Statistical skills are critical to understanding a lot of what goes on in society. Many of us find statistics hard.

One reason is that understanding statistics requires mathematical skills. The mathematical skills needed seldom go beyond operations that all students are familiar with – adding, subtracting, multiplication and division. This module will introduce basic and advanced statistics in an intuitive way. Concepts are introduced using examples that students will easily recognize from daily life. Although we refrain from discussing advanced topics in statistics, the workshop paves the way to exploring more advanced statistics.

A second reason why some students have a fear of statistics is the gap that exists between understanding the statistical concepts on the one hand and applying the concepts to reality. This workshop introduces the student to descriptive and inferential statistics. All techniques will be illustrated with easy-to-understand examples.

In the process, this workshop will zoom in on important topics in survey design: sampling techniques; validity and reliability; and data cleaning.

• Ability to design a survey (sample; questionnaire)
• Understand basic descriptive statistics
• Understand the concepts used in inferential statistics
• Understand which statistical tests and techniques can be used in a variety of settings
• Be able to perform, interpret and report statistical tests.

Students will be assessed through one assignment.

The assignment will challenge the candidate to draft a plan of analysis, for his or her research, based on a draft of the data collection instrument to be used in the research.

Qualitative Methods

This workshop is designed to help qualitative researchers with all aspects of their qualitative research project from the beginning to the end. It discusses the key philosophies underpinning qualitative research and design – with a focus on research in management – and assesses the key advantages and disadvantages of the different approaches.

We will zoom in on aspects of research design for qualitative studies. The core part of the workshop elaborates qualitative research methods that have been touched upon in the workshop on research methods: action research; case study research; ethnographic research; grounded theory; interviews; participant observation; and document analysis. All techniques will be discuss the various approaches of that technique, along with strengths and weaknesses and examples.

In a separate block the workshop will discuss the analysis of qualitative data, which is fundamentally different from analyzing quantitative data. After an overview of the various methods and techniques that can be used when analyzing qualitative data – including the use of dedicated software – the principles of hermeneutics, semiotics and narrative analysis will be taught and trained.

In a concluding block, the workshop will address issues of write-up and publication, with a focus on the differences from writing up non-qualitative studies.

• Familiarize the participants with the fundamentals of qualitative research
• Understand the pros and cons of qualitative research as compared to quantitative research
• Have a sound understanding of the various methods and techniques in qualitative research
• Ability to use the various methods and techniques of qualitative research
• Obtain the various skills needed for carrying out qualitative research: formulating and asking questions; listening; summarizing; analyze qualitative data; write-up.

This course will not make use of software dedicated to analysis of qualitative research. The use of Nvivo is the topic of an elective course.

The assignment will be based on the application of various methods and techniques of qualitative research to one’s own research (even if the study will be mainly quantitative).

Essential Tools

The module will introduce you to essential tools for doing research at doctoral level. The toolbox offers a rich set of tools. The focus will be on STATA. The STATA package is one of the main packages used by researchers doing serious research. A fully operational permanent license for the latest version of STATA is included in the study fees.

Candidates are requested to submit and defend a doctoral thesis.

The topic of the thesis has to be one of the following broad field of research:

• Strategic Management
• Human Resource Management
• Production and Operations Management
• Logistics Management
• Business Environment
• Public Policies
• Specific Sectors of the Economy

General Entry Requirements

Candidates with master’s degree, candidates need to have completed a significant research project, dissertation or thesis, at university level. candidates must own a comparable master’s degree; i.e., it has to be awarded by an officially acknowledged higher education institution., graduates without a master’s degree are equally admitted, but they must have acquired another similar degree, which can be directly compared to a postgraduate degree, i.e. equivalent to level 7 of studies. this regulation acknowledges differences, which may internationally exist on national levels., all applicants from countries in which the official language is not english or german are required to submit official evidence of english or german language proficiency., acceptance by the department, meeting our academic requirements does not guarantee entry. you must demonstrate an ability to research independently and possess a high level of theoretical understanding., acceptance is subject to staff availability for supervision. a committee decides whether your qualifications fulfil the admission requirements as a doctoral candidate. the department’s committee usually meets periodically., application and enrolment.

How to apply: step by step from Application to Enrolment

• 1. Application and Biographical Information (Portfolio)

To apply for a DBA program, please submit the application form and provide us your biographical data. For this purpose, use the student portfolio form, which is used to assess whether an applicant is eligible for a Doctorate. In case of admission, the candidate receives a letter of acceptance. You can download the forms from our website or use the application form, which you will get at the Office of Admissions.

The Application form will ask you to provide biographical and academic information and to give details about your educational and extracurricular activities. Information must be completed with accurate dates on each entry. Please fill in the form carefully as far as you can, so that your application can be processed as soon as possible. All documents have to be submitted in an electronic version (PDF or jpg-Format) to the Office of Admissions.

• 2. Letter of Acceptance

SSM will notify you of the results of your application. Wait for it! In the case of admission, the student receives a letter of acceptance.

• 3. Educational Agreement and Tuition Fees

After receiving the letter of acceptance, please fill in the educational agreement. The student receives a confirmation of enrolment and can start the educational path, as soon as the study contract is signed and submitted (an electronic version/pdf-file can be submitted via email) and the application and tuition fee are paid at least for the first semester.

