Examining intra-regional inequalities and developing pathways towards resilient and inclusive revitalisation: Theory and Practice
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Liverpool
Department Name: Geography and Planning
Abstract
The plan of activities for this project is divided into five Work Packages (WPs), and the project team on both countries will meet virtually monthly to evaluate progress and further objectives. This initiative will be undertaken over 12 months, from 1st July 2021 to 30th June 2022.
Work Package 0: Initial preparation and research design
Work Package 1: A scoping comparative study
(1) Reviewing the literature of intra-regional inequality and collectively developing a conceptual framework embracing key elements (economic, social, environment/infrastructure and governance) for a comparative scoping study. Each component will be led by one scholar in this joint team. (2) Taxonomy of 'left-behind' places: definition & measurements (3) Selecting and conducting representative cases through secondary datasets and policy documents from both the UK and Taiwan.
Work Package 2: A special issue 'call for abstracts' on the topic of 'left-behind places and planning for resilient and inclusive regions' will be circulated via JISCmail research networks and other international professional channels to invite scholars worldwide who are working on similar issues (targeted scholars will include Professor John Tomaney (UCL), Professor Cecilia Wong (University of Manchester), Professor Xavier Desjardins (University of Paris Sorbonne)). Selected papers will be presented in the international virtual online conference organised in WP4. This special issue will be proposed to a respected SSCI journal, such as Regional Studies, Town Planning Review, and International Journal of Urban and Regional Planning.
Work Package 3: One-week overseas research network programmes (one in each country, the UK &Taiwan) will include two research symposiums and field trips, organised to explore key themes and lessons identified from the scoping study area. (1) One-day symposiums/workshops will comprise talks and group discussions. Research teams in each country will invite several speakers (scholars working on similar topics in respective countries) and participants (from local and central government, academics, practitioners, business leaders, community groups, etc.). Early career researchers in both countries will be encouraged to participate in the workshops. Workshops will be organised in offline formats, while some keynote and research talk sessions could be available in both online and offline formats. (2) Fieldtrips for representative cases included in the scoping study will be organised to enable both research teams to understand the cases better and meet the stakeholders involved in the respective pilot case study. Interpreters will be arranged in Taiwan.
Work Package 4: An international virtual online conference (jointly hosted by core applicants from both countries) will be organised and the program will share key findings from the UK-Taiwan scoping study and selected papers from WP2. This virtual conference will be free and circulated to interested participants, including policy makers at both central and local levels, practitioners, academics, private sectors or participants from civil society in each country and beyond.
Work Package 5: A final report will be drafted by both research teams to document key WPs and findings and to evaluate lessons learnt from current practice of addressing left-behind places and intra-regional inequalities with a comparative perspective. It will explore possible policy reforms for co-producing inclusive intra-regional prosperity in the face of future challenges and by preparing an agenda for further research collaboration.
Work Package 0: Initial preparation and research design
Work Package 1: A scoping comparative study
(1) Reviewing the literature of intra-regional inequality and collectively developing a conceptual framework embracing key elements (economic, social, environment/infrastructure and governance) for a comparative scoping study. Each component will be led by one scholar in this joint team. (2) Taxonomy of 'left-behind' places: definition & measurements (3) Selecting and conducting representative cases through secondary datasets and policy documents from both the UK and Taiwan.
Work Package 2: A special issue 'call for abstracts' on the topic of 'left-behind places and planning for resilient and inclusive regions' will be circulated via JISCmail research networks and other international professional channels to invite scholars worldwide who are working on similar issues (targeted scholars will include Professor John Tomaney (UCL), Professor Cecilia Wong (University of Manchester), Professor Xavier Desjardins (University of Paris Sorbonne)). Selected papers will be presented in the international virtual online conference organised in WP4. This special issue will be proposed to a respected SSCI journal, such as Regional Studies, Town Planning Review, and International Journal of Urban and Regional Planning.
Work Package 3: One-week overseas research network programmes (one in each country, the UK &Taiwan) will include two research symposiums and field trips, organised to explore key themes and lessons identified from the scoping study area. (1) One-day symposiums/workshops will comprise talks and group discussions. Research teams in each country will invite several speakers (scholars working on similar topics in respective countries) and participants (from local and central government, academics, practitioners, business leaders, community groups, etc.). Early career researchers in both countries will be encouraged to participate in the workshops. Workshops will be organised in offline formats, while some keynote and research talk sessions could be available in both online and offline formats. (2) Fieldtrips for representative cases included in the scoping study will be organised to enable both research teams to understand the cases better and meet the stakeholders involved in the respective pilot case study. Interpreters will be arranged in Taiwan.
Work Package 4: An international virtual online conference (jointly hosted by core applicants from both countries) will be organised and the program will share key findings from the UK-Taiwan scoping study and selected papers from WP2. This virtual conference will be free and circulated to interested participants, including policy makers at both central and local levels, practitioners, academics, private sectors or participants from civil society in each country and beyond.
Work Package 5: A final report will be drafted by both research teams to document key WPs and findings and to evaluate lessons learnt from current practice of addressing left-behind places and intra-regional inequalities with a comparative perspective. It will explore possible policy reforms for co-producing inclusive intra-regional prosperity in the face of future challenges and by preparing an agenda for further research collaboration.
