ENERGiES PROJECT
European NEtwork for the promotion of doctoral Research in sustainable manaGement and Entrepreneurship Studies

The Project

European and academic context 

At the university level, few European students with Master’s degrees in management consider pursuing doctoral studies. In Europe, the transition from a master’s degree in management to a PhD remains marginal. Available data indicate that in France only 1% of graduates in economics and management pursue a doctorate. This trend is reflected in other European countries, although differences exist between them.

The average proportion of PhD students among all students in Europe is around 1%. In management sciences, the transition to a PhD remains rare, due to several structural factors :

  • management education is primarily designed to prepare students for professional careers rather than academic research;
  • the job market offers attractive opportunities for master’s graduates, reducing the motivation to pursue further studies;
  • the time and financial costs of a PhD are often perceived as a less profitable investment in management compared to other scientific disciplines.

Nevertheless, some countries differ from the global average.

  • Spain is recongnised for having a relatively higher proportion or PhD students (1.4%).
  • In Poland, as in many Central and Eastern European countries, the transition from a master’s degree to a PhD in management remains limited due to economic and structural factors, including a lower emphasis on PhD-level qualifications and managerial roles.
  • Outside the EU, Switzerland stands out with a notably high rate of PhD students, with 16% of all students enrolled in doctoral programmes, a figure well above the European average. The main reasons are the strong integration between universities and applied research (including collaborative PhD projects with businesses), substantial institutional and financial support for doctoral candidates, and the recognition of the PhD in the job market.

Our initiative stands out as a unique and unparalleled endeavour in the academic landscape of the humanities and social sciences. It is designed for students who do not initially intend to pursue research training but who will be introduced to the experience and practice of conducting research. It fills a significant gap by providing a distinctive approach to research exposure. This initiative aims to introduce students to the practical aspects of research starting from the Bachelor 4/Master 1 level, offering ongoing support throughout their PhD studies. It is structured as a progressive, research-based training scheme, seamlessly integrating Master’s and PhD levels.

Operating within the framework of a European collaboration, this initiative transcends traditional boundaries. It not only facilitates practical experiences of international teamwork for students starting at the Master’s level and above, but also encourages the formulation of concrete personal research projects. These projects are designed to encompass both scientific exploration and funding considerations, ensuring a holistic and impactful educational experience.

This comprehensive model underscores our commitment to providing students with a unique and enriching academic journey. 

Objectives and target groups 

The main objective is to introduce B4/M1 students to research in the field of sustainable entrepreneurship. We aim to cultivate their research skills, encouraging the foundations of critical thinking and problem-solving. The expected concrete result is an increased number of students engaged in research at an early stage, laying the foundations for their academic careers.

The second phase is aimed at M2 students, guiding those wishing to pursue a doctorate by designing and setting up an international training to help students prepare their proposal and find funding for their PhD. The aim is to equip them with advanced research methodologies and a deeper understanding of sustainable entrepreneurship. The concrete result is a cohort of M2 graduates ready to contribute to doctoral research, promoting a smooth transition to the next academic level.

The ultimate aim is to help PhD students conduct research as part of a European collaboration. Concrete results include joint research publications, sharing ideas, and the creation of a sustainable entrepreneurship research network in European higher education institutions. This network will also result in the preparation of a document facilitating the co-supervision of theses in sustainable management and entrepreneurship, which can be generalised to other themes.