Dear All,

Please could you let anyone who might be interested know of this studentship?

With many thanks,

Jon.

 
PhD Studentship, School of Geography, University of Plymouth.
A critical evaluation of community rail policy and practice on rural railways in the South West 

This studentship has been approved under the Great Western Research programme, which fosters collaborative research linking the South West Regional Development Agency, higher education institutions in the region and key actors in the regional economy. The studentship will be based in the University of Plymouth’s School of Geography (which hosts the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership), but will also feature input from the University of Exeter and liaison with First Great Western, as the operator of local rail services, as well as the Department for Transport’s Community Rail Development Team. 

The core focus of this project will be a critical evaluation of the evolution and implementation of the Department for Transport’s Community Rail Strategy. The organisational and operational dimensions of Community Rail and their implications will be examined, including the engagement of the community and other stakeholders. The research will also review the local and regional economic, social and environmental significance of Community Rail operations. An important concern will be sustainability – in terms of both the contribution of community railways to sustainability and the future sustainability of local rail services. The project will focus principally on the South West, while taking account of developments elsewhere in the country. The research will therefore contribute significantly to the future development of local rail policy and transport governance and geography both regionally and nationally.

The School is offering this three year PhD Scholarship to a suitably qualified candidate, to commence in January 2007. Applicants must have at least a 2:1 degree in Geography, Transport or a related subject (or equivalent qualification). An MA/MSc degree or research/work experience in a relevant area is preferred.

The PhD Scholarship will include fees at the 'home/EU' student rate and will cover maintenance (was £12,500 in 2005/06), for 3 years.

For informal enquiries contact Dr Jon Shaw: email [log in to unmask]; phone +44 1752 233063.

To apply for the Scholarship, please fill in an application form available from www.plymouth.ac.uk/pages/view.asp?page=5731 and submit the form and references to 

University of Plymouth
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK. 
 

Dr Jon Shaw
Reader in Human Geography
Associate Editor, Journal of Transport Geography

School of Geography
University of Plymouth
Drake Circus
Plymouth PL4 8AA
England, UK

T:  +44 (0)1752 233063
F:  +44 (0)1752 233052
E:  [log in to unmask]
W: www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/jshaw1