• 4. Begin of Study

An individual study plan can be prepared or discussed with a student counsellor, during a personal meeting or a preliminary seminar at the beginning of the course.

Quality Assurance on National Level of Further Education

SSM is a quality certified school aligned to the standard of Swiss Further Education by EduQua.

EduQua is a Public Private Partnership with international bodies, e.g. the Swiss Federation for Adult Learning and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs for Quality Assurance in HE in Switzerland (SQS).

Cost of the program

The tuition fee for the doctorate program is euro 25,000., the tuition fee can be paid in instalments, in accordance with a step-by-step plan consisting of 20 steps, which will give structure to your study. broadly speaking, candidates are expected to pay in three main instalments as shown below:, fees structure, application fee : € 200, enrollment fee : € 10,000 – before starting program, first installment : € 7,500 – at the beginning of 2nd academic., second installment : € 7,500 – at the beginning of 3rd academic., total tuition fees : € 25,000, short facts overview.

Join the elite with a 

Phd in business administration, (concentration in finance), at american university of sharjah, become a global business leader..

As the UAE works towards its Vision 2031, AUS' PhD in Business Administration (PhD-BA) will equip talented business professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to help achieve the country's ambitious goals.

 AUS has partnered with University of South Carolina’s (UofSC) Darla Moore School of Business to provide PhD-BA students of both universities the opportunity to spend the second year of their PhD program abroad, allowing them to benefit from the experience of international study and the opportunity to earn degrees from two well-respected institutions.

Because tomorrow matters.

Where can you go with a PhD-BA from AUS?

The program has been designed for business professionals looking to advance to the highest levels of the corporate world, as well as those looking to become distinguished faculty members. Students of the program will be at the forefront of creating and disseminating information and able to create strategies, propose structures and develop operations for corporate organizations and government agencies.

The program has been designed with special focus on the business needs and challenges of the UAE and neighboring countries. Those undertaking the program will be given unique opportunities for collaborative and interdisciplinary research, preparing them to advance their careers in the public or private sectors, as well as academia.         

Ready to learn more? Tell us about yourself.

Take it from the experts.

#1 in the UAE for Accounting and Finance

#1 choice for employers in the uae.

Top 5 in the World for Diversity

First in the GCC to be Rated for Sustainability

Discover the sba experience, take advantage of flexible study options.

AUS understands that many of its graduate students have competing demands on their time, with busy careers and personal responsibilities. Flexible learning options are therefore available, including part-time study arrangements and evening and weekend classes.

Benefit from outstanding facilities

SBA is home to the region's first Interactive Trading Floor, which mimics the real-life trading floors of London, New York or Dubai. The real-world learning opportunities provided by SBA have seen it granted Experiential Learning Partner Status by Bloomberg. AUS is the first university in the region to receive this accolade.

Learn about assistantship opportunities

We offer assistantships and work-study opportunities for graduate students to help them finance their education. Graduate students, regardless of race, gender, religion or national origin, are encouraged to apply for these opportunities.   Click here to learn more.

Choosing to pursue my PhD in Finance at AUS was one of the best decisions I have made. The Department of Finance offers a comprehensive curriculum that provides a strong foundation in both theoretical and empirical finance. The faculty members are not only leading experts in their respective fields but also approachable mentors who genuinely care about their students' success. The department's emphasis on research excellence has equipped me with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in academia and beyond. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have been one of the pioneering students in this esteemed program.

So what does your tomorrow look like?

Aus on instagram, take the next step and start your application., connect with an admissions advisor., team member name.

Team member bio information.

In Business Administrations

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program is designed to prepare students for a career as an academic or a researcher in the public or private sector. The program focuses on applied business research, making it relevant to the growth of the UAE/GCC/MEA economies

We offer 4 PhD Concentrations at the University of Dubai

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Why phd at  university of dubai .

• Internationally accredited by the AACSB
• Our PhD program is recognized by the Ministry of Education in the UAE
• The program focuses on applied business research, making it relevant to the growth of the UAE/GCC/MEA economies
• The program is delivered by well-trained, highly qualified faculty as well as visiting professors from overseas institutions collaborating with UD. Thus, diversity and international expertise become part of the student’s learning experience
• Instructional resources are available through the e-portal shared by UD and other partnering institutions to assist students with their PhD theses
• The University of Dubai is sponsored by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, an important link to the business community

By the end of the PhD program 

The candidate is expected to have fulfilled the following learning objectives

• Develop key pioneering research questions that can be explored to provide innovative and creative solutions to specific problems
• Explore advanced theoretical knowledge to develop research skills through original research
• Integrate advanced knowledge into managerial and organizational contexts and roles
• Prepare for teaching responsibilities in higher education (for those who expect to enter the teaching profession)

Eligibility and Fees

Tuition fees.

The Total Cost for the PhD Program is 300,000 AED

Fees can be paid by easy installments

Eligibility  for 

1. Hold a Master Degree

2. Minimum GPA of 3 out of 4

3. IELTS 6 or TOEFL 550

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+97145566953 | [email protected]  

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Doctor Of Business Administration (DBA)

Duration 24 months average Scholarship Eligible Yes Sessions Weekends Next Intake Rolling Intake Study Mode Blended ENROLL TODAY

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program is designed for experienced professionals who are seeking to gain a deeper understanding of the principles that govern global business. The program emphasizes advanced decision-making and leadership skills, as well as in-depth knowledge of theory and applied research. Doctoral students have the opportunity to explore the challenges facing business today, including corporate social responsibility, globalization, and managing change.

