Corporate Governance and Responsible Business (Ref: LB26-SF-001)

About the Project

We’re exploring how organisations are governed, how responsibility is understood and distributed, and how businesses balance performance with purpose.

In a world where corporate social responsibility plays an increasingly prominent role in the decision making of organisations, we want to help businesses to effectively balance considerations of people, profit and planet. Combining financial integrity with social and environmental awareness, this theme contributes to more accountable and sustainable forms of enterprise.

Our researchers are investigating the structures and processes that shape decision-making in corporations and public institutions, examining issues such as board dynamics, regulation, ethical leadership, sustainability reporting and social accountability.

This theme combines perspectives from finance, accounting, management and law to understand how governance systems, regulatory environments and societal expectations interact.

Our work ranges from technical focuses such as financial disclosure, auditing and compliance to human and ethical dimensions of responsibility, including informal entrepreneurship and governance in developing economies.

We are questioning conventional assumptions about corporate responsibility, highlighting how complex social and institutional contexts influence what “responsible business” really means.

We’re putting theory into practice through close collaboration with businesses, policymakers and regulators, offering insights into how organisations can enhance transparency, trust and long-term value creation.

For informal enquiries, contact: lb-research@mailbox.lboro.ac.uk

Supervisor

• Dr Lei Chen (L.Chen4@lboro.ac.uk)

Tuition fees for 2026-27 entry

• UK fee - £5,238 Full-time degree per annum
• International fee - £23,100 Full-time degree per annum

Fees for the 2026-27 academic year apply to projects starting in October 2026, February 2027 and July 2027.

UK tuition fees for 2026/27 are currently to be confirmed pending the release of the UKRI recommended rates. Once published, these rates will be subject to formal approval by the University before being confirmed.

Opportunity Details

• Target Start Date: October 2026
• Full time or part time available.
• Open to UK and international applicants.

How to Apply

We welcome discussions with interested candidates.

• Step 1: Interested applicants should first contact Dr Lei Chen (L.Chen4@lboro.ac.uk) to discuss your research interests and funding options.
• Step 2: Applicants are then strongly encouraged to contact potential supervisors with a CV, academic transcripts, and confirmation of funding sources or planned funding sources.
• Step 3: following any informal discussion, applicants are invited to make a formal application on the Loughborough Website.