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Values and Learning in Urban Environments

Stakeholders have continuously referred to the need for spaces for reflection to have different kinds of discussions about sustainability in Greater Manchester. This work creates such spaces and contributes to the possibility of more coordinated coherent action for sustainability.

What values do stakeholders have for sustainability? What are the implications for how the city-region is organised, what decisions are taken and who is involved? How can the city-region better learn, reflect and engage its citizens in developing more sustainable futures?

This flagship initiative has three main aims:

1. To create a context for movement from individual to collaborative reflexivity around the values of and for sustainability in Greater Manchester

2. To contribute to the development of cultural memory and learning through knowledge exchange activities

3. To develop a holistic evaluation framework for qualitative research-practice relationships, trialled in real-time through the Greater Manchester platform

The work will be carried out through mixed methods, some pre-defined and others responding to the Greater Manchester LIP’s programme of activities as a whole. They include production of a Thinking Allowed paper, drawing on an intellectual orientation and interview programme; a suite of focus groups, seminars and translation of work for different audiences (including academic outputs); and an annual evaluation report based on reflexive self-evaluation by partners, interviews and desk-based impact mapping.

Publications

May, T. & Perry, B. In Social Research: Issues, Methods and Process, 4th edition, T. May (ed). McGraw, Berkshire: Open University Press, 2011
Type: Book chapter
May, T. (2012). Values and learning in urban environments: possibilities and practice. Conference paper presented at the IFHP 56th World Congress: Inclusive cities in a global world, The International Federation for Housing and Planning (IFHP). Gothenburg, Sweden, 16-19 September 2012.
Type: Conference paper (peer-reviewed)
May, T. and Perry, B. (2014). Temporality and diversity: what role for pluralistic and engaged research practices in the future university? Inspiring future generations: embracing plurality and difference in higher education, Society for Research into Higher Education/AHRC Connected Communities programme. Newport, South Wales, UK.
Type: Conference paper (peer-reviewed)
May, T., & Perry, B. (2011). Universities, reflexivity and critique: cultures and contexts of research production. Conference paper presented at The Seventh International Critical Management Studies Conference. Naples, Italy, July 11-13, 2011.
Type: Conference paper (peer-reviewed)
May, T. Interrogating Urban Crisis: Governance, Contestation and Critique Conference, Urban Studies and Urban Studies Foundation Conference, Local Government Research Unit, De Montfort University. Leicester, U.K., 2013.
Type: Conference paper (peer-reviewed)