DBA

Why did you choose to undertake the SDA Bocconi DBA?

have chosen the SDA Bocconi DBA program for two major reasons, the excellence the school and the format of the program.

Firstly, after my Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering at MIT in 1995, I have pursued my MBA degree at SDA Bocconi in 2000, when I was totally satisfied with the quality of the program and the faculty. Since then, I could follow in the news that the school preserved its quality of education and even increased its position in various rankings among the best business schools in Europe and the world.

Secondly, as I am traveling for my work with an average number of trips around 30 and total days of around 120 per year, respectively, it would be very difficult for me to pursue a full-time DBA or PhD program, especially to physically attend the courses in an uninterrupted way in the first two years. The part-time format of the SDA Bocconi DBA program would allow me to smoothly continue my business activities as well as to pursue my academic studies in parallel. It will be much easier for me to arrange my time schedule for four residential modules of each one week to be present in Milan combined with three virtual modules for the first two years of the DBA program, than to be present at another school to physically attend courses on designated days on every week for two years, even in my hometown Istanbul.

How is this choice satisfying your needs?

The program satisfies both of my needs very well, i.e. (i) the quality of professors and teaching methods as well as the match of my thesis topic with the research area of my advisor are excellent, (ii) the blended format of the program is designed to be flexible enough to be synchronized with my work schedule.

Would you recommend this program? if yes why?

I would certainly recommend the program especially to people who would like to, after completing the program, continue to work and also teach simultaneously on a part-time basis. In this way, they would be able not only to continue to advance their managerial capabilities through rigorous thinking and research, but also give a deeper input to the academic world.

Your program in 3 words:

Superior, diversified, flexible

Why did you choose to undertake the SDA Bocconi DBA?  

I wanted to update my knowledge on business administration courses and to acquire research skills while also working. This program fulfills these needs, plus it holds a triple accreditation and the university is highly ranked. I consider the state of the art campuses an added value.

How is this choice satisfying your needs?

Although it is early to judge since we only have completed the 1st residential module, the program is modern and classic, theoretical and practical, well paced, demanding but manageable, customized to individual needs even from the application process. The Professors are enthusiastic and help us grasp challenging notions, beyond the text provided. Also, I continuously receive prompt and to the point support from my thesis Advisor, she guides me on how to structure my dissertation and which papers I should focus on.

Would you recommend this program? If yes why?

Certainly, it is a development opportunity offering breadth and depth of knowledge and skills, and networking. Milan contributes to a holistic educational experience as it offers rich cultural venues, it is clean and the citizens are polite.

Your program in 3 words:

Innovative, inquisitive, personalized.