In keeping with our commitment to working adult professionals, Westcliff has one of the few doctoral programs in Southern California that allows students to complete their studies in a synchronous hybrid or online format.

**The only program offering a British and American accredited qualification and postgraduate doctorate level**

**The DBA phase of the program will be taught by Westcliff professors from September 2022 onwards **

Why study DBA under Westcliff University at Capital University College?

• Westcliff University’s DBA program is ranked among the Top 50 in the world. 
• Capital University College has an extensive network in the industry through which students are introduced to professional bodies and business experts during guest talks. 
• Practice-based learning through real business projects and cases.
• An entrepreneurship method of teaching, focusing on shaping and engaging entrepreneurs. 
• Work placement opportunities are available to all our students who demonstrate a good standard of engagement and professionalism during their studies.
• International Student Tours and Exchange Programs.

Ranking & Listings

a. Ranked 31st DBA programs 2016 by Top Business Degrees b. Ranked 6th in DBA by Great Value Colleges c. Ranked 5th in DBA by College Consensus d. Listed in Top 22 DBA programs in USA in  2021 by PhdStudies.com  e. Listed in Top 20 DBA programs in Online Schools Center f. Listed in Top 50 Online PhD programs on My Degree Guide

DBA Program Description The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is designed for candidates who, having already completed a Masters program, are looking to further develop their practical and theoretical knowledge of the principles that govern global business. Our DBA program emphasizes advanced decision-making and leadership skills as well as in-depth knowledge of theory and applied research.

The performance outcomes which are required for the completion of the program include class participation, response to discussion questions, writing research papers, group assignments, case study analyses, quizzes, Comprehensive Learning Assessments, and a Doctoral Dissertation.

The program consists of two main blocks:

a) Course Work (30 credits)

b) Research (30 credits) taught by Westcliff professors

Preparation and defense of a doctoral dissertation. Dissertation is written together with an experienced leader, with the participation of consultants. An active discussion with colleagues and students of the group is also included. DBA’s work is comprehensive and consists of both economic and psychological and social aspects. In DBA, there are no critical requirements for the volume of publications in scientific media. However, it is required to carry out several analytical studies and prepare scientific material for the dissertation.

Total: 60 credits Exit Award: Upon successful completion of the 60 credits the student is eligible to receive the L8 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership and the DBA from Westcliff University, USA

Accreditations

All successful graduates receive dual qualifications:

a) WES and Ofqual approved Level 8 Strategic Management and Leadership from the UK and b) Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from Westcliff University, USA- accredited regionally by WASC , globally by the ACBSP and is listed on CHEA .

Career Opportunities

• Management Analyst
• C-level Executive
• Market Research Analyst

Entry Requirements

The entry requirements for the DBA program under Westcliff University are given below.

a) A L8 Diploma b) A Masters Degree or Level 7 Diploma c) Proof of English Proficiency (not required if last qualification was done in English) d) Admission Application e) Personal statement f) Consent to Release Information g) Disclosure Forms h) Enrollment agreement i) Government identification card (must have student photo on the I.D.)

Progression: Graduates of the DBA program are prepared to move to senior CEO and related strategic positions in commercial and non-commercial organizations.

Downloads: Westcliff University 2020-21 Brochure

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US energy secretary to visit Saudi Arabia, UAE next week, officials say

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Wall Street boasts record closes as inflation data fuels rate-cut bets

The benchmark S&P 500 and the Nasdaq notched record closes on Wednesday, with both advancing more than 1%, after a smaller-than-expected rise in consumer inflation bolstered hopes for interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

Offered by: College of Business Administration

The curriculum matrix for the degree program may be found here . The curriculum matrix is the alignment of courses (curriculum) with the desired goals and student learning outcomes of the program. It shows what is taught and how these outcomes are achieved through the completion of the degree program.

The Master of Business Administration curriculum is designed to provide a two-year program if a student is full-time. The objectives are to develop a better understanding of the role of the professional manager and the responsibilities within the firm and society; to assist the student in developing a critical approach to decision making and the ability to speak and write effectively and professionally; to develop skills in interpersonal relations; and to develop a sound theoretical understanding of organizations and a management perspective for considering problems and making decisions from the viewpoint of the entire firm, industry and economy.

https://www.cpp.edu/~cba/graduate-business-programs/programs/MBA.shtml

Admission to the Program and Requirements

After a prospective student has submitted the application for admission to the MBA program to the Office of Admissions, the procedure will be as follows:

