About

What we do

Better future collage

What is the purpose of the Cities Research Centre?

  • Providing an intellectual focus of scholarship relating to our key research themes (see below);
  • Shaping the academic community in which we work – across a full range of academic activities;
  • Identifying and exploring gaps in knowledge in our national and international academic communities;
  • Generating knowledge for funding agencies/practice;
  • Converting our research knowledge into teaching/CPD material; and,
  • Being a critical force for change in public policy

The research themes of the Cities Research Centre

The Cities Research Centre aims to improve understanding about urban change and urban governance. Its work has four core strands:

  • Exploring developments in multi-level governance with particular reference to urban policy debates and the EU and the contribution of neighbourhoods in multi-level governance.
  • Analysis of the relationships between economic competitiveness, social cohesion and governance at city-region and sub-regional scales.
  • Examining the impact of new governance trends in localities and neighbourhoods with specific reference to civil society, competition and cohesion, collaboration, local leadership and public participation.
  • Exploring how evidence and knowledge are created and validated in the policy process.

Examples of our projects in relation to these themes can be found on the research pages.