Publications
Sykes O
(2022)
Editorial Left Behind Regions in Europe and Beyond
in Transactions of the Association of European Schools of Planning
| Description | The main findings from this research networking project are three-fold to be learnt for future grant development. (1) The definition and measurements of uneven development are not unified and have been widely referred yet the topic is subject to varied interpretation from different disciplines. For a future focused and in-depth study, redefining the terms and a solid research design is essential. (2) Although comparative perspectives could be of value, to make it work, a well justified/designed comparative study across different disciplines and contexts is challenging. The research collaboration and workshop discussions led to a clear realisation that it is critical to select suitable research collaborators. In case, there is a need of collaboration among different disciplines, the key objectives and expected outcomes should be well grasped. (3) New perspectives/Pathways including the role of Smart Technology, University Social Responsibility, and Persistent Place Images are found to play a potential role in the transition process. (4) Revitalisation effects are generally long-term, which is inherently challenging for claiming any causality, which needs to be taken into account. |
| Exploitation Route | This is a research network grant and designed to identify research collaborators and better understand the nature of the issues before jointly developing a proper research grant among research partners. The outcomes of this funding could be regarded as below. The four key findings lead to a better understanding of the diversity and complexity of development issues and potentials of incorporating some new perspectives in the future research. Such experiences leant could be commonly shared widely. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Creative Economy Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Environment Government Democracy and Justice |
| Description | A couple of conference papers (during 2022 and 2023) which examined Blackpool, a seaside resort place as an example of left-behind places had been presented in the international workshop and symposium as well as research seminars (2023) to reflect the gap of current literature and practice while dealing with uneven development and places left behind. In addition, a journal paper which reviews the mainstream debates and introduces a new perspective among a range of latest research output to understand the left-behind places and levelling-up policy is under preparation and aimed to be submitted for review within 2024. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal Policy & public services |
| Description | ESRC-NSTC Taiwan Networking Grant 2023 |
| Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ES/Y010477/1 |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2023 |
| End | 09/2024 |
| Description | Co-supervising PhD researchers |
| Organisation | National Tsing Hua University (Taiwan) |
| Country | Taiwan, Province of China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | - Developing joint PhD studentship proposals including title and research direction. - Recruitment of potential students. - Supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | - Commenting on the joint PhD studentship proposals. - Participating in the recruitment process. - Supervision. |
| Impact | Not yet. The student now is in the final year 4. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | The role of university social responsibility in place-based transition |
| Organisation | National Cheng Kung University |
| Country | Taiwan, Province of China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is an emerging research collaboration under development, which started during the activities related to the project including the special workshop in June 2022 and an in-person research workshop in January 2023. I and Dr Olivier Sykes are based in the UK academia where the impacts of research are critical yet the role of the university's social responsibility has been understood in a rather narrow sense eg. creation of job number. My work is mainly exploring the current practice and understanding of the university social responsibility in the UK and developing a potential research proposal in partnership with Dr Chang, which is expected to have resonance with more researchers with similar concerns for a potential international comparative study to explore the role of university social responsibility in spatial justice through transition pathways. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr. Chang contributes to this collaboration with her extensive and long-term experiences in implementing University social responsibilities through her teaching and research in Taiwan. |
| Impact | Under development |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | A working group meeting among research teams and potential collaborators in Taiwan |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This is a working group meeting which the Taiwan (NTHU) and UK research team (University of Liverpool) gathered to discuss the different approaches taken in respective countries in addressing uneven development and the extent to which the solutions are effective. Apart from the two research teams, some academics and NGO groups based in Taiwan were also invited to share their view contributing to the discussion on this topic. In total, there are 9 participants forming the working group in this workshop. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Co-hosted a special workshop "Beyond intra-regional inequalities: Understanding the dynamism of resilient and inclusive regions" in the 18th ASIALICS International Conference (online, theme: Restarting, Innovation and Regional Resilience), 29-30 June 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Aim and objectives: This special workshop session aims to bring together Asian and European scholars sharing knowledge and ideas through critical debates and empirical case studies. This workshop attracted eight diverse and insightful papers closely related to the research theme contributed by academics from a number of countries including France, UK, Indonesia, Switzerland, Germany, China, and Taiwan. The discussions had been very valuable to explore a wide range of dimensions related to a better comprehension of the issues and different pathways towards revitalisation. Some participants (Dr Hsiu-Tzu Chang from National Chengkung University and Dr Chia-Lin Chen, the PI of this grant) have further discussed on potential research collaboration from this event to understand the role of university social responsibility in the long-term regional transition process. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Fieldtrip to visit a rural village which is in transition |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Dr. Hsiutzu Chang from National Cheng Kung University organised a field trip to an exemplar of long-term engagement in rural village transition which had been struggling with the continual economic decline and loss of population due to its peripheral location. This visit was arranged to visit principals of local elementary and high schools, local museums, communities in order to understand better the difficulties encountered and efforts made on the ground in response to the challenges. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |