PhD Studentship: Enterprise and Entrepreneurship in Japan

Sheffield University Management School is pleased to announce a three year fully-funded scholarship to undertake doctoral research in the area of enterprise and entrepreneurship with a focus on Japan. The studentship will be held at the Centre for Regional Economic and Enterprise Development (CREED), which is an active research centre specialising in local economic development and the policy and practice of entrepreneurship. As a collaborative studentship, the student will be supervised by Dr Naoko Komori and Professor Tim Vorley at CREED.

Historically the level of entrepreneurial activity in Japan has been very low, although under Prime Minister Shinzō Abe there has been a growing emphasis on promoting entrepreneurial-led growth in Japan. Framed in terms of the enterprise and entrepreneurship debates, it is anticipated that this studentship will focus on how the policy and practice of entrepreneurship in Japan help develop its economy and society. In particular, we welcome proposals examining the institutional change, focusing on regulation, norms and culture in Japan and the diversity of Japanese regions. While the specific research questions will be developed by the successful candidate in conjunction with the supervisory team, potential questions might include but are not limited to:

• What are the role of formal and informal institutions in making Japan entrepreneurial?
• In what way does the institutional environment enable and constrain entrepreneurs?
• How is policy changing towards entrepreneurship in Japan?
• What are the characteristics that define entrepreneurial ecosystems in Japan?
• What institutions are driving entrepreneurial-led growth in Japan?
• How are Japanese society and culture accommodating the shift from corporate-led growth to entrepreneurial-led growth?
• How entrepreneurial activities are impacting on the role of SMEs as subcontractors?

Person specification:

• Interest in researching enterprise and entrepreneurship in a Japanese context;
• You should have, or expect to achieve, a first class Bachelors Degree or a Masters Degree in Management or a social science related subjects;
• Aptitude and enthusiasm for doing interdisciplinary research;
• Critical thinking capabilities;
• Interest in and ability for working in a collaborative environment;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Experience in qualitative and/or quantitative social science.

Award details for Home/EU Students

• The School will meet the full cost of Home/EU tuition fees
• Successful candidates will receive an annual, tax-free maintenance stipend of £14,057
• The scholarship will fund up to three years full time study, subject to satisfactory progress.

How to apply

Follow the link below and serch for the job title in keywords.

Interviews will take place by the end of August. If you have not heard from us by this date then your application has been unsuccessful.

For further information, you can contact Dr Naoko Komori (n.komori@shef.ac.uk).

Funding Notes

A full PhD scholarship award covers the cost of the UK/EU tuition fees and provides an annual, tax-free maintenance stipend at the standard UK research rate (£14,057 for 2015/16).

Fees for Home/UK/EU:
PhD £4,052
Fees for Overseas:
£14,500

Overseas student would be expected to cover the difference between the overseas and UK/EU tuition fees. The PhD student will be registered at the Management School, and co-supervised by Dr Komori and Professor Vorley.

Awards are tenable for a maximum of 3-4 years full-time subject to satisfactory progress.