This is a short article I wrote (without the cartoons) for the University of Sheffield Doctoral Times Magazine. The final formatted version has been published and accessible from here https://www.flipsnack.com/Tuostimes/doctoral-times-issue-17.html (Pg. 13) It was during my undergraduate days in Ghana that I developed the romantic idea of becoming an academic. At that time, I saw being … Continue reading Reflections on the PhD journey: an academic life story
academia
Cape Chronicles III: What will you tell your kids in the year 2066?
In 5o years’ time - i.e. the year 2066 - what do you say to your kids and grandchildren when they ask you: “Dad what were you doing in 2016 when the world seemed to have gone into free fall?", "What did you do when there were so many reports of poverty, violence and injustice … Continue reading Cape Chronicles III: What will you tell your kids in the year 2066?
Cape Chronicles II: Johnny Just Come
It has already been a week since I arrived in the Mother City but I still feel like 'Johnny Just Come' (JJC)! But this is not the usual JJC syndrome of being in awe and not knowing how things work. My JJC is more psychological and I realise that it goes back to the cold … Continue reading Cape Chronicles II: Johnny Just Come
Cape Chronicles I – Sarafina! and predeparture briefing
For the next 5 weeks I have the privilege of calling Cape Town my home. I am embarking on a research visit to the University of Cape Town and will be hosted by the African Centre for Cities. The aim of my research visit is to explore the planning issues associated with the use of tourism for … Continue reading Cape Chronicles I – Sarafina! and predeparture briefing
Ciao Napoli – I hope to see you again!
My first outside social encounter in Napoli on the second night of my stay in the city took place at the entrance of a restaurant and unfolded like this: Me: "Are you already serving food?" Italian Waiter:"Food?" Me:"Yes!" Italian Waiter:"Do you want to eat?" Me:"Yes!" Italian Waiter:"Do you have money?" Me:"What?!?" Italian Waiter:"Do you have … Continue reading Ciao Napoli – I hope to see you again!
The continued existence of international development researchers
On The Guardian’s Global Development Professionals Network page, I recently came across an article and from where I ‘borrowed’ the title for this blog post. In that short article (which you can see here) the author raises some interesting points about current international development practice. The central question posed by the author is whether International … Continue reading The continued existence of international development researchers
Metaphors we fly by: 2 weeks at the University of Surrey
How time flies! (that is a metaphor right there but I will get to that later). With a mixture of sadness and gladness, today is my last day in Guildford where I have been on a research visit to the University of Surrey for the past two weeks. It has been a very good and productive … Continue reading Metaphors we fly by: 2 weeks at the University of Surrey
Researcher Reflexivity in Planning Research: My view from Elmina, Ghana*
As a Ghanaian keenly interested in the development of my country I feel very frustrated most times when I think of the considerable abuse of power coupled with the systemic and structural constraints to innovative thinking among planners and policy makers. Within this context of yearning for development in Ghana, the conduct of my fieldwork … Continue reading Researcher Reflexivity in Planning Research: My view from Elmina, Ghana*
100 key research questions for the post-2015 development agenda: a research paper
I am please to announce the publication of a new research article that identifies 100 key questions to be considered in the context of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In March, 2015 I wrote a short blog post about a working paper that was published as part of a research project I was involved in … Continue reading 100 key research questions for the post-2015 development agenda: a research paper
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are dead! 100 key questions for the post-2015 development agenda
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will be dead by the end of this year (2015). There are many ways to write the obituary of this global endeavour. Irrespective of how you write it, one thing remains true and that is, the MDGs were (over) ambitious but they brought global attention to a number of issues. There … Continue reading The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are dead! 100 key questions for the post-2015 development agenda
Emmanuel Akwasi Adu-Ampong 