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Thesis title: Decentralization, Localism, and the Governance of Strategic Tourism Policy and Planning in England
Primary supervisor: John Tomaney
Secondary supervisor: Mike Raco
Starting date: December 2012
Projected completion date: December 2016
In political science, public administration and planning sciences there is a debate over the extent and efficiency of decentralization as far the delivery of public policy is concerned. Considering federalization, devolution, multilevel governance, and localism approaches, it became more complex to identify the ideal approach for policy making and implementation, as well as the optimal model for effective participation and co-ordination.
In the case of tourism planning, the impacts and assessments have been the focus of the majority of tourism studies. However, limited attention has been paid to tourism governance and administration systems, and their potentials and limitations on tourism policy making and implementation. Since many tourism plans and regulations are not applied or are only partially applied, this highlights the importance of the policy making and implementation for the tourism industry.
The aim of my thesis is to investigate the implications of decentralization and localism movements in England on the development of the governance of strategic tourism policy making and implementation. This will involve:
An in-depth critical review of the debates concerning characteristics, mechanisms, and consequences of centralization, decentralization, multi- level governance, and localism on policy making and implementation, as well as on development outcomes. Place- based identity and its political economy analysis will form the key concept to investigate the implications of decentralization and localism movements on the development of the governance of tourism policy making and implementation in England.
- Biography
Dimah holds a Bachelor Degree in Architectural Engineering, with first class honours, from the Faculty of Architecture & Urban Planning, Damascus University, Syria. Owing to her academic awards and achievements, she was assigned as a full-time faculty member at the Faculty of Architecture & Urban Planning, Damascus University, Syria, where she lectured in Architectural Design for first and second year students, and Urban Design and Planning for fourth and fifth year students, from May 2007 to June 2010. In addition, she was assigned as a part- time faculty member at the Faculty of Architecture at Arab European University, Syria, in which Dimah lectured in Architectural Design for first year students. Further, Dimah has been awarded a fully- funded scholarship to pursue Master and PhD studies in Urban & Regional Planning in the USA and UK.
In 2012, Dimah graduated with a Master Degree in Urban & Regional Planning and with a specialization degree in Urban Design & Physical Planning from the State University of New York, United States of America. In the USA, Dimah was awarded full grade 4.00/4.00 in the fall term 2011, full grade 4.00/4.00 in the overall grade of urban design specialization, and the excellence grade 3.62/ 4.00 in the overall graduation score for the Master program. In addition, she was granted two planning awards by the American Planning Association (APA) in 2012. Later on, she pursued an MSc in Spatial Planning at the Bartlett School of Planning, UCL from September to October 2012, and currently she is pursuing her MPhil/ PhD research in Planning and Governance at UCL.
To enhance her academic and professional career, Dimah pursued a Teacher Training Programme for Postgraduate Students in the UK/ Leading a Community out of Conflict program, UK/ Reconsidering Atlantis: Inside Buffalo's Grain Elevators, USA/ American Planning Association's National Planning Conference, USA.
- Publications and other work
Publications
Ajeeb, Dimah. (2012). Local Governments' Urban Design and Planning Strategies and Policies. MSc Thesis/ Master of Urban and Regional Planning, The State University of New York, USA
Ajeeb, Dimah; Atalay, Ozlem; Cook, Natalie; Cotton, Darren; Huang, Xiyu; Lindquist, Anika; Luo, Zhaoyu; Merchant, Julian; Sakalauskas, Michael; Yan, Cheng; Yu, Meng. (2012). Against the Grain: A New Direction for the Old First Ward.
Ajeeb, Dimah. (2008). Municipal Administration Modernization (MAM) Project in Syria, Proposals and Implementations. Library of Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Damascus University (LFAPDU).
Ajeeb, Dimah. (2008). The Development of Building Regulations and its Implications on Damascus City. (LFAPDU).
Ajeeb, Dimah; Adanov, Juliana (2008). Sustainable Urban Design in the Desert. (LFAPDU).
Ajeeb, Dimah. (2007). International Conventions and Heritage (Tunis vs. Lubeck). (LFAPDU).
Ajeeb, Dimah. (2007). Therapeutic Tourist Resorts “Therapeutic Tourism”. (LFAPDU).
Ajeeb, Dimah. (2007). Principles of Architectural Design for Buildings in the Desert Areas: Building Proportions, Mass, Materials and Details. (LFAPDU).
Conferences & Workshops
2011. Reconsidering Atlantis: Inside Buffalo's Grain Elevators
2011. American Planning Association's National Planning Conference
2008. Know About Business Program (KAB)
2007. The Second International Conference of Consolidation Arab and Muslim cities
2006. Conference of Arab Architects, City of Aleppo, Syria
Administrative Experience
UCL Localism Doctoral Network: Workshop Leader
EcoWeek London Conference: Workshop Leader
UCL Sensing Environments Doctoral Network: Committee Member
Silk City Forum: Committee Member
Other Contributions in Architecture and Urban Planning
2006-2008
Al-Aqaryah Company for Architecture, Construction, and Real Estate
2004- 2005
Rehabilitation of Zamalka ancient area lanes – Damascus.
Rehabilitation of Qudsaya area- New Damascus.
Upgrade for the soil of AL-Albeit, Old Damascus
2003- 2004
Upgrade for the Kawkabaeiah soil, Old Damascus.
Rehabilitation of Khan Asaad Basha
Architectural and archeological upgrade in Maaret Seydnaya – Maaloola.
Historical and architectural study for the Great Umayyad Mosque, Sheikh Mohee-Eddin mosque, and Zetona church – Hanania church in Damascus