The Graduate School of Economic and Management Sciences (GEM) welcomed a new intake of PhD students at a function in Stellenbosch on Tuesday, 29 January 2019. The School has 30 full-time students from 17 countries, while 21 members of staff are registered for the part-time programme.

Home of a full-time residential doctoral programme, GEM was established as part of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences' research strategy. In 2014, the first full-time PhD students started work on their 3-year research projects. The initiative was further expanded in 2015 with the Graduate School for Staff in Economic and Management Sciences (STEM).

"The first STEM person to graduate will be Ms Samantha Adams of the Department of Industrial Psychology, who will be receive her PhD during the April graduation ceremony," said Dr Jaco Franken, Manager of the School. 

GEM offers financial aid coupled with a partially structured support programme and helps students with the substance of their studies in order to obtain a PhD over three years. STEM provides a similar support programme which gives faculty staff an opportunity to work part-time on their PhDs over four to five years.

“The programme offers bursaries for full-time study for three years, which contribute significantly to its success," explained Dr Franken. “However, it also means there is a continued need for funding."

Although most of the full-time students are from elsewhere in Africa, the School has hosted students from China, Austria, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Germany.

• Carousel photo: Full-time and part-time PhD students of the Graduate School of Economic and Management Sciences were welcomed by the School at a function at Middelvlei Estate, Stellenboch. Also present were some of the students' study leaders.