Designing a First Ever PhD Program on a Polytechnic HE Business School

This paper describes a complex challenge in pedagogical innovation within higher education, specifically the curriculum design of a new PhD program in Intercultural Studies for Innovation, taught in English, in a business school of the Portuguese polytechnic subsystem. The research undertaken for the creation of the program encompassed the identification, evaluation, and implementation of cutting-edge pedagogical strategies and mixed-methods, combining qualitative analysis of curriculum design processes, learning assessment and expected outcomes. As globalization continues to reshape the academic landscape, the demand for professionals wellversed in intercultural competencies has intensified, especially within business companies. This study delves into the strategic integration of innovative pedagogical approaches to cultivate a learning environment that not only addresses the unique challenges of intercultural studies but also fosters critical thinking, collaboration, and adaptability with an actual impact in business and society. Methodologically, the research that sustains the design of the PhD program involves extensive literature reviews, consultations with experts in intercultural studies, and iterative feedback loops with stakeholders, including business companies and associations, city councils, cultural foundations, partner overseas universities, and potential doctoral candidates. The integration of diverse pedagogical models – including tutorials, seminars, mentorships, case studies, practical application of knowledge in real settings, problem-based learning, and project-based learning, as well as immersion in business, institutional and R&D environments – under an interdisciplinary framework, is systematically explored.