A new PhD program has been launched at HEC Lausanne, University of Lausanne. Focusing on Business Analytics, it is run by the Department of Operations and led by Prof. Ann van Ackere. An overview of this comprehensive program, which is aimed at individuals working in academic research, consultancy or for major firms.
Program aims and benefits
Professor Ann van Ackere, Director of the Doctoral Committee in Business Analytics, answers our questions about the new program, its aims and benefits:
The move to big data means that there is a growing demand for people who are well trained in quantitative methods (statistics, simulation, optimization and mathematics, among others) in the management field in general, and operations management in particular. Creating this program is the logical follow-up to the introduction of the Business Analytics option in the Master’s in Management at HEC Lausanne.
The course is tailor-made for each student, depending on their previous training and area of specialization. They follow a personalized program based on their individual needs, including courses at HEC Lausanne, EPFL and doctoral schools in other Swiss or European universities. Above all, it’s a small program.
Six students registered for the new program already
The new program in Business Analytics already has six students registered for next semester, although it has only just been launched. In terms of the admissions criteria for the program, potential applicants must have a Master’s with a strong quantitative component (for example, business analytics, engineering, mathematics, statistics or operational research) and have secured the agreement of a professor to supervise their thesis.
The new program brings the number of PhD programs offered by the doctoral school at HEC Lausanne to seven.