This project seeks to understand how fashion producers in Africa use knowledge, technology, capital and inputs to create social, economic and cultural value for domestic and global markets and how this influences socio-economic change. The project therefore aims to move beyond visions of Africa as limited resources to focus on the creativity, ideas and innovation, including sustainability, emerging across the continent. The King's College London Africa Studentships Ph.D. will focus on generating new data on fashion economies relevant to the industry and will seek to build concepts in leading companies in the global South.
King's College London envisages the researcher using mixed methods case study research, including (for example) analysing industry data, surveys, interviews, focus groups and observations. Nevertheless, these will be defined more specifically during the project. The project will focus on one (or more) African country cases. This will complement the existing case studies carried out by the supervisors (Nigeria, Kenya). The supervisors have established partners in South Africa, including SACO (South Africa Cultural Observatory), which would facilitate a research focus on South Africa. However, the team is open to exploring alternative contexts.
VALUE
The internship covers the following four years:
- Tuition fees at the highest international rate;
- An annual stipend (living allowance): at the UKRI rate (for the year 2022/23, it has been set at 19,688 pounds);
- Research costs up to £5,000 a year.
ELIGIBILITY
- African citizens and permanent residents of an African country;
- We plan to start a full-time master's and doctoral programme at King's College London in the 2023-24 academic year (ideally, we would like to start in October 2023, but no later than January 2024).
- Meet the academic requirements for enrolment in the PhD programme in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Politics at King's College London.
- You must have or expect to obtain a High Merit or Distinction at Master's level (or equivalent) in any subject.
- Subject areas of particular relevance would include, but not be limited to: International Political Economy; Political Economy; Fashion Management; Business; Development Studies; Culture, Media and Creative Industries; Politics; Sociology; Geography; Social Sciences.
- A strong interest in fashion and the creative economy (academic, professional, personal).
- Good teamwork, observation, organisation and communication skills.
- Experience with qualitative and quantitative methods.
DEADLINE: 30th June 2023
To apply and find out more, sign up here