• four-year Bachelor’s degree
• GMAT or GRE score taken within the last 5 years (optional)
• Resume - 2 years of work experience recommended
• A personal statement
• A letter of recommendation
• A written response to the writing prompt
• For applicants with prior degrees in which English was not the language of instruction, a TOEFL score of 213 computer based, 550 paper based, 80 internet based, Duolingo 105, or IELTS 6.5 or higher score.
• Prerequisite courses may be waived if equivalent courses have been successfully completed or proficiency in the subject matter can be demonstrated. Waiver will be granted on recommendation of the Graduate Advisor.
• No more than 9 units of acceptable graduate credit may be transferred from another AACSB accredited graduate institution. No more than 9 units taken through Extended University may be used on a contract. No more than 9 units of acceptable graduate credit may be petitioned by an undergraduate student. A total limit of 9 transfer, Extended University, and/or units petitioned for graduate credit may be included on a master’s contract. The stipulated time limit of 7 years applies to all of the above.
• A grade-point average of 3.0 (B) or better must be maintained in all course work taken to satisfy degree requirements and in all graduate-level course work taken at this university.
• Students will be required to meet all prerequisite requirements before enrolling in 6000-level courses.
• To advance to candidacy for the MBA degree, a student must: (a) achieve unconditional standing and (b) complete at least 27 units of graduate coursework at Cal Poly Pomona with a GPA of 3.0 or better.
• Students who choose to take GBA 6950 Business Research Project    as the culminating experience require a minimum of 36 units of course work.
• The candidate must be enrolled in the university during the semester of graduation.

Graduate Conditionally Classified

A person may be admitted to a graduate degree or credential program in this category if, in the opinion of appropriate campus authority, he/she can remedy deficiencies by additional coursework but otherwise satisfies all other university requirements for admission. All prerequisites must be specified by the admitting department at the time of student admission. Academic departments are responsible for tracking conditionally admitted students and must report their academic progress to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships and the Graduate Studies Office via a memo on a term basis. Students admitted conditionally will not be allowed to concurrently register for graduate courses that are required for the completion of their projected graduate or professional program. To comply with both existing federal regulations and CSU system policy, conditionally admitted students’ financial aid is limited to private loans. Once all deficiencies are resolved and unconditional status is granted by Cal Poly Pomona, students may be eligible for federal and state aid. Conditional admission does not guarantee unconditional admission to a program.

Major Required: 24 units

• GBA 6050 - Business Data Analytics and Modeling (3)
• GBA 6080 - Accounting and Managerial Decisions (3)
• GBA 6150 - Seminar in Organizational Behavior (3)
• GBA 6250 - Operations and Supply Chain Management (3)
• GBA 6450 - Financial Decision Making (3)
• GBA 6520 - Marketing Management Applications (3)
• GBA 6730 - Information Systems Seminar (3)
• GBA 6870 - Strategic Management (3)

Major Electives: 9 units

Select 9 units from the following courses:

• GBA 5140 - Statistics Essentials for Business Analytics (3)
• GBA 5500 - Fundamentals of Accounting and Finance (3)
• GBA 5550 - Fundamentals of Management and Marketing (3)
• GBA 5620 - Strategic Human Resources Management (3)
• GBA 5640 - Creativity and Entrepreneurship (3)
• GBA 5700 - Business Planning (3)
• GBA 5800 - Introduction to Real Estate Analysis and Valuation (3)
• GBA 5990 - Special Topics for Graduate Students (1-3)
• GBA 6010 - Digital Marketing (3)
• GBA 6100 - Financial Markets and Institutions (3)
• GBA 6200 - International Business (3)
• GBA 6280 - Management Science (3)
• GBA 6310 - Taxation in Business (3)
• GBA 6320 - Fundamentals of Contracts and Administration (3)
• GBA 6330 - Promotional Management (3)
• GBA 6340 - Sales Productivity (3)
• GBA 6350 - Motivation and Market Behavior (3)
• GBA 6360 - Project Management (3)
• GBA 6370 - Export Import Management (3)
• GBA 6400S - Sustainable Development in Marketing Service Learning (3)
• GBA 6460 - Sustainable Finance (3)
• GBA 6470 - Security Analysis and Portfolio Management (3)
• GBA 6480 - Managing Social Impact and Responsibility in International Business (3)
• GBA 6530 - Marketing and Social Innovation (3)
• GBA 6600 - Legal Environment of Information Systems (3)
• GBA 6650 - Professional Presentations Using Technology (3)
• GBA 6670 - Organizational Development (3)
• GBA 6710 - Management Seminar (3)
• GBA 6800 - Real Estate Finance and Investment (3)
• GBA 6830 - Business Research Methods (3)
• GBA 6910 - Directed Research (1-3)
• GBA 6920 - Independent Research (1-3)
• GBA 6990 - Master’s Degree Continuation (0)

Additional 4000- or 5000-level business related courses (no more than 9 units of 4000-level courses can be counted toward Master’s degree; courses used to fulfill the bachelor’s degree requirements cannot be double-counted) with advisor approval.

Culminating Experience: 1-3 units

Students who choose to take  GBA 6950    as the culminating experience require a minimum of 36 units of course work.

University policy: Once enrolled in a particular culminating experience, students may not switch to an alternative experience. The comprehensive examination may be taken no more than two times. Failure to complete exam satisfactorily the second time will result in termination from the program.

• GBA 6950 - Business Research Project (3) or
• GBA 6970 - Comprehensive Examination (1)

Summer Sponsored Experience: 0 unit

• CPU 5003 - Cal Poly Pomona Graduate Summer Experience (0)

How the authoritarian Middle East became the capital of Silicon Valley

The Biden administration has brokered the tech industry’s ties to the region as a bulwark against China, helping spur a generation of founders who are quietly pilgrimaging to the sovereign wealth funds of the gulf states.

Two years ago, Andrew Feldman couldn’t find Abu Dhabi on a map. But like many Silicon Valley leaders, the artificial intelligence entrepreneur has been wooed by the promise of Middle Eastern partnership and money.

