PhD Study : Exploring the role of Community Resilience based planning responses on the island of Ireland

Summary

We live in exceptionally challenging times, facing uncertainty and unpredictability. Within the island of Ireland there are a diverse range of complexities in the future planning of terrestrial, urban-rural and natural-coastal and marine environments; locally, regionally, nationally and in a transboundary context. For planners, this sense of unease is exacerbated by a period of constant change in planning governance and legislative reforms.  With the climate emergency and recent pandemic, the list of potential disturbances, shocks and scale of hazardous events is ever increasing and has led to infrastructure, property and other economic losses across the island of Ireland.

Resilience is in our everyday discourse, and there are many forms of resilience emerging - urban resilience, engineering resilience, physical resilience, etc. - vying for adoption. Yet, as Mulligan, et al. (2016) explain socio-ecological understandings of resilience have emerged with the assumption that social and ecological systems are interconnected and that local community could be more resilient to these expected shocks, if efforts were made to increase their adaptive capacity.  Now is the time for communities, in whatever environment – terrestrial, coastal or marine – to prepare for these future shocks and accumulating stresses.  Resilience strategies and planning policy responses need to become more nuanced towards ‘community resilience’.

This research seeks to explore a more nuanced understanding of the concept of ‘community resilience’, by developing a community resilience discourse as a transformative experience, rather than a static planning agenda aimed at satisfying public appeal. As Davoudi and Porter (2012) contend in reframing resilience, it needs to be more than a bridging concept, rather than being a term that replaces sustainability. Using McElduff, et al.’s (2016) ‘Octagon-values model’ as a starting point from which to conceptualise community resilience, the research will comprise of a critical review of community resilience practices that are embracing new planning paradigms founded on flexibility and adaptability. Finally the research is expected to shape planning policy outcomes to help the terrestrial and/ or coastal-marine environments to be adaptable, capable and dynamic in the face of adversity.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• Clearly defined research proposal detailing background, research questions, aims and methodology

Funding and eligibility

This project is funded by:

• Planning
• Governance

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living