PhD in Tourist Destination Development

Research context

The PhD student will contribute to the research project CROCUS(Cross-border Cultural and Creative Tourism in Rural and Remote Areas) sponsored by the Horizon Europe program of the European Union and coordinated by Aalborg University.

CROCUS will study Rural and remote areas(RRA) which are rich in cultural heritage, but also often suffer from socio-economic problems such as an aging population, out-migration, and low incomes. Cultural and creative tourism(CCT) could help address these problems by creating sustainable jobs and investment, and the project will investigate three main issues:(1) how to develop place-specific business models that suit different types of cultural heritage and community needs;(2) how to ensure that tourism development is balanced and sustainable;(3) how to ensure that policies at different scales support cooperation between RRA.

During the project, eight cross-border living labs will be established in different parts of Europe by the project partners. The living labs will prototype a sustainable CCT business. In addition, the project will develop macro-regional and cross-border policy scenarios for each of the four EU macro-regions(Baltic Sea, Adriatic, Ionian, Alpine, and Danube). It will also create tools and resources that RRA across Europe and beyond can use to develop sustainable and inclusive CCT in the future.

CROCUS Ph.D. research

The PhD project is expected to contribute to CROCUS by undertaking research in at least one case study area, focusing on selected cultural resources that can potentially contribute to sustainable development in RRAs. One of the case studies will form part of Aalborg University’s contribution to the overall European project design and will therefore be undertaken in the border region between Denmark and Germany, most likely with a focus on cultural events. The other case study will be selected by the doctoral student in consultation with the Aalborg University research team: it could either be based around a similar cultural resource in a border region elsewhere in Europe or focus on the role of cultural events in tourist destination development in another part of Denmark.

The PhD study is expected to engage with the conceptual and methodological frameworks developed as part of CROCUS. The PhD candidate is expected to assist with establishing a living lab, follow its progress, and collect quantitative and qualitative data designed as part of the CROCUS project. Within this framework the PhD candidate is expected to develop their own research project, focusing on one of the following aspects of sustainable development of cultural and creative tourism in RRAs:

• business model innovation
• tourism policy and governance
• destination development and placemaking

The position

PhD stipends are for a period of 3 years. The PhD Fellow will be affiliated with the RECAST research group at the Department of Culture and Learning and will take part in the wider European research community with the CROCUS project. The teaching obligations of the PhD Fellow will take place at the department’s Bachelor and Master programs, especially the MA in Tourism. According to the Ministerial PhD Order, the PhD study also requires participation in active international research environments, including stays at other, mainly foreign, research institutions. CROCUS is based at the Aalborg Campus of the university, and physical presence will be expected at least three days every week. We offer a good working environment, aiming to make room for individual professional development while at the same time valuing the commitment of individual researchers to the larger community.

Qualification requirements

PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a relevant Master’s degree. Applicants must demonstrate scientific and communicative skills, be a good team player, and have experience with qualitative research methods. A good command of English is required as English is the working language of CROCUS, and knowledge of German and Danish or a Scandinavian language will be an advantage but not a prerequisite.

General information
It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at The Doctoral School of Social Sciences and Humanities, by the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1039 of 27 August 2013(PhD Order).

Application

Please visit the website of the doctoral school  for further information on the PhD programme, application procedure, and admission requirements.

To be considered for the position, the application mustbe written in English and contain the following:

• Application form(downloadhere )
• An application that describes your motivation for applying for the position(max 2 pages),
• Project description of a maximum of 5 pages. The project description must include an introduction with the project title, research questions, a short state-of-the-art within the research field, a short description of the project's methodological approach, and a proposed theoretical framework.
• Copy of diplomas/transcripts
• Curriculum vitae(CV)
• List of written work(optional)
• Sample of written work, e.g. Master's thesis(optional)

Shortlisting will be applied. This means that subsequent to the deadline for applications the head of department supported by the chair of the assessment committee will select candidates for assessment. All applicants will be informed whether they will be assessed or not.

The application can only be submitted by using the link on AAU’s job-portalhttps://www.stillinger.aau.dk/ (not other online job portals that may have reposted the position).. Please note that zipped files are not supported by the recruitment system, please upload only Word or PDF files.

Contact
For further information on the doctoral research programme, please visit the website of www.kultur.aau.dk
For further information on the PhD stipend, please contact Associate Professor Laura
James, [email protected].

For general information about the application process etc., please contact Lene Møller/ Vigdis Skomager-Bohnfeldt, e-mail:[email protected] /[email protected] , phone:+45 9940 9658/+45 9940 7408.

Appointment and salary as a PhD fellow are according to the Ministry of Finance Circular of 15 December 2021, on the Collective Agreement for Academics in Denmark, Appendix 5, regarding PhD fellows, and with the current Circular on the employment structure at Danish Universities. AAU wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background or belief.