On trips to the glittering capital of the United Arab Emirates, he’s toured a government-built synagogue and a local outpost of the Louvre. The city is so teeming with the tech sector that he ran into fellow California start-up founders in the lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel. Meanwhile, millions from the oil-rich UAE are allowing Feldman’s Cerebras to build advanced supercomputer data centers in Stockton, Calif., Dallas and on the outskirts of the Emirati desert city.

He’s among a generation of tech founders and investors quietly pilgrimaging to the sovereign wealth funds of the Persian Gulf states, pursuing deals with authoritarian regimes. Microsoft last month announced a $1.5 billion investment in G42, the United Arab Emirates’ flagship tech firm, which also has an agreement to use AI language models from Sam Altman’s OpenAI. Prominent venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz is in talks to raise $40 billion from Saudi Arabia for a dedicated AI fund.

The cutthroat and costly ambition of the AI arms race is driving a seismic shift in the region’s prominence, changing how one of the world’s most advanced technologies gets built and the players who stand to benefit, according to interviews with more than two dozen investors, tech company executives and government officials that have dealt with the region, many of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of damaging business relationships.

Some tech entrepreneurs and venture firms once shunned Middle Eastern funding, driven by concern for human rights abuses, the region’s ties to China and industry disdain for what were once considered lucrative, but unsophisticated, investments, deemed “dumb money,” from oil states. The 2018 killing of Saudi journalist and Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi caused some firms to explicitly step away from the country’s cash.

But Middle Eastern money has become the most powerful geopolitical force in the tech industry virtually overnight. “The Khashoggi era is over,” said a prominent venture capitalist.

“Everyone I talk to is either going to or coming back from the UAE — the same way we used to swing by Sand Hill Road,” said Feldman, referring to the street that’s home to Silicon Valley’s storied venture capital firms. Feldman will visit Saudi Arabia later this year.

Washington is steering some of this shift, using the industry to push the region away from China’s orbit and focusing particularly on the UAE, a key U.S. security partner. The White House hosted executives from firms including Microsoft, Google and OpenAI last June for a meet-and-greet with Tahnoun bin Zayed al Nahyan, UAE’s national security adviser.

In the previously unreported meeting, the sheikh explained that the wealthy gulf state was open to partnering with leading American artificial intelligence and other tech firms, with the idea that these were ventures that could displace Chinese technology companies long involved in the region.

Some Silicon Valley companies have personal backchannels with U.S. officials: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who has taken at least four fundraising trips to the UAE to raise hundreds of billions for a massive new infrastructure company, internally dubbed InfraCo, is on a text message thread with Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, according to four of the people.

“AI is the new frontier for everything, including for geopolitical power,” Menlo Ventures partner Venky Ganesan, whose Silicon Valley firm pivoted to AI in late 2021. “The U.S. has a lead and they want to make sure it stays that way.”

The Middle East is using the Silicon Valley partnerships achieve its own urgent goals: To become an AI powerhouse and lessen its economic dependence on oil, for which global demand is projected to peak this decade . With Cerebras’s technology, G42 is building what could become the world’s most advanced Arabic large language model, enabling AI software to fluidly converse in a language spoken by about 400 million people.

But some tech executives and security researchers say the industry should be wary about working with countries that commit human rights abuses and that could use American technologies for surveillance — including to target U.S. citizens.

“The problem is, where do each of those chips end up once you sell them,” said an investor who works on Middle East-U.S. deals. “That’s not always something you can control.”

The AI arms race goes global

Though rising global powers have poured money into Silicon Valley in the past decade, the industry has historically avoided questions about national security risks.

During a period of openness from the Chinese government in the 2010s, national giants like Alibaba and Tencent made big investments in promising U.S. start-ups, while American investors poured billions into TikTok parent ByteDance. Though the degree of Chinese government control hovered over deals with Chinese partners, entrepreneurs eager to tap the country’s billion-person consumer market didn’t ask hard questions.

The Middle East crashed the tech scene through a side door. Tens of billions from Saudi Arabia and UAE sovereign wealth firms enabled the Japanese conglomerate SoftBank to launch in 2017 the largest single fund in tech history, the $100 billion Vision Fund. Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia known as MBS, announced a growing presence in Silicon Valley by dining with investors Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen and Altman, renting the entire Four Seasons Hotel.

The Vision Fund showered start-ups that were hot at the time, such as Uber and WeWork, with so much cash it fueled a new category of elite start-up unicorns, called 10-headed “decacorns.” The competition forced Sand Hill road firms, whose funds rarely topped $1 billion, to embark on their own multibillion-dollar fundraising sprees. Together, UAE and Saudi sovereign wealth funds reportedly manage more than $2 trillion in capital.

But as the clubby California tech world was discovering new global opportunities, cracks emerged when Khashoggi was killed by government agents at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. (In 2021, The Washington Post reported that a UAE agency put spyware on Khashoggi’s wife’s cellphone months before his murder.)

“Who are our investors and can we be proud of them?” asked the influential venture capitalist Fred Wilson in a 2018 blog post , imploring the tech community to do “a deep dive on our investor base.”

