Learners’ experiences on Doctoral Programs of Business Administration

Abstract

The Doctoral Program in Business Administration plays a significant role in creating a force of researchers and lecturers in universities in the context that this major continues to develop, and its role in training future entrepreneurs and managers is becoming increasingly important. Therefore, the development and evaluation of the Business Administration doctoral program are essential for universities. This research aims to explore the desires and expectations of learners, the factors that help them successfully complete the program, as well as the difficulties and challenges they have experienced. A qualitative research method was conducted with direct interviews and focus group discussions. A total of 71 respondents, including domestic doctoral graduates (33), overseas doctoral graduates (12), and current Ph.D. candidates (26), participated in the study. The research results provide practical experiences and shared opinions about their desires and expectations regarding the program and related factors. Learners highly appreciate the important role of their advisors and the elective nature of non-compulsory courses. These results are an important foundation for universities to reference and improve their programs, as these factors contribute to a positive learning experience for students.