Research and development

The first private educational institution in Estonia, Estonian Business School (EBS) was founded in 1988 and received its higher education licence in 1995. The school provides Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral studies in business and public administration, supported by the interdisciplinary research of the faculty and the needs of business practice, all within an environment conducive to enhancing professional knowledge and developing personal values.

EBS’ strategic aim as a university is to develop its courses, as well as its research and development, on an internationally competitive level, whilst contributing to more effective management in business and public organizations.

The EBS Bachelor and Master level study programmes have both successfully passed the first stage in the simplified transition assessment procedure by the Estonian Higher Education Quality Agency. The Doctoral programme received full accreditation in 2009 and research was positively evaluated in 2002. The evaluation period for research has extended due to changes in the legal regulations covering the field.

Research at EBS is based on the academic competence of the faculty and effective cooperation with Estonian and foreign academics and research teams in the field under consideration. As a specialised university, EBS focuses its research work on the study of organizational management in companies and institutions operating in different sectors of society. Research is conducted in compliance with EBS’ research strategy and is coordinated by the EBS Research Council.

The aim of research at EBS is to contribute to the international knowledge base of management and create conditions for its introduction in business and public institutions, but also improve training for the management of such organizations.

Through its research, EBS considers to the needs of a developing society and carries it out in cooperation with different government agencies, as well as groups of companies and public organizations. Research is also linked to student research at different study levels. Research outcomes are applied in the development of curricula, the improvement of study methods, and serve as the basis for management training programmes organized by the EBS Executive Training Centre. Such research is directly related to the Doctoral programme in management science, and doctoral students’ research topics are closely knit to EBS’ research concentrations, with the aim of guaranteeing its continuity.

EBS’ main academic concentration is Organizational development in an institutional context. The sub-topics for research are:

Development of Organisations and Management of Change
Innovative Entrepreneurship and Knowledge Transfer in International Networks
Development of Public Administration Organizations and their Legal Framework. Application of Experience in New Democracies
Institutional Economics
Social Responsibility and Ethical Values of Organizations
Intelligent IT Systems in Public and Private Organizations

The research undertaken aims to contribute to the development of business, defence and public organizations, and the application of such theoretical knowledge of Estonia in countries which are creating a democratic society.

Researchers and doctoral students at EBS participate in the work of international research groups thereby assuring an internationally acknowledged level of research. The main outputs for this are participation in international scientific conferences and publishing of joint articles with researchers and doctoral students in other countries.

The faculty of EBS actively participates in the work of the following international research networks: Globe Society (leadership studies), Cranet Network (strategic HRM surveys), IMSS Network (manufacturing strategy survey), EBEN Network (business ethics), EABIS Network on Business and Society (CSR) and Nordplus Network (development of environmental and ethical competence in leadership and management). EBS is also part of E-World research group (study of the characteristic features of successful entrepreneurs); and the Network around the European Knowledge Management Conference (study of the trends in knowledge management development).

EBS has organized scientific conferences and several faculty members belong to the editorial boards of international scientific journals. In 2002 the EBS Review (ISSN-1406-0264), which has been published since 1995, became a peer reviewed journal and is included in EBSCO databases.

The university is a member of the following organizations: European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), Central and Eastern European Management Development Association (CEEMAN) and Baltic Management Development Network (BMDA).