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi pulled out of Saudi Arabia’s “Davos in the Desert” conference, as did SoftBank’s CEO Masayoshi Son and others. Altman, then running start-up incubator Y-Combinator, announced he would suspend his involvement with the advisory board for Neom, a futuristic city in the Islamic theocracy, “until the facts regarding Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance are known.” In 2020, the Saudis stopped investing in SoftBank.

But thanks to a collision of circumstances, the industry is once again scrambling for foreign capital. Falling tech stocks have hurt the sector’s fortunes. Many in the tech world have pulled out of China because of escalating tension. And the steep price of the semiconductor chips and energy required to power AI is triggering a sprint for cash.

“There’s a tremendous battle” taking place, Feldman said of the current AI arms race, adding that he does not sell his equipment to China. “There are a class of companies that require tens of billions of dollars to build, and there’s not a venture vehicle in the U.S. that can fund that.”

The tip of the spear

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this year, two giant showcases of Middle Eastern tech firepower were on display on the city’s central promenade: A glossy storefront for the Saudi smart city Neom and a sleek white pavilion from the UAE, emblazoned with the slogan, “Tolerant Nations Are Global.”

The countries — rivals and sometimes partners — are turning to tech as they plot their move away from oil. Saudi Arabia’s 10-year national plan, posted in 2016, promised to “never allow our country ever to be at the mercy” of volatile commodity prices. Abu Dhabi’s leaders stated two years later that “the oil of the future is data.”

G42 is the expression of that ambition. The fund grew out of a research effort, formally launched in 2018 by the UAE’s spy chief and Peng Xiao, a Chinese-born and U.S.-educated former chief technology officer of a Virginia-based data analytics company.

The co-founders chose the number 42 because it was the answer to “everything” in the 1979 sci-fi novel “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” said Talal Alkaissi, G42’s chief product and global partnerships officer.

To build its empire, G42 launched numerous partnerships with Chinese companies, including e-commerce platform JollyChic and mobile internet service provider MenaMobile, which services the Middle East. Telecommunications infrastructure and data centers in the UAE largely use technology from Huawei, the Chinese company whose equipment has been banned in the United States.

“The Chinese put boots on the ground,” said an investor of the country’s long-standing presence in the region. For a long time, “The guys in the West didn’t get it.”

El Mahdi El Mhamdi, an AI security researcher and assistant professor at the French university École Polytechnique, said U.S. companies should be wary of the Middle East’s record of cyberwarfare and civilian surveillance, regardless of whether a country is an ally.

“Anyone seeing AI companies team up with dictatorships is right to be concerned,” said El Mhamdi. He pointed to Pegasus, the spyware used by the UAE and other countries to hack into phones through messaging apps. “If you enjoyed WhatsApp images to send spyware, you will love AI models and AI data sets to send spyware.”

And as the West begins to engage, the region is facing pressure to choose a side.

Gulf state officials have long stressed their ability to work with rival superpowers.

“We cannot afford to choose sides absolutely,” Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s AI minister, said in a January interview at the Davos conference. He emphasized the country is more aligned with the West on AI, while G42′s Alkaissi said the company is “going all in on the U.S. relationship.”

Administration officials offered a similar ultimatum when they began to engage the UAE about a year and a half ago.

White House officials at the time had concerns that China was constructing a secret military facility in the UAE as well as seeking technology to fuel development of weapons and surveillance systems. (The project, some U.S. officials told The Post, appears to have been suspended.)

Given the state of technology competition with China, “it’s going to be hard to coexist in both systems,” officials told their UAE counterparts, according to a senior administration official. "‘Look, you’re going to have to choose if you want to access that technology.'”

Before Microsoft invested in G42, the Biden administration won assurances the UAE company would divest from Chinese firms, remove Chinese technology from its data centers and would work to prevent advanced capabilities from leaking to China.

One senior administration official noted their effort to supplant Chinese technology in the Middle East is a “step-by-step” process. “This is a trust but verify scenario, where we’re going to stay vigilant and we know there are risks,” said a second administration official.

Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) urged the Commerce Department in a January letter to assess whether G42 should be blacklisted along with Huawei, citing the company’s business relationships with Chinese state entities. The letter cited Xiao’s former leadership position at Pegasus, a subsidiary of the Emirati firm DarkMatter. The firm develops spyware and surveillance tools used on dissidents and journalists, and former U.S. military and intelligence members who worked for DarkMatter were fined by the U.S. Justice Department.

Gallagher called G42′s divestment from China a “welcome first step” but added “it is imperative the United States and the UAE further … mitigate” risky commercial relationships with Chinese entities.

Feldman said his staff got green lights from the Commerce Department before his first trip in 2023. He says he found G42 executives and officials to be forward-thinking about the future of artificial intelligence, inking a deal in only six weeks.

Altman and other executives also took cues from the U.S. officials, who had also cautioned them to protect their technology when dealing with Emirati partners. Initially, the executives went into the region “in a tiptoeing way,” said a person familiar with Altman’s plans, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to reveal sensitive business negotiations.

Altman has been fundraising in the UAE as well as Japan, Korea, and Canada, exploring the possibility of developing a massive type of data center that is purpose-built for processing AI tasks. The ambitious InfraCo project, details of which have not been previously reported, could entail purchasing large amounts of semiconductor chips , along with real estate and power — a multibillion dollar undertaking that would service customers beyond OpenAI.

