PhD Study : Co-Designing Child Friendly Places: Growing the Resilience of Children through Inclusive Planning

Summary

This PhD project explores children’s participatory opportunities through inclusive planning for co-producing social and environmental well-being outcomes that response to the needs of children and young people. Krishnamurthy (2019: 96) acknowledges how “children’s geography in planning and design is becoming increasingly relevant”, but argues for the development of mechanisms that represent the interests of children in planning and design. Similarly, other research demonstrates how there has been limited progress on advancing positive well-being improvements for children in the UK (Bradshaw, 2016) and that “adult-creations do not necessarily chime with the self-reported spatial needs and understandings of children” (RTPI, 2019: 5).

Many campaigning organisations, across the UK and Europe, advocate for inclusive planning practices that deliver on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, particularly the right to participate in decision-making (Article 12) and to engage in play and recreational activities (Article 31). Integrating child rights-based approaches into planning processes potentially offer pathways to greater resilience and enabling children to become agents of change (ARUP, 2016). Advances in Wales, with the introduction of a Play Sufficiency Duty, in 2012, is demonstrating the need for inclusive cross-sectoral working for the provision of ‘play’, which has “become a matter of spatial justice” (Play Wales, 2019:5).

While there has been a growing body of research focussed on creating child-friendly cities/places, further research is needed to better understand appropriate inclusive engagement methods that co-produce environments with children that response to their spatial and well-being needs.

This research will explore two interrelated questions:

• first, how are children and young people engaging in the planning and design processes to co-produce environments that meet their well-being needs, and;
• secondly, to what extent are advances in ‘play’ policy development transforming children’s experiences and practitioners understanding of inclusive engagement?

This PhD will address these questions utilising qualitative research with children, young people and stakeholders across a number of case studies. There will be opportunities to collaborate with Belfast Healthy Cities and PlayBoard NI to capture learning on emerging practice in Northern Ireland and in other European cities. In critically examining policy and comparing engagement practices, the outcomes of this research will shed new light on innovative ways to design co-productive and inclusive planning practices that create better places and resilient futures for children.

AccessNI clearance required

Please note, the successful candidate will be required to obtain AccessNI clearance prior to registration due to the nature of the project.

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

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