Project Outline
It is increasingly acknowledged that effective people management plays a vital role in business success. Research on people management overwhelmingly focuses on large organisations with much less knowledge around its application in small/micro businesses, like dairy farms, and the link to key performance indicators. Given the significance of dairy farms to economic and social well-being across the world, there is a need to better understand the challenges and issues that exist alongside what best practice in people management looks like. Dairy farming is an especially interesting small business context to examine people management issues such as the attraction, retention and training of staff because it tends to have a significant family member dimension alongside increasing numbers of non-family workers.
Hiring staff outside the family is a new challenge for many farmers which may see many as ‘reluctant employers’ and which brings substantially new responsibilities, difficulties and opportunities. In addition, farming is a sector facing substantial challenges in attracting and retaining the workers required. This project seeks to better understand the role of people management on dairy farms and proposals are welcome within this broad domain.
Requirements: Applicants should have a primary degree (First or Upper Second Class Honours) in an appropriate discipline (e.g. Agriculture, Human Resource Management, Labour Economics, Business Management, Psychology, or other relevant degree). The successful candidate should be self-motivated and have a keen interest in small business, human resource management and/or agri-business. The successful applicant will be required to visit farms by car therefore a full EU driving licence is required. A car will be provided by Teagasc for each of these visits.
If English is not your first language you will need to satisfy the English language requirement:
IELTS: 6.5 - with no individual section lower than 5.5
TOEFL: 90 - with minimum scores as follows: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 17
Scholarship Details: This scholarship is to provide an individual the opportunity to undertake an MSc by research or a PhD. The Scholarship is a joint research project between Cork University Business School, University College Cork (UCC), and Teagasc, Moorepark. The student will work under the supervision of Prof. Anthony McDonnell and Dr. Ronan Carbery at UCC, and Dr. Marion Beecher at Teagasc. The student will be based initially at Cork University Business School, UCC Cork but periods of work will be undertaken at Teagasc Moorepark, Co. Cork.
The scholarship will start as soon as possible after October 1st 2023. The Scholarship provides a stipend of €25,000 per annum, which comprises of fees up to a maximum of €6,000 per annum (or approx. €9000 per annum for Non-EU students), and a flat rate stipend of €19,000 per annum and is tenable for 4 years. The scholarship is tenable for 2 years (MSc by Research) or 4 years (PhD). There is potential for an individual that commences undertaking an MSc by Research to gain an additional 2 years funding to continue with a PhD subject to meeting the requirements.
The successful applicant will receive a laptop for the duration of the scholarship, as well as being able to access funding to support registration and travel costs for appropriate conferences. The successful applicant will be offered the opportunity to gain teaching experience. The appointee will be provided with learning and networking opportunities to attain the highest standards of research excellence and support his/her career development.
Further Information/Applications
Please contact any of the following for more information and guidance regarding the scholarship and making an application. If you are interested in making an application, we encourage you to reach out in advance of your submission:
Prof. Anthony McDonnell, Cork University Business School, Cork, University College Cork Email: [email protected]
Dr. Ronan Carbery, Cork University Business School, Cork, University College Cork Email: [email protected]
Dr. Marion Beecher, Teagasc, Moorepark, Co. Cork, Ireland Email: [email protected]
Application Procedure Please send a one-page letter briefly outlining your reasons for applying for this PhD and a current two-page CV detailing your education and research experience, and including the names of two referees simultaneously to: Prof. Anthony McDonnell ([email protected]); Dr. Ronan Carbery ([email protected]) and Dr. Marion Beecher ([email protected])
Closing date Friday 11th August 2023. Interviews for shortlisted candidates will take place in late August/early September.