Not everyone in Silicon Valley has embraced the new fundraising climate, but most of those concerned say their bigger worry is Saudi Arabia.

One start-up founder who recently turned down interest from Saudi investors said that Silicon Valley has accepted that most advanced AI tech will eventually get into the hands of foreign militaries. This is coupled with the belief that the U.S. defense sector commits its own human rights abuses and that the AI war is too important to be lost.

“Nobody cares where their money is from as long as they can find money,” said Andrew King, a venture capitalist and founder of Future Union, a nonprofit that has advised lawmakers on China risks. “It’s like see no evil, hear no evil.”

A previous version of this article incorrectly referred to the Pegasus tool, which allows users to hack and covertly monitor cellphones, as "UAE spyware." While Pegasus has been used by the United Arab Emirates and other countries, it was developed by an Israeli firm. The article has been corrected.

by Ryan Fagan | May 13, 2024

Jalen Walker-Wright has made a huge positive impact during his time at UMSL. (Photo by Derik Holtmann)

One thing is for sure about Jalen Walker-Wright’s time at the University of Missouri–St. Louis : He has made an impact. A driven, relentless, selfless, positive impact on his fellow students and everyone in his sphere of influence, which has included pretty much the entire campus since he arrived as a McCluer High School graduate in the fall of 2019.

“I believe in leaving places better than how I found them,” he said.

He’s done that, no doubt. Through his work with the Office of Student Involvement , Walker-Wright has personally been involved with the planning, execution and marketing for 23 different campus events. That includes being the program chair for the University Program Board (which plans and organizes Mirthweek ), and his role with UMSL’s 60th Anniversary Homecoming Planning Committee, as the programming and engagement intern.

The list doesn’t end there.

He was named UMSL’s Student Leader of the Year in 2023. He’s been active in the Student Government Association as a senator. He was a resident advisor for two years. He was asked to be a presenter at the 60th Founders Celebration . He’s been a student leader on the Student Activities Budget Committee. He was selected to represent UMSL at the Missouri Governor’s Leadership Forum . An excellent student, too, Walker-Wright has been on both the College of Business Administration Dean’s List and the Pierre Laclede Honors College Dean’s List since the spring of 2022.

His intramural volleyball team even won the title this spring.

Walker-Wright was initially looking at colleges outside of St. Louis, including ones in Tennessee and Georgia. But he loved the idea of staying close to home, and receiving scholarships – including the Chancellor’s Scholarship, Honors College Scholarship and Irvin Dagen and Margaret W. Dagen Scholarship, among others – helped make the choice simple.

UMSL just made sense.

“A fun fact I like to tell everybody,” Walker-Wright said, “is that all the schools that I went to are connected by the same street: My high school, my elementary school and middle school and now UMSL are all connected to same street, Florissant Road.”

Walker-Wright graduated over the weekend with a BSBA with an emphasis in management and a minor in criminology and criminal justice. He started his college career as a criminal justice major but switched to business administration in 2022. And his time at UMSL has not ended.

“I’ve been accepted into a graduate assistantship here on campus,” he said. “I’ll be getting my Master of Business Administration with my emphasis in management. I plan on taking another two years here learning a little bit more, developing my business acumen and just continuing to grow as a leader and as a business professional.”

His involvement in campus activities isn’t an accident. He’s used his opportunity at UMSL to prepare for what he hopes to do after he finishes his MBA.

“I want to go into the field of event management or project management, somewhere in that aspect,” Walker-Wright said. “I just really enjoy pooling resources from everywhere, talking to vendors, contractors, other peers, other staff members to put an event together. I enjoy that.”

Walker-Wright’s time at UMSL – starting right before the COVID-19 global pandemic stopped the “normal” world – offered a unique opportunity that will serve him well in life. He had the chance to help rebuild an area the pandemic took away, UMSL Radio. The station shut down during the pandemic, with no plans to reopen.

Walker-Wright was a driving force in the revival of UMSL Radio. (Photo by Derik Holtmann)

In the days and weeks and months as life on campus returned to normal, Walker-Wright would walk past the empty radio station in the Millennium Student Center . With the help of fellow student Aden Adams, Walker-Wright initiated inquiries and started the revival process of the station, including a rebrand to UMSL Radio.

“We started in the fall of 2021,” Walker-Wright said. “We just started recruiting, started getting the word out that the station’s back and people wanted to get involved. We had a team of about 14 or 15, plus an alumni advisor, Keith Robinson, and we just started creating content.”

Walker-Wright served as UMSL Radio general manager for two years , hosting his own shows and looking for ways to grow the station and involve other people. No surprise, that’s exactly what he’s done. He took a thing and used it to enrich the college experience for others. This past April, UMSL Radio won Organization of the Year at the Student Leadership awards, hosted by the Office of Student Involvement

“Hearing some of the other students’ experiences, that they always wanted to be on the radio and have a show and have access to that type of equipment and be involved on campus, that was great to hear,” he said. “They wanted to be involved, but they didn’t want to be a part of other organizations. And now radio has become an opportunity to be involved, to stay on campus and get to know other people in the station as well.

“It’s kind of like a megaphone. They get the chance to broadcast their talent, promote themselves, promote their show and talk about their perspective, their life views or they talk about their college life or culture. And this semester, we opened it up to staff and faculty , so now they can have their shows and share their perspective and wisdom, their insight in music and things they like.”

