hey guys,

Originally I am from Moscow but grew up in Canada (Canadian bachelor) Recently I've come back to Moscow where is just about to finish my masters. After this summer, I am planning to start my PhD in Germany probably either in Economics or Business or Finance. Also EU is starting to highly integrate with the Russian economy Why Germany?. Well this country is the #1 trading partner with Russia currently...They say it's affordable. Ultimately, I’d prefer to work on a Russian market.

1) Does anyone know if it's practical to pursue a PhD through distance learning? (I am pretty much stuck with my current job now in Moscow)
2) What university would you advise? (I am for acquiring the real research and theoretical skills)
3) What field do you think should be chosen for the high pay-offs later on a Russian market?

My preferable teaching language is English.
I might get some spare time though for meeting with my distance classmates on some seminars during a year.

Thank you in advance...

Denis
Moscow

Hello Denis,

I am Olga and I am doing an "industrial PhD" in Germany/Netherlands. There are actuall 2 ways of doing a PhD here:

(1). you are enrolled at univeristy, attend some classes, assist your professor and at the same time research on your topic
(2). a "passive PhD", when you have an academic supervisor, who guides you through your research. You don't have to attend classes. The only point is that you must find time to meet your professor.

I am doing an option No. 2 - I am employed by a company and research on a topic for them. I meet my professor (I am enrolled at the university in The Netherlands) a couple of times a year and communicate with him via emails. So, I will have to deliver results to both university and a company. This can be an option for you as well because you do not have to be present all the time.

(continued)
Germany has got a pretty high level of education. English is also not a problem (as long as your professor speaks English).

Topics for your PhD? Well, if you want to match Russia with Germany...It can be international trade relations, politics (or maybe better not), differences in consumer preferences and culture, deltas in management style or anything else.

Which business area do you work in?
Where did you make the most experience?
What are your interests?

P.S: I speak Russian.

Privet Olga,

thank you for the reply...So good of you to speak Russian hehe...

Do you have an email?

yehh I am also interested in an industrial PhD. As for my little work experience, you can take one year of work in the Russian Canadian industrial company and one more in the Russian one. I've been largely influenced though by my parents spent a good number of years in the construction industry. The companies themselves have been highly innovative but the administrative systems with its well-defined business processes wished to be better.

Where do you live now by the way? In Germany or Netherlands? How often do you visit your German prof a year? What year are you in now? Originally are you from Russia?

What do you think of pursuing a PhD in Russia vs pursuing it in say Germany? I've heard that there's a great deal of problem with finding the primary data for your analysis in Russia or that it gets pricy. At this state of the Russian economy (cycle) The PhD students are better off seeking for the new theory than doing data mining! As for Germany, for example, it’s a data-abundant country. Is that true? Therefore, I am more inclined for a PhD there.

Should you really be skillful in stats?

Is a PhD really about the data mining and then coming up with your own unique scientific idea backed up by the statistically significant factors???

You see Olga if you look at the distribution of the added value along all stages of producing, delivering and finally selling a good; you'll find out that the highest added value concentration is present at the very last stage! For example, the auto makers make a 5% added value, whereas its distributors all 40%!!! So that's why I have some concerns of going for this PhD. The better job opportunities will probably be exactly at this last segment (PR, marketing and ext...) On the other hand, prior to stepping in into WTO, Russia will have to fully innovate and further develop its main industries. What do you think?

What company do you work for by the way? What exactly are you researching on now? Any stats software involved?

Lastly, I’ve recently become interested in the service industry and its perspective on a Russian market. (As well as sociology, international trade, management and management information systems)

Oki doki…


Denis
Moscow


PS
waiting for the reply...

Hi Denis,

my email address as: ogodlevskaja @ XXXXXX.XXXXX - Removed by moderators - if you wish to exchange email addresses please write to info@postgradforum.com

What is yours?

Don't put your email address down fully. You will get spammed.

You are right. But I get spammed anyway.