Hi to everyone,
I would highly appreciate your (and especially @Duncan if possible) help in regards to decision that I have to made. The context is as follows:

Decision: Choosing between Sheffield Hallam DBA delivered (in collaboration with local AACSB Business school) in my homeland and PhD abroad from accredited and well reputed schools like HHL, WHU or St.Gallen. All this in context of having C-level role in extremely demanding industry/ markets while being father of family of lot of little kids

Background: I have Diploma ( equivalent to Master) in Economics and Master in Finance ( both from local university) and dual degree EMBA ( honors) from triple crowned program. In addition I have attended programs in top schools like HBS & Stanford. Experience wise I have 13 years of work of which 8 years in Top Management (international) roles in various industries. In addition I am regular lecturer on MBA classes (change management; leadership) at the AACSB B-school in my country.

Goal: Up to 5 years from now switch fully to Academic ( B school) /Consulting career, based in my homeland (with the school that I am currently collaborating with) with some engagement ( both as visiting teacher and consultant) abroad.
Currently most of prerequisites for achieving this ( part time lecturing/ membership in corporate advisory board of b-scools abroad/ network with international consultants) are already fully done or in deep preparation. The only remaining thing is doctoral study.

Although the choice between two above described options (Accredited PhD vs DBA) seems easy, here are my constrains & thoughts on both options:

A) Doing it abroad (again after the MBA) in accredited & ranked schools :
Pro:
- better reputation; higher academic standards
- overall better reputation of PhD vs DBA
- opportunity for better network & thereby better future opportunities ( both academic/ consultancy wise)

Cons:
- currently negative impact on my job ( all absences are creating big backlog) where I frequently travel anyway + the fact that I am only a year in the position
- repeating alumni status (in some) & reconfirming the same/similar network
- negative impact on my family ( again) –additional travelling
- having more difficulties in reaching desired mentor
- investing more time & money

B) Doing it in my homeland via two institutions ( SHU & Local AACSB school)

Pro:
- Faculty is (besides SHU) combined of top from the local school (graduate from St. Gallen; Bocconi etc) plus ( currently engaged in other programs )visiting faculty from St. Gallen, MIT Sloan & Univ of Michigan- some of them will be available to be mentor
- Would be part of the first cohort where all mentors should be available (among them one of my specific interest ,recently retired from St. Gallen)
- DBA diploma when “nostrificated” in my homeland is according to local regulation ( I have several concrete examples even from “poor” schools like Lussane Business School or SMC in Switzerland) is treated as PhD ( not like but as) since our regulation do not recognized the difference
- The local school should gain (process started already- should be approved in 2019 ) ability to give PhD as a degree (in addition to DBA from SHU) and this means the outcome of this program should be AACSB PhD (this is not public because it is still in the process, but since I am engaged with the school I am aware of the process but also of possible risks )
- Significantly less travelling and thereby less negative impact on both job duties and family life (Delivered 90% in my homeland with SHU faculty coming in)
- Should start in January while St. Gallen would not be able to join before September (HHL June the earliest)
- It will be done with the school where I am already engaged and with which I plan to work in future
- Far better than any other local PhD options
Cons:
- SHU is not comparable to St. Gallen or HHL
- Not creating comparable opportunity for international development (postdoctoral and consulting opportunities)
- DBA (despite of local legislation) not perceived at the same quality as PhD
- DBA collaboration of SHU are done with not that reputed schools (i.e. Munich Business School etc)
- Less learning & research opportunities due to lack of history in this academic disciple (doctoral studies in business)

As you can see (despite of all constrains ) it seems that for me currently it would make more sense to do it at home and to try to use maximum out of this. Hence, in addition to kind request for commenting above mentioned, my main question would be is Sheffield Hallam University ‘s DBA (taken in consideration above mentioned context) that poor choice that I still should aim to skip it and go for Option A.

Thanks a lot for your help!
Tolkien

This is a complex situation and, really, you should consider booking a call with me. The most important thing is to find a PhD supervisor who will work closely with you and is motivated to get you graduated. It might be better and cheaper to hire a supervisor and then be an external candidate for a PhD somewhere that doesn't change for the degree, like a German state university. SHU doesn't have AACSB, does it? It really will be so much better for you to have a PhD than a DBA.

Hi Duncan, thanks a lot for your prompt response and at the same time I apologies for my late response (tough week). Thank you also for offering your help, I am thinking seriously to engaging you for final decision after shortlisting possibilities to two (or maximum 3) out of what I am exploring now (listed below). Meanwhile I am doing the following:

1. Checking external PhD opportunities at WFI - Ingolstadt School of Management; Tilburg University; TUM School of Management & FAU
2. Revising once more Part time PhD's at RSM, TIAS, WHU, HHL
3. Having meeting with ex St. Gallen PhDs to evaluate their overall experience & satisfaction

In addition I am deep diving in possibility of obtaining both (dual degree) of DBA of SHU and PhD from local AACSB school (as wrote previously in process of getting approval for university level) in the program I am describing in my previous post. In regards to your question unfortunately SHU is not AACSB accredited, but according to information that I get (not form them) they have entered in process of accreditation(which off course do not guarantee anything). I was wondering In case that this program results with both DBA & PhD (should be AACSB), do you still think that I should aim for another options, no matter what.

Will keep you posted!

Thanks in advance for your comments!

Tolkien

AASCB accreditation will not apply to degrees started before the accreditation is awarded. Too risky.

[Edited by Duncan on Oct 23, 2017]