UNESCO Trail In Scotland – UNESCO Designations As Sites Of Restorative Integration And Embodied Decoloniality  

We are now welcoming applications for a fully-funded 3-year PhD with the UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts (UNESCO RILA).  Read on to find out more! 

About the team

This PhD will be supervised by Prof Alison Phipps, holder of the UNESCO Chair. Co-Supervision will be by Dr Sadie Ryan and a member of the UK National Commission for UNESCO in an advisory capacity.  You will join and be supported by an interdisciplinary team of researchers, artists, and professional staff as a member of the UNESCO RILA team.  

UNESCO’s UNITWIN and Chairs programme promotes international cooperation and networking to mobilise collaboration around the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 and in key priority areas related to UNESCO’s fields of competence – education, natural and social sciences, culture and communication.  

UNESCO RILA supports learning from contexts which have long-term refugee and migratory experiences and where resilience has been developed, often in the face of overwhelming linguistic and cultural destruction.  Working with our cross-sectorial partners, we engage in research and advocacy for creative and artistic approaches to integration, which sustain linguistic and cultural diversity, foster creativity and intercultural capabilities and promote peace.   

UNESCO RILA and our researchers are housed within the School of Education, and we are part of the “Culture, Literacies, Inclusion and Pedagogy” Research and Teaching Group.

The Project

The world’s first ever UNESCO Trail was launched on 15 October 2021, bringing together some of Scotland’s most iconic, diverse and culturally significant sites. Scotland’s UNESCO Trail is a unique partnership between VisitScotland, the Scottish Government, the UK National Commission for UNESCO, Historic Environment Scotland, NatureScot, the National Trust for Scotland and Scotland’s 13 UNESCO designations. The trail encourages members of the public to visit the full range of UNESCO place-based designation categories, e.g. New Lanark World Heritage Site, Edinburgh City of Literature, Shetland Global Geopark, and Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere. It brings together these diverse sites whilst promoting responsible tourism and demonstrating Scotland’s unique contribution to the world. 

UNESCO RILA is in the process of creating a parallel trail to accompany and complement Scotland’s UNESCO Trail through the co-design of learning and sharing opportunities linked to each site.  Working with Trail Partnership representatives and our global partners and networks, we will co-design a programme of activities, learning packs, and digital assets (housed in a project website) under a national framework for place-based cultural heritage engagement with global development and decolonising dimensions, linking each Scottish site with either UK and/or international UNESCO designations, and cultural practices from the list of intangible cultural heritage.    

By telling the stories of the land, the people, and our human heritage, we will engage with citizens of the UK and beyond in the pursuit of global peacebuilding.   

Through ‘co-creation visits’ we will, with designations and their stakeholders, design resources to support individuals and communities to develop skills and approaches to address chronic and acute global challenges such as xenophobia, conflict, and climate change.  By supporting concepts of Gal Gael (good Guesting and good Hosting) we will promote responsible tourism and intercultural dialogue with an ambition to support thriving communities whilst encouraging the protection of the natural and cultural heritage of the designations which benefits visitors and residents alike.    

The trail will also address UNESCO's core missions to contribute to the building of a culture of peace, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.  

This PhD will support the overall development of the RILA trail, concentrating on a subset of designations in Scotland (2-3 sites).  You will develop international networks through virtual and in-person visits to our collaborative partners.

We welcome project proposals that consider a sustainable, restorative approach to refugee integration and indigenous cultures, and how these can be translated into inclusive narrative experiences for visitors and stakeholders at UNESCO sites in Scotland.   

Eligibility

  • A good first degree (at least 2:1), preferably with a social science and/or Arts and Humanities component  
  • This is a 3-year PhD and therefore applicants should demonstrate that they do not require substantial research training.
  • A good Master’s degree (or overseas equivalent) with a significant component in any of the following:
    • Practice-based research;
    • Place-based learning;
    • Museum, migration and refugee studies and/or education;
    • Community development.    
  • A demonstratable interest in, and knowledge of: addressing inequalities; sustainability; decolonising heritage.  
  • A foundational understanding of:
    • The New Scots Integration Strategy;
    • UNESCO and UNESCO designations;
    • The role languages play in a range of migration issues;
    • Concepts underlying intercultural dialogue.  

Award Details

The scholarship is available as a 3-year programme only to commence September / October 2022.  Due to the nature of the funding, we regret that this studentship cannot be undertaken part-time.  

The funding includes: 

  • An annual stipend at the UKRI rate 
  • Fees at the standard home rate 
  • Students can also draw on a Research Training Support Grant, usually up to a maximum of £750 per year 
  • Students may also draw on UNESCO RILA Trail project funds, to be discussed and agreed as part of the studentship application and award process

As part of your application, you must submit a Research proposal explaining the fit with the wider UNESCO RILA Trail project.  Proposals should indicate and justify:  

  • Which UNESCO sites you would wish to work with both in and outside Scotland. 
  • Activities and methodologies you would propose to the designations. 
  • Project plan, including timeline and any required budget (RTSG can only be modestly supplemented by UNESCO RILA funds). 
  • How you will communicate your findings to audiences both inside and outside of academia, and use this communication to create positive change. 

Applicants must apply via the Scholarships Application Portal. Please see the College Graduate School website for full eligibility criteria and how to apply.

Closing Date: 29 May 2022 (11.59pm)

For additional information please contact Lauren Roberts (Lauren.Roberts@glasgow.ac.uk) 

First published: 21 April 2022

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