About Me:
I am Rozina Akther, and I am from Bangladesh. Over the years, my research has primarily focused on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and I have published a few articles in international journals. My Ph.D. research is titled "Women Entrepreneurs and Micro Business Resilience for Sustainable Development: The Case of Climate-Fragile Bangladesh."
My MPhil thesis explored SME financing policies and the performance of select commercial banks in Bangladesh, sparking a deeper passion for this field. Additionally, I conducted a study on the resilience of women subsistence entrepreneurs in Bangladesh, which inspired my research interest and set the foundation for my Ph.D. journey.
Research Interests:
Cottage, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (CMSMEs), women’s entrepreneurship, subsistence marketplaces, entrepreneurial resilience, and disaster resilience among entrepreneurs.
Education:
2023: PhD Candidate (Commenced 1st August 2023), University of Canterbury, Department of Management
2016: MPhil, University of Chittagong (Bangladesh), Department of Finance and Banking
2008: MBA (Finance), University of Chittagong (Bangladesh), Department of Finance and Banking
Supervisors:
Senior Supervisor: Nadeera Ranabahu
Co-supervisor: Herb de Vries
Associate Supervisor: Mesbahuddin Chowdhury
Publications:
Akther, R. (2024). Exploring the role of religiosity and sociality as sources of resilience for women subsistence entrepreneurs. Subsistence Marketplaces, 1(1), 8.
Akther, R. (2022). Factors associated with small and medium enterprise financing: a study from Bangladesh. Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, 12(1), 265-277.
Akther, R., & Afroz, F. (2018). Determinants of Access to Finance for Women-Owned SMEs in Bank Loans in Bangladesh. Al-Barkaat Journal of Finance & Management, 10(1), 34-47.
Akther, R. (2016). Factors Influencing the Lending Decision of Commercial Banks in Bangladesh. Al-Barkaat Journal of Finance & Management, 8(1), 36-49.
Akther, R., & Akter, S. (2016). The determinants of foreign direct investment in Bangladesh. Research Journal of Finance and Accounting, 7(4), 17-123.
Islam, M. S., Akther, R., & Fatema, N. (2015). The Impact of Announcement of Increasing Trend of Cash Dividend on Market Price of Shares: Study on Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE). IOSR Journal of Business and Management, Volume 17, Issue 2.Ver. I, 01-06.
Akther, R., Ranabahu, N., Chowdhury, M. and de Vries, H.P. “Resilience of vulnerable women entrepreneurs in climate fragile Bangladesh” Accepted and in print, book chapter, Book Title: Women’s Entrepreneurship in the Asian Region (Publisher Routledge)
Conference Presentations:
Akther, R. (2024). Exploring the role of religiosity and sociality as sources of resilience for women subsistence entrepreneurs. New Zealand South Asia Centre Annual Symposium: Current South Asia Research, University of Canterbury, New Zealand, November 29, 2024.
Akther, R. (2023). Women entrepreneurs and micro and small business resilience for sustainable development: Case of climate fragile Bangladesh. New Zealand South Asia Centre Annual Symposium: Current South Asia Research, University of Canterbury, New Zealand, December 7, 2023.
Akther, R. (2023). Women entrepreneurs and micro and small business resilience for sustainable development: Case of climate fragile Bangladesh. In 25th New Zealand Asian Studies Society International Conference, University of Canterbury, New Zealand, November 29-December 1, 2023.
Awards & Honours:
Secured second place in the University of Canterbury 3MT Thesis Competition 2024.
UC Doctoral Award (2023)
Why did you choose UC?
I chose the University of Canterbury (UC) because it offers a collaborative and supportive environment, with access to exceptional academic resources and facilities. Furthermore, UC's dedication to fostering interdisciplinary research and creating opportunities for meaningful engagement with diverse communities made it the ideal institution for pursuing my PhD.
Best things about study at UC:
Having a supportive and knowledgeable supervisory team has been key to shaping and enhancing my research experience. The University of Canterbury's excellent student support system and extensive academic resources have further contributed to making my research experience highly rewarding.
