International experts inspire doctoral students at national KATAJA course in Oulu
KATAJA organizes courses and tutorials for doctoral students in business studies. This time, the course in international business was organized in Oulu.
Oulu Business School was happy to welcome Professor Zaheer Khan from the University of Aberdeen and Professor Maria Elo from the University of Southern Denmark as visiting scholars contributing to the course with their expertise.
Exploring international business in a new setting
Professor Zaheer Khan joined the course through a long-standing collaboration with Oulu Business School’s Dr Ahmad Arslan, who also holds Honorary Professor position at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK. This was his first time visiting Oulu.
“Oulu is a very interesting city to visit... I wanted to come and see the facilities here in the business school, and to have a more personal connection.”
Khan’s lectures focused on complexity in international business, including digital platforms and sustainability. He expressed a strong interest in returning if the opportunity arises:
“Working with PhD students is my passion, I do a lot of research with them. I’m always very happy to connect with the students and seek to understand their challenges.”
Guest lecturer Professor Zaheer Khan (left) with Dr Ahmad Arslan of Oulu Business School.
Human dimensions of global business
Professor Maria Elo, based in Denmark, taught in the program for the first time. Her session explored the human side of international business, including migration, diaspora, and intercultural encounters.
“I was very thrilled to come here and teach. It fit very nicely with my research topics.”
Elo emphasized the importance of critical debate and collaborative learning:
“We had very engaged, critically thinking, talented people... It was not a classic interaction, but actual debates.”
“We had a very constructive and safe atmosphere, which is essential for doctoral students who will face criticism and need to defend their approaches.”
Current topics and future plans
One surprising insight emerged during a discussion on entrepreneurship:
“The great majority had plans in the future to turn entrepreneurial. I was happily surprised – I wouldn’t usually expect that from a PhD student class.”
Dr Ahmad Arslan, who coordinated the course, reflected on its evolving relevance:
“We made the contents this year very up to date – not very traditional topics, but more linked to current times. That’s what students need.”
He also highlighted the value of peer interaction: “Sometimes going outside your own university helps you gain confidence. These courses are very important because you meet others in the same situation and can develop collaborative learning strategies with your peers.”
The course fostered academic growth as well as a sense of community among doctoral researchers navigating the complexities of international business.
Guest lecturer Professor Maria Elo (left) with Dr Ahmad Arslan.