Executive Fellow in Management

Executive Fellow in Management (EFM)

A doctoral-equivalent fellowship for senior practitioners ready to engage with the rigour of academic scholarship — without abandoning practice. India's most ambitious academic credential for senior executives.

Apply for October 2026 Cohort
Duration 3 Years Doctoral-equivalent
Mode Hybrid / Weekend 36 days + 9-day camp
Certification BVB · IIFR · EFMD Globally recognised
Cohort October 2026 25 participants
Programme Overview

A Doctoral-Equivalent Fellowship for Senior Practitioners

The EFM is a doctoral-equivalent fellowship for senior practitioners ready to engage with the rigour of academic scholarship, without abandoning the world of practice.

Earn your fellowship in approximately 3 years versus 5–6 for a full-time PhD — blending decades of industry experience with the ability to develop and apply rigorous decision-making frameworks.

Doctoral-Equivalent Applied Research Practice-Track Globally Certified
IIFR Executive Fellow programme

Who Should Apply?

Senior Executives & CXOs

Leaders with 15+ years of experience (average 20+) ready for a research fellowship equivalent to an Executive PhD.

Professors of Practice Aspirants

Practitioners seeking credibility and credentials to teach at a business school and mentor next-generation leaders.

Scholar-Practitioners

Those who want to convert tacit knowledge into applied research that institutions cite and practitioners use.

Board Members & Advisors

Holding a Bachelor's degree (MBA preferred), targeting adjunct faculty, executive-in-residence, and board roles.

After 3 Years

What You Will Achieve

Doctoral-Equivalent Degree

Earn your fellowship certified jointly by BVB, IIFR, and the EFMD Global Network.

Decision-Making Frameworks

Blend industry experience and tacit knowledge with the ability to develop rigorous frameworks.

Evidence-Based Analysis

Analyse and present findings grounded in sound scientific evidence and method.

Applied, Usable Research

Design and conduct research that can be applied directly to real-world practice.

Credibility to Teach

Gain the competence, credibility, and credentials to teach at a business school.

A Lasting Academic Legacy

Build personal brand by mentoring next-generation leaders and shaping practice.

Programme Journey

  1. 1

    Preparatory Foundations

    Online finance, accounting, statistics, economics — plus Harvard, Stanford & MIT baselines.

  2. 2

    Foundation Courses

    Philosophy of science, theories of the firm, curriculum design, case writing.

  3. 3

    Interdisciplinary Management

    Value creation, AI & digital transformation, governance, organisational change.

  4. 4

    Geopolitics & Policy

    Geopolitics and business, diplomacy, public–private partnerships, policy dialogue.

  5. 5

    Research Methods

    Qualitative & quantitative methods, regression, multivariate analysis, AI & LLMs.

  6. 6

    Research Labs & Dissertation

    Research labs, dissertation seminars, proposal and final defence.

The Curriculum

EFM Structure — 6 Stages

A structured journey from academic foundations to doctoral-level research.

Stage 01

Preparatory Courses (Online)

  • Foundational finance
  • Accounting
  • Statistics
  • Economics
  • Harvard, Stanford, and MIT online courses (baseline)
Stage 02

Foundation Courses

  • Philosophy of science and the scientific method
  • Theories of the firm
  • Curriculum design and course delivery
  • Case writing and teaching
  • Academic and business writing
Stage 03

Interdisciplinary Management Courses

  • Business value creation and delivery
  • AI and digital transformation
  • Corporate governance
  • Digital technology strategies
  • Digital disruption and ecosystem management
  • Organisational behaviour and change management
  • Negotiations and game-theoretic frameworks
Stage 04

Geopolitics & Policy Courses

  • Geopolitics and business
  • Patent and brand licensing
  • Role of business in diplomacy
  • Public management and public-private partnerships
  • Delhi Business & Policy Dialogue series
Stage 05

Qualitative & Quantitative Methods

  • Basic qualitative analysis
  • Regression analysis and experimental design
  • Multivariate analysis
  • Qualitative research leveraging AI and LLMs
  • Digital twins and options thinking
Stage 06

Research Labs & Dissertation

  • Research Lab 1 — Question, theory, and methods
  • Research Lab 2 — Data analysis and discussion
  • Dissertation Seminar 1 — Topic presentation
  • Dissertation Seminar 2 — Proposal defence
  • Dissertation Seminar 3 — Dissertation defence
How It Compares

EFM vs. a Traditional PhD

EFM PhD
Format3–4 years, modular5–6 years, full-time
ProfileWorking professionals (10+ yrs experience)Fresh graduates
Work experienceRequired (10+ years; avg. 20+)Not required
FundingSelf-funded or employer-sponsoredStipend support available
CurriculumMulti-disciplinary, research methods + managementSpecialised academic area
Research focusApplied, real-world complexityTop-tier academic literature gaps
Post-graduationSenior roles + teaching; executive educationFull-time faculty / academic research

The EFM is designed as a pracademic credential — ideal for adjunct faculty, Professor of Practice appointments, executive-in-residence roles, and corporate boards.

IIFR faculty and research
Faculty Leadership

Led by Global Academic Leaders

The programme is led by Dr. Rajendra Srivastava (Vice Chairman, IIFR; Former Dean, ISB) and supported by a global faculty network.

Fellows benefit from a 9-day residential research camp, 36 contact days, and supervision from internationally networked scholars and practice leaders.

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