– Good opportunities

Emmanuel Chao is from Tanzania, and has completed a PhD with a specialization in International Management at the UiA School of Business and Law. He defended his thesis in 2018.

What did you conduct research on, and why?

I did my PhD on contractual governance with perspectives from emerging markets. The reason is that the transaction cost of doing business in the emerging markets were relatively high and there was a need for more contribution and knowledge in this research area.

Why did you choose the University of Agder?

For me it was easy to continue with the University of Agder because I also did my masters here and I enjoyed the experience and the quality of education which I received during that time.

How do you evaluate the PhD programme at the school of Business and Law?

The PhD programme was well organized because the candidates were well built up once they started. The professors were very helpful to the candidates and there were good opportunities to meet with experienced scholars.

What kind of network and career opportunities has the PhD period given you?

There are several career opportunities within research and teaching and even consultancy after finishing a PhD at the School of Business and Law. My PhD period gave me the opportunity to link with international scholars. Some of them I am still collaborating with.

Have you got any tips for other PhD candidates?

Develop a deep insight in what you want to do your research on early in the process.

Ensure a good relationship with other PhD candidates and their supervisors. This will assist them to balance their knowledge acquisition and social strength.

Have a good plan for activities. Your entire project must be structured into the level of months, weeks and daily plans. You should avoid doing things out of pressure or group motivation.

You need to have confidence and trust in your own capability.

You should be able to handle the challenges with a calm and positive attitude.