Doctoral student from Kharkiv successfully completes her doctorate after ERASMUS+ stay at IHI Zittau

In the summer of 2025, Mariia Foshchii, lecturer at the Department of Management of the National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute" (NTU "KhPI"), successfully defended her PhD thesis in Management entitled "Strategic Business Development in a Changing Environment".

Her research focused on the development of methodological tools for business strategy under uncertainty and provided a framework for adapting business models and increasing the competitiveness of companies in dynamic environments. The defense of the dissertation on July 23, 2025 was the culmination of several years of research and professional activity.

An important stage of her academic career was her participation in the Erasmus+ mobility program at the IHI Zittau of TU Dresden. The three-week project became an essential part of the preparation and refinement of her dissertation. During her stay, Mariia gave a guest lecture in which she presented the conceptual foundations and results of her doctoral thesis.

The mobility program provided valuable opportunities for academic exchange, interdisciplinary discussions and collaboration with faculty members and students. This experience deepened her understanding of strategic adaptability in international contexts and provided new insights for the practical dimension of her study.

Mariia Foshchii would like to thank the entire IHI Zittau team (Prof. Dr. Markus Scholz, Prof. Dr. habil. Thorsten Claus, PD Dr. rer. pol. habil. Burkatzki Eckhard, Dr. Benedikt Kapteina, Prof. Dr. Stefan Eckert) for their hospitality, openness and the inspiring academic environment. The constructive discussions, support and exchange of ideas with colleagues during the Erasmus+ stay made this experience something very special. The weeks in Zittau were characterized by meaningful conversations, new insights and valuable intercultural insights that will be an important part of her professional and personal development.

Looking to the future, Mariia Foshchii plans to continue her academic and professional development, expand her research in the fields of strategic management, digital transformation and business innovation, and further promote international cooperation between NTU "KhPI" and TU Dresden.