Testimonies - BRU-IUL

	Student: Telma Gonçalves Programme: Economics - Doctor of Philosophy Specialization: Macroeconomics Title of dissertation: Nonlinear Fiscal Multipliers Supervisor: Prof. Vivaldo Mendes and Prof.Diana Mendes Conclusion date: 2016
As a junior student of the Ph.D. in Economics I have found on ISCTE-IUL an extraordinary educational institution willing to grow. The recent introduction of a curricular structure together with the seminar program, highlighted the opportunity to share knowledge and experience with wonderful colleagues and teachers. Although this first year had presented itself as a big challenge it also provided a great sense of accomplishment. Being part of BRU-IUL as a research assistant and having the opportunity to teach the undergraduate students turned this past year into the best one.

	Student: Paulo Jorge de Brito Horta Placement: CMVM – Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários Programme: Economics - Doctor of Philosophy Specialization: Economics Title of dissertation: The Impact of the 2008 and 2010 Financial Crises on International Stock Markets: Contagion and Long Memory Supervisor: Prof. Luís Martins and Prof. Sérgio Lagoa Conclusion date: 16th March 2015
I am very happy with the experience I had at ISCTE-IUL during the PhD program in Economics. I emphasize the pleasant and disciplined way the work with my supervisors was conducted during the thesis drafting. I think that together we formed a cohesive and close-knit team that achieved the main goal we set ourselves at the beginning of the program: the publication of the thesis results in international scientific journals

Student: Paulo Viegas Carvalho

Placement: Partner at Data 2 Prevent

Programme: Finance - Doctor of Philosophy

"The Ph.D. program allowed me to stretch my insights in several fields of finance, and above all it proved to be a unique opportunity to contact with distinct and complementary subjects of cutting-edge research in this scientific area. Along the program I was able to discover how satisfying and motivating scientific investigation can be. The unrestricted willingness of the faculty staff to provide support all through the way contributed decisively to my perception."

	Student: Sílvia Costa Programme: Management - Doctor of Philosophy Specialization: Human Resources and Organizational Behavior Title of dissertation: Uncovering the business opportunity prototype: Cognitive and learning aspects of entrepreneurial opportunity recognition in higher education Supervisor: Prof. António Caetano Conclusion date: 9 April 2015
At ISCTE-IUL Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, I had the opportunity to develop myself as a student and as a researcher. At ISCTE-IUL, I further developed my rigor, cooperation and academic competencies. I was given the opportunity to conduct my PhD research at the Business Research Unit, where I found all the conditions to develop a complete research project. BRU-IUL provides all the necessary facilities to conduct research on a full-time basis, as well as other instruments that are crucial for research, such as specific software and equipment. The PhD program provides a relevant learning experience, by offering the necessary transversal knowledge to conduct independent research and by meeting personal research interests at the same time. At BRU-IUL every PhD candidate can find a team of experienced scholars who are always available to offer research support and guidance. The environment among fellow PhD candidates is also cooperative, with joint attendance to research seminars, informal feedback on each other’s work and sharing of experiences. BRU-IUL also supports the attendance of PhD candidates at other institutions and scientific meetings, which is crucial for the development of research. Overall, ISCTE-IUL and BRU-IUL have contributed for some of the most relevant and valuable learning experiences of my life. I would strongly recommend this institution and the PhD program to anyone interested in producing high quality research and looking forward to a very rewarding experience.

	Student: João Guerreiro Placement: Invited Faculty at ISCTE-IUL, Freelance Senior Consultant and Trainer (Wedo, Deutsche Bank, Passio) Programme: Management - Doctor of Philosophy Specialization: Marketing
The specialization in Marketing of the PhD program in Management is an extraordinary opportunity to conduct an in-depth research on topics that will certainly shape the future of Marketing theory and practice. During my time at the PhD program I had the opportunity to use cutting-edge facilities to explore new and exciting topics in Marketing and to work with highly qualified faculty members who were always available to share their knowledge and research experience. Their guidance toward conducting high quality research studies and toward publishing results on peer-reviewed international Journals is a fundamental step to ensure the success of the program. I strongly believe that the PhD Program has improved my abilities to discuss and develop new projects on trendy topics in Marketing and is an invaluable tool for my career.

