CREED and OECD partnership: funded PhD in Emerging technologies and the future of work in SMEs

As a member of the Russell Group and a world top-100 university, the University of Sheffield has a reputation for world-class teaching and research excellence across a variety of disciplines. This scale of expertise offers researchers a variety of opportunities for collaboration and supervision. The staff are active in producing internationally recognised, internationally excellent and world-leading research. We use our research power to tackle big economic and social problems ranging from global issues such as climate change and sustainable development to national concerns such as how to make our society fairer for everyone.

This platform of a strong international ethos makes the relationship between Sheffield University Management School and the OECD a natural collaboration with a shared mission and vision. The Management School has established and embedded relationships with global organisations including the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the European Union (EU), and national government agencies and organisations worldwide. This Sheffield University Management School and OECD PhD studentship continues the application of our experience and expertise in supporting high-achieving students to thrive within an international arena.

The PhD Studentships

The University of Sheffield offers both full time and part time PhD pathways which seek to prepare talented researchers for careers in academia, policy and the private sector at senior professional levels. We have a very prestigious collaborative PhD studentship which provides high-achieving students the opportunity to both gain a PhD from the University of Sheffield and to gain valuable experience working in the Organisation for Economic Development and Co-operation (OECD).

The student would contribute to the OECD in working alongside OECD staff in various roles and to contribute to the thriving research areas within the organisation. This would provide an important opportunity for ambitious and driven students to experience the work of the OECD and to further develop their expertise in areas which map closely to the OECD’s areas of interest. By spending time with the OECD, it is hoped that the students will develop essential perspectives on the drivers and challenges of economic and social well-being in different regional contexts, and the valuable role of policy in shaping key global issues.

Within the Management School, the Centre for Regional Economic and Enterprise Development (CREED) has an active research portfolio which engages with cutting-edge in areas. CREED is an interdisciplinary research centre based within Sheffield University Management School which undertakes international research into entrepreneurship and enterprise, small business and regional economic development. Our research resonates with the OECD’s work in many areas and in particular within the horizontal project on “Going Digital Making the transformation work for growth and wellbeing” and the SME and entrepreneurship focus within the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Cities and Regions (CFE).

The supervisory team will be made up from members of CREED

Emerging technologies and the future of work in SMEs

New and emerging digital technologies are reconfiguring the ways in which work is considered and carried out in a range of important industries. However, the impacts of these transformative changes are little understood especially where traditional practices and norms are firmly entrenched. This research would focus on the opportunities and challenges that digital transformation poses to SMEs specifically. The research would consider the impact of emerging technologies on SMEs within a specified industry and consider how these changes can be negotiated through policy instruments and incentives. In particular, the PhD research would consider the impacts of emerging technologies on regional resilience in different global contexts.

The PhD candidate should meet the following requirements:

• Be enthusiastic, well-organised and have good inter-personal skills.
• High motivation and a keen interest in the research area.
• A first degree that is equivalent to a UK classification of upper second class honours or above. In addition, a good masters level qualification of merit or above, with a minimum of 60 per cent in the dissertation, research project element or equivalent experience. We also accept an MBA from an accredited school where the candidate can demonstrate that a significant research element has been undertaken. Applicants must also meet our English language requirements.

For further information on entry requirements, please see: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/management/study/researchdegrees/howtoapply

How to apply

See http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/management/study/researchdegrees/howtoapply for full details of how to apply.

The closing date for applications is 17:00 (UK time) on 14 December 2018. Interviews will be held in early January 2019.

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact: Professor Tim Vorley [Email Address Removed].