CUBS PhD Scholarship Opportunity in Economics/Accounting & Finance

Examining the Economic and Social Value of Community Organisations to Inform Sustainable Funding Models: An Empirical Case Study of the Crann Centre 

CUBS PhD Scholarship Opportunity in Economics/Accounting & Finance 

The Department of Economics and the Department of Accounting and Finance, Cork University Business School (CUBS), University College Cork, invite motivated and talented graduates with outstanding academic records to apply for the CUBS PhD Scholarship for a project titled “Examining the Economic and Social Value of Community Organisations to Inform Sustainable Funding Models: An Empirical Case Study of the Crann Centre”. The supervisory team consists of Dr Aileen Murphy (Senior Lecturer in Dept of Economics), Dr Peter Cleary (Senior Lecturer in Dept of Accounting & Finance) and Dr Mari O’Connor (Lecturer in Dept of Economics) who will work in collaboration with representatives from the Crann Centre.

Project Outline

This PhD research will develop a framework for conducting economic and social value analysis of community organisations in tandem with examining the corresponding value and impact for individuals, the health service and society, using Crann as an empirical case study.

Progressive community organisations, like Crann, rely on leaders for realizing their vision, thereby attempting to ensure their viability and sustainability. However, to do so, often requires research to be conducted on their impact on society.

The framework developed here will offer a template for examining cost effectiveness of community-based health and social care service offerings in a real-world setting (non-trial environment) alongside a social return on investment analysis. Thus, it assesses the impact for individual service users, health and social care service providers/payers and society. Implementing this framework will deliver both economic and social value analyses which will enable service providers to not only demonstrate their financial prudence in cost control, but also illustrate by how much their investments positively impact on both their stakeholders and the communities that they serve.

Crann is an Irish charity creating personalised solutions for children, adults and families living with neuro-physical disabilities. At their purpose built and fully accessible facility, they work with all age groups from new-borns to adults and their families. People with disabilities (along with their families) are at the centre of a model of care (based on the Aspen Institute 2 Generation Model) and they offer a suite of services and programmes that support them to achieve better physical and mental health outcomes along with increased participation in education, work and leisure. Disability impacts the whole family, so offering a two-generation approach with family orientated programmes creates opportunities for the family to thrive. Crann collaborates with peer organisations offering complementary services to existing provisions. See https://cranncentre.ie/  for further information.

Entry Requirements

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline (e.g., Economics, Health Economics, Accounting, Finance or other relevant degree), and desirably: appropriate research experience, good communication, organisation, and interpersonal skills. We are looking to recruit the highest calibre of PhD student from Ireland or abroad for this prestigious award which is funded by Cork University Business School.

All postgraduate applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of English language proficiency. For further information and eligibility please see:

 https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/comparison/english/postgraduate/

For further particulars on this studentship please refer to: https://www.ucc.ie/en/hr/vacancies/research/full-details-1375150-en.html