The White Paper on the Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) is an initiative led by Michel Kalika and Jean-Pierre Helfer, with the support of the FNEGE (Fondation Nationale pour l'Enseignement de la Gestion des Entreprises). It was submitted to the Ministers of Education, Higher Education, Labor and Research to advocate for the official recognition of the DBA in France.
This document is introduced by two forewords, one signed by Marie-Christine Chalus Sauvannet, President of the IAE network, and the other by Vincenzo Vinzi, President of the Conference of Directors of French Management Schools (CDEFM). The preface was written by Jérôme Caby, General Delegate of the FNEGE, who emphasizes the strategic role of the DBA in the development of management knowledge and its application to the realities of business.
A collective effort to gain recognition for the DBA
The White Paper brings together contributions from several higher education institutions, including universities, management schools and institutions offering DBAs. It draws on the expertise of teacher-researchers, program directors and DBA graduates, who testify to the impact of the degree on their career paths and on business practices.
By structuring the argument around the history of the DBA, its distinct role from the PhD and its multiple benefits, the authors demonstrate that the DBA is a true doctoral program, aligned with international standards but suffering from a lack of recognition in France. FNEGE, which supports this initiative, is committed to promoting this degree by including DBAs in its thesis observatory and establishing an award for the best DBA research.
A plea for institutional recognition
The White Paper calls for concrete measures: official recognition of the DBA as an applied doctorate, registration in the RNCP at level 8, and the creation of a quality label under the aegis of the FNEGE. Based on case studies and examples of DBAs that have had a tangible impact in companies, it shows that this degree is a lever for managerial innovation and a bridge between academic research and professional practice.
With this publication, the academic community and the institutions involved in the development of the DBA hope to change the perception of this degree and obtain recognition that will position it in its rightful place in the French higher education landscape.