About the Project
Applications are invited for a self-funded, 3 year full-time or 6 year part-time PhD project.
The PhD will be based in the Economics and Finance Subject area and will be supervised by Professor Shabbar Jaffry (first supervisor), Professor Giampaolo Viglia (second supervisor) and Dr Alexandros Apostolakis ( Hellenic Mediterranean University · Department of Business Administration and Tourism, third supervisor)
The work on this project will:
-contribute towards the economic sustainability of the destination area.
-actively contribute towards one of the major aspirations for young and older people in the European Union.
-allow researchers to introduce heterogeneity among respondents’ preferences.
-lay the fundamentals that underline social policy passing from a “needs – based” model (passive form of policy making) to a “rights – based” model, which requires a change in social perception of older people, in a way that it recognises that it is necessary to provide all people with the opportunity to live in the most independent and stable manner possible.
Project description
The principal research question being dealt within this proposal delves around the impact of active tourism as a policy tool to slow down the adverse effects of an ageing society. The question therefore is what novel policy responses can be put forward (within the realms of the tourism and hospitality paradigm) to facilitate the mitigation of such problems? Correspondingly, the main purpose of the proposed research programme is to evaluate societal preferences towards a new form of policy and managerial intervention, namely the application of tourism and hospitality resources in achieving the goal of active ageing for the population.
The main research aim is to provide support towards evidence based policy making, utilizing tourism as a novel policy making initiative. The proposal calls for a re-orientation of social policy, away from passive, reactive and end – of – the line policy actions that seems to target the adverse effects of an ageing society at later stages of individuals’ lives.
Concurrently, the research objectives are set as follows: First, to examine whether or not individuals would be willing to pay (to finance) policy initiatives like the one identified through the active ageing and tourism concepts. The facilitation of active ageing concept within a tourism context is a new form of service provision, and thus, there is no recorded evidence in terms of what the society would prefer to see implemented and how much it would be willing to pay to support such policy and managerial initiatives. Second, to examine the extent to which individuals’ preferences vary over the population with respect to the provision of active forms of tourism activity. Using an appropriate research methodology, the proposed research programme intends to introduce heterogeneity of preferences within individuals’ responses (as opposed to considering them all the same across the board).
Entry requirements
You’ll need a good first degree from an internationally recognised university (minimum upper second class or equivalent, depending on your chosen course) or a Master’s degree in Economics, Tourism, Economics, Public Policy or a related area. In exceptional cases, we may consider equivalent professional experience and/or Qualifications. English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.
How to apply
We’d encourage you to contact Prof. Shabbar Jaffry ([Email Address Removed]) to discuss your interest before you apply, quoting the project code.
When you are ready to apply, you can use our online application form (please follow the institution website link to access it) . Make sure you submit a personal statement, proof of your degrees and grades, details of two referees, proof of your English language proficiency and an up-to-date CV. Our ‘How to Apply’ page offers further guidance on the PhD application process.
Please also include a research proposal of 1,000 words outlining the main features of your proposed research design – including how it meets the stated objectives, the challenges this project may present, and how the work will build on or challenge existing research in the above fields.
When applying please quote project code: ECFN4741020
Funding Notes
Self-funded PhD students only.
PhD full-time and part-time courses are eligible for the UK Government Doctoral Loan (UK and EU students only).
The Faculty of Business and Law offers funding to attend conferences (currently £550), training (currently £450), and a work-based placement (currently a maximum of £3,000 tied up to the period of 12 weeks).