First UK-Russia double degree PhD awarded to Henley student

A Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour student at Henley Business School has become the first to be awarded a double PhD from a joint programme with Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) in Russia.

Dr Anne Crowley-Vigneau was this week awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy after passing her online viva with minor corrections earlier this month. Her PhD is in International Relations (MGIMO) and Management (Henley).

The double degree PhD programme, set up in 2018 by Henley Business School’s Centre for Euro-Asian Studies in tandem with MGIMO, is part of a wider strategic partnership between the two institutions, including undergraduate and postgraduate double degrees, student exchanges and research projects. Students on these programmes have to meet the requirements of both institutions.

Dr Crowley-Vigneau spent the first part of her studies at our Whiteknights campus, carrying out research and meeting with her Henley supervisor, Professor Yelena Kalyuzhnova. She was then based in Moscow with MGIMO and under the supervision of Dr Igor Istomin.

At the viva, colleagues from both institutions discussed Dr Crowley-Vigneau’s thesis ‘The National Implementation of International Norms: Transnational Networks and Local Content Policy’.

Dean of Henley Business School, Professor John Board, described Henley’s partnership with MGIMO as being based on friendship, international understanding and common goals. Rector of MGIMO, Professor Anatoly Torkvnor, also talked about how Dr Crowley-Vigneau's PhD is unprecedented in scope, covering management and international relations.

Professor Yelena Kalyuzhnova, Vice-Dean (International), Director of the Centre for Euro-Asian Studies, and Postgraduate Research Director of Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour, said:

“Our partnership with MGIMO has proved to be very successful despite being tested by the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only did our projects like the double PhD programme continue, but our cooperation has deepened. The first viva is only the beginning and I am sure we will see more double PhD dissertations soon.”

Find out more about the Double Degree PhD programme.