News | Tuesday, 27th June 2023
Researchers make a splash at the Regional Studies Association Conference in Ljubljana
Researchers from the Business Transformations Research Centre recently travelled to Ljubljana, Slovenia, to chair sessions on place management and present their latest research about place at the 2023 Regional Studies Association Conference.
In June, researchers from the Business Transformations Research Centre at Manchester Metropolitan University travelled to the vibrant and green city of Ljubljana, Slovenia, to present their latest research about place at the Regional Studies Association (RSA) Conference. The theme of the RSA Conference this year was “Transforming Regions: Policies and Planning for People and Places” and it was held at the School of Economics and Business, University of Ljubljana.
The group included:
- Dr Steve Millington, Reader in Place Management and Director IPM
- Dr Chloe Steadman, Senior Lecturer in Marketing and Researcher IPM
- Dr Nikos Ntounis, Lecturer in Marketing and Senior Research Associate IPM
- Dr Jenny Kanellopoulou, Senior Lecturer in Law
- Gareth Roberts, Head of Projects and Operations IPM and doctoral student
- Afroditi Kazakou, Research Assistant IPM and doctoral student
- Jamie Hamill, BIDs practitioner and doctoral student.
The team were involved in organising and chairing six paper sessions at the conference, delivering research presentations and a walking tour. Drawing on their research into urban squats, on 14th June, Jenny Kanellopoulou and Nikos Ntounis led a two-hour cultural walking tour of Ljubljana’s squatted and ‘alternative’ cultural areas, alongside their colleague Dr Aidan Cerar from the Slovenian Institute of Spatial Policies (iPoP), for around 25 conference delegates. The tour visited the formerly squatted bike factory of Autonomous Rog and the cultural hub of Metelkova, and received positive feedback from participants.
In relation to their ongoing research project – “Framework for the evaluation of social transformation through cultural heritage” - Jenny Kanellopoulou and Nikos Ntounis also organised and chaired two sessions on 15th June relating to cultural heritage, showcasing the research of their project colleagues Dr Aggelos Panayiotopulos, Liverpool John Moores University, Dr Ioannis Papageorgiou, CEO of the Rhodes Centre for History and Social Research, and PhD student Zoe Touvra, University of the Aegean.
Across 15th-16th June, Steve Millington, Chloe Steadman, Gareth Roberts, and Nikos Ntounis organised and chaired four sessions relating to place management, themed around: concepts and methodologies (chaired by Steve Millington), participatory approaches (chaired by Chloe Steadman), case studies (chaired by Gareth Roberts), and culture (chaired by Nikos Ntounis). Alongside featuring the work of scholars working in these areas from around the world, during these sessions Steve Millington presented findings from the IPM’s Vital and Viable Manchester Project, Chloe Steadman discussed experiences of using engaged scholarship in this same project, Jenny Kanellopoulou presented about governance in Greece through the lens of film, and Gareth Roberts, Afroditi Kazakou, and Jamie Hamill presented their ongoing doctoral research being conducted at Manchester Met.
The conference was important for enhancing the international recognition of Manchester Met and IPM research excellence on place. Conference discussions may lead to future collaborations between the RSA and IPM, and the IPM and the Slovenian Institute of Spatial Policies, such as joint research events about place. Another potential outcome is the group have had positive conversations with publishers about a proposed Handbook of Place Management, to be co-edited by Steve Millington and Nikos Ntounis. Watch this space!