It’s about creating a legacy.

“My whole goal was to create a community, and not just one limited to students, but opening it up to everybody, so everybody can have a voice and be involved,” Walker-Wright said. “I’m really glad that’s a mark that I’m leaving here.”

It won’t be the last time Walker-Wright leaves a positive mark on campus.

“UMSL’s really been great to me,” he said. “I want to give back in some way. In the future, I want to be able to give scholarships, to be a donor here at UMSL, and do all those types of things.”

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Leni and Michelle Lemos sit outside of the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics. The mother-daughter duo are both graduating from MBA programs at UNH and will walk together at the May 17 commencement ceremony.

When Michelle Lemos enrolled in UNH’s online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program in the spring of 2020, she meticulously planned her academic journey, aiming for a May 2024 graduation. Little did she know her daughter, Leni, would be joining her at the ceremony –  not just as a guest, but as a fellow graduate from the full-time MBA program.    

This unique dual graduation was sparked by an unexpected twist in Leni’s career plans.  

“It’s definitely an experience,” Michelle reflects. “How often does a parent-child pair graduate doing the same thing? I think it's great.”  

Two Different Paths to UNH   

Michelle, who lives in Barrington, worked in administrative support at New Hampshire Sea Grant , located on the UNH campus, for more than 10 years and strongly desired to grow her career with the organization.    

“I was at a place where I just kind of maxed out what I could do, and I didn't necessarily want to leave because I love my job. But I wanted to do a different kind of work, and I always gravitated toward data, marketing and reporting,” Michelle says.   

She identified the information system and business analytics option within the online UNH MBA program and enrolled after discussing career growth with her boss.   

Leni graduated from Middlebury College in 2023 with a degree in economics and a minor in environmental studies. She initially had a job lined up with an energy consulting firm in Boston, but her start date kept getting pushed back, and the opportunity eventually fell through.   

“Since my mom was going to UNH, my dad suggested that I look into UNH programs, and I found the one-year MBA,” Leni says. “Economics is very interdisciplinary, and the MBA allowed me to focus on more business-specific classes. I wanted to learn more about business, and I figured it wouldn’t hurt to have a master’s degree.”

Leni is also focusing on the information systems and business analytics option and is obtaining a UNH carbon footprinting certificate online.  

Finding Their Place in the MBA Program

For Michelle, returning to school, even online, required a period of adjustment due to the intense study schedule.

“It was strange at first taking tests again and reading and writing papers,” Michelle says. “But I mostly enjoyed it. Probably because going back to school and learning was on my terms. No one forced me to do it. It was because I wanted to learn.”   

Leni faced a separate set of challenges in the accelerated full-time MBA program. The pace was brisk, with four classes packed into shorter terms.  

“It was an adjustment from my last semester as an undergrad,” Leni says. “I found the cohort model useful, especially the first term when we all took the same four classes. That allows you to bond with classmates and work in groups.”   

A Unique Dynamic    

As soon as Leni enrolled in the full-time MBA program, Michelle realized that their graduation dates would align, and it quickly became a fun discussion among family and friends.  

Leni says the unique dynamic came up a few times in discussions with her classmates.  

“We would sometimes discuss elective courses, and I would say, ‘Oh, my mom is in that class,’ or someone would ask me, ‘Is your mom’s name Michelle?’” Leni says. “Any time that I would mention that we were graduating together, the reaction was, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s so cool.’”  

Even though the pair were never in a class together, they still embraced a shared experience, often coming together to communicate about their workload, discuss their courses and instructors, swap books and carpool onto campus for work and school.

“I actually got to drive her to her first day of school at UNH, which was unique for us because I never drove her to high school because she was boarding at Phillips Exeter,” Michelle says. “We drove into school together the first couple weeks as she was getting acquainted with the campus, and then she made friends and didn't want to drive with me anymore.”   

Leni credits her mother with a crucial last-minute save regarding her graduation attire.   

“I missed the cap and gown ordering deadline, and she was able to pull through for me,” Leni says. “I heard that you could get some at the bookstore, so I texted her because I didn’t know where the bookstore was. She got it for me because she knew my busy schedule.”   

Future Aspirations After Graduation   

For the Lemos family, this year’s graduation is just one of several momentous occasions in a busy period. Last year, Leni graduated from college and her younger brother from high school. Next year, the streak will continue with her sister’s college graduation.   

“We’ve had fun with it,” Michelle says. “For me, it was already going to be a major accomplishment. Having my daughter with me makes it especially memorable.”   

Even though things didn’t work out as initially planned, Leni says she is grateful to have gone through this experience with her mother. She also acknowledges that things may have worked out for the best because she gained a more significant business understanding that she hopes will translate into a renewable energy and sustainability career.    

Leni just started a seasonal job as the sustainability manager for Live Nation Entertainment at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion in Gilford, New Hampshire.

“With my high school and undergrad experiences, I was sort of only seeing this one path: you graduate, move to a city, and get a job in consulting and investment banking, and that's what I saw many of my friends doing,” she says. “But being at UNH opened my eyes to multiple opportunities. I could still work in a city, but there are also jobs in sustainability locally.”  

Michelle is transitioning to a new role with NH Sea Grant, where she has taken on more responsibilities and is working closely with executives.   

“Maybe we should go together to get our Ph.D's,” Michelle jokes.   

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