	Student: Susana Correia Santos Placement: Researcher at ISCTE-IUL Programme: Management - Doctor of Philosophy Specialization: Human Resources and Organizational Behavior
My PhD program experience at ISCTE-IUL was really rich, successful and grateful. Our university and research center, BRU-IUL, offers the complete set of facilities and support that are absolutely necessary to complete successfully the PhD. The specialization in Human Resources and Organizational Behavior has a complete curriculum program, which give to the students the necessary background to successfully conduct their research. Moreover, the faculty members are always available to cooperate and support the PhD students. The PhD program also promotes research seminars, where students can present their research and receive feedback and comments from faculty members and colleagues. The PhD program supports also the participation in Conferences and other scientific events, in order to give the students the opportunity to meet other colleagues and to receive feedback on their work. As a result of this competitive curriculum and cooperation environment, the PhD students complete their projects with success and with international publications. Having finished my PhD, I can recognize the crucial role of the knowledge, rigor and support provided by the PhD program faculty and BRU-IUL researchers and staff. I have lived the most challenging and positive period of my life as a PhD student, and I just can wish the same of all the students who want also to be enrolled in the BRU-IUL PhD programs.

	Student: Oliver Kristen Programme: Management - Doctor of Philosophy Specialization: Quantitative Methods applied to Management
After completing Master studies both in my home country Austria and abroad, I just wasn’t finished. I was gearing towards further intellectual challenge, and wanted to materialize some of my own research ideas rooted in the area of Quantitative Finance. I chose to enroll at BRU-IUL because it provided a well-structured mix of coursework and research activities, which I think have helped me especially in the initial stages to face the different academic rigor of a PhD program as compared to my previous studies. I was fortunate in finding two supervisors who are not only most knowledgeable in their fields, but also supportive and stimulating in terms of new research ideas. Thanks to them I managed to develop my skills very gradually, whose benefit I can now see clearly given the things that were accomplished. I was also encouraged to present my research at conferences and publish early, as well as to spend a visiting period at another foreign top university. I am still only in the second year of the PhD program, but already now I can profess that it has been extremely rewarding for me.

	Student: José Nuno Sacadura Placement: Banco BPI (Coordinator DOIF-Valuation) and ISCAL (Assistant Visiting Professor of Finance) Programme: Management - Doctor of Philosophy Specialization: Quantitative Methods applied to Management
"The Doctoral Program in Management at BRU-IUL helped me to achieve my academic goals without leaving a full time job. The close collaboration with an outstanding faculty lead me to learn on how to do better research and expand the way I think about management problems. I would recommend this Program to anyone who pursues a PhD degree and wants to acquire new knowledge in a process of posing questions, answering them and publishing results”.

	Student: Luis Baptista Placement: Chartered accountant and partner of society Pontes, Baptista & Associados, SROC Programme: Management - Doctor of Philosophy Specialization: Accounting
"For me the Ph.D. in Management has three major key points: The first is the flexibility of the schedule that enables students to be in the program without interrupting their professional or academic carriers. The program compels the students to be completely focus for a whole week, four times a year, and gives them the necessary rational investigation periods for the assessments required. The second is the quality of the teachers, all proven researchers in theirs fields. With a sensible, but yet rigorous and demanding approach, they motivate the students for a critical thinking-networking-knowledge-based world. To ensure the success all is complemented with a set of mandatory assessments that although hard working, enables students to experience the necessary steps to become a researcher. The final, but extremely important third point, is the simple and fast access, through the institution databases, to the most advance knowledge in the field of management. These three major key points had allow me to give the first steps in becoming an independent researcher, which ultimately will provide me the tools to excel my academic and business skills. I strongly recommend the Ph.D. in Management program."

	Student: Katrin Jennifer Ulrich Placement: Executive Assistant for the CEO of Marketing & Sales at Bionorica in Germany Programme: Management - Doctor of Philosophy Specialization: Strategy and Entrepreneurship
"As I entered the Ph.D. program at the ISCTE in Lisbon, I was highly surprised at what level the professors teach, about their experience and also about their reputation regarding international publications. The program offers a very good, in-depth study for Ph.D. students with various specialization fields and with an international background. All lectures are taught in English. The classes, the location, the surrounding and handling were well planned and I was happy to take part in this program. I would highly recommend this Ph.D. program to all students coming from abroad as well as Portuguese residents."