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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 socioeconomic change. Creative economies enable broader readings of value across economic, social and cultural spheres, presenting opportunities for conceptual innovation in this project. Current debates on global production, such as with global value chains, have tended to neglect ideas of lead firms in Africa due to narrow understandings of value.
The project therefore aims to move beyond visions of Africa as resource-constrained to focus on creativity, ideas and innovation, including in sustainability, emerging across the continent. The PhD will focus on generating new data on fashion economies relevant to industry and pursue concept-building on lead firms in the global South.
Table of ContentKing's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, and a founding college and member institution of the federal University of London. King's was established in 1829 by King George IV and Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
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The studentship covers the following for four years:
African Leadership Centre, King’s College London
International political economy, creative and cultural studies
African nationals and be permanently resident in an African country;
The selection process will involve a pre-selection based on documents – CV, cover letter explaining your interest in the project and how your prior experience is relevant, and sample of written work (i.e MSc/MA thesis). Please email these documents to Dr Ikpe and Dr England in advance of applying through the KCL portal. If selected, this will be followed by an invitation to an interview. If successful at the interview, an offer will be made for PhD study and scholarship funding.
Please ensure that you send in all relevant documentation with your online application, as otherwise delays will occur in processing your application. Usually this includes:
A personal statement
A research proposal and/or project approval form
Transcripts of your previous qualifications (with official English translations if not originally in English)
An academic reference. Please note you may be required to obtain a second academic reference at the request of the department
Any English language qualifications that you have (if your first language is not English).
Some courses require specific additional documents to be submitted with the application, such as a sample of previous academic writing. Please check the ‘Entry requirement’ section in the course's entry on the postgraduate course finder for further details.
The selected candidates must then apply via King’s Apply online application system. Details are available at: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/how-to-apply
Please apply for Leadership Studies (with reference to Security and Development) (MPhil/PhD) and indicate Dr Eka Ikpe as your desired supervisor and the project title in your application and all correspondence.
Details on the PhD programme are available at: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/areas/leadership-studies-with-reference-to-security-and-development
In the funding section of the application (Award Scheme Code or Name) use the following code: 2324-AFRICA.
To submit a formal application, please register on our online application system King's Apply. If you have applied to King's previously, including via UCAS, you should already have an account. If are unable to access the online postgraduate application form, please contact our King's Advisors for advice.
For more details, visit KCL website