Mr. Girma Mulu Alemu | Urban Studies | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Girma Mulu Alemu, TU Dortmund/Ardhi University, Tanzania

Mr. Girma Mulu Alemu (b. 15 Jan 1989) is an Ethiopian lecturer and researcher at Ardhi University, Tanzania . He holds dual MSc degrees in Urban Management (Erasmus University) and Urban Planning (ECSU), and is currently a PhD candidate in Urban Planning and Management. His research focuses on peri-urbanization, climate vulnerability, and smallholder farmers . Girma has authored several scholarly articles and received prestigious fellowships including NUFFIC and DAAD. With a decade of academic, administrative, and field experience, he contributes actively to teaching, research, and community engagement across Africa

Professional Experience

Mr. Girma Mulu Alemu brings over a decade of diverse professional experience in academia and public service. He currently serves as a Lecturer and Researcher at Haramaya University, Ethiopia (2015–present), where he also led the School of Geography and Environmental Studies as Head in 2021. Previously, he worked as a Senior Expert in Urban Land Use and Renewal in Adama (2014–2015), and as a Sociologist with the Borena Zone Water Authority in Yabello (2010–2014). His work spans teaching, research, urban planning, and rural development engagements across sectors

🎓 Education & Academic Training

Mr. Girma Mulu Alemu is currently pursuing his PhD in Urban Planning and Management at Ardhi University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. His research focuses on peri-urbanization, climate vulnerability, and the socio-economic marginality of smallholder farmers in Addis Ababa. In 2021, he completed a Higher Diploma Program in Education at Haramaya University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. Girma’s academic journey reflects a strong interdisciplinary foundation in urban planning, sustainability, and community development, equipping him with the skills to address complex urban-rural interface challenges across Africa

📚 Academic Qualifications

Mr. Girma Mulu Alemu holds a strong academic background in urban and social sciences. He earned his MSc in Urban Management and Development from IHS, Erasmus University of Rotterdam, Netherlands (2016–2017). He also holds an MSc in Urban Planning and Development from Ethiopian Civil Service University (2012–2014), and a BA in Sociology from Jigjiga University (2007–2010). In 2021, he completed a Certificate in the Higher Diploma Program in Education at Haramaya University. His education reflects a comprehensive blend of urban planning, development policy, and social research expertise.

🏅 Honours & Awards

Mr. Girma Mulu Alemu has been recognized with prestigious international scholarships for his academic excellence and research potential . In 2016, he was awarded the NUFFIC Scholarship under the Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP) to pursue his MSc in Urban Management and Development at Erasmus University, Netherlands . Later, in 2021, he received the DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship (57572498) from the German Academic Exchange Service to support his PhD studies in Urban Management and Development in Tanzania. These awards reflect his commitment to addressing urbanization and sustainability challenges in developing regions

🔍 Research Focus

Mr. Girma Mulu Alemu’s research is rooted in urban planning, land governance, and rural-urban transformation. His studies focus on the socio-economic marginalization of smallholder farmers due to peri-urban expansion, land tenure insecurity, and the impacts of urban sprawl around Addis Ababa. He also explores adaptive strategies of vulnerable communities facing climate challenges in transitional zones. His work contributes significantly to understanding sustainable development, urban land policy, and community resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa. Through qualitative and empirical analysis, Mr. Alemu bridges urban studies and social justice in development planning.

Publication Top Notes

📘 Alemu, G.M. (2017) – Impacts of condominium housing development on the property rights and tenure security of smallholder farmers in peri-urban Addis Ababa [Master’s Thesis, Erasmus University Rotterdam] – 📅 2017
📘 Alemu, G.M. & Kombe, W. (Forthcoming) – Sprawling Cities, Shrinking Farmland: Urban Expansion and Smallholder Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa – 📅 Forthcoming | 📝 Submitted to International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development (Taylor & Francis)
📘 Alemu, G.M., Schramm, S., & Kombe, W. (Forthcoming) – Hustling and Bustling: Smallholder Farmers Coping Strategies in Peri-urban Addis Ababa – 📅 Forthcoming | 📝 Submitted to Habitat International (Elsevier)
📘 Alemu, G.M., Schramm, S., & Kombe, W. (Forthcoming) – Smallholder Farmers’ Socio-Economic Marginality in Peri-urban Addis Ababa – 📅 Forthcoming | 📝 Submitted to Cogent Social Sciences (Taylor & Francis)

Dr. Se Hoon Park | Urban Planning | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Se Hoon Park, Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements, South Korea

Se Hoon Park is a distinguished urban planning expert from South Korea, currently serving as Director and Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements (KRIHS). With a Ph.D. in Urban Planning from Seoul National University, his research focuses on state-society relations in urban development, culture-led urban regeneration, and planning history. He has collaborated with organizations like UN-Habitat, the World Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank. Dr. Park has held notable roles, including Senior Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics and Director of KRIHS’s Global Development Partnership Center. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and influential policy reports, contributing extensively to urban policy advancements. His dedication has earned him several awards, including the Excellent Paper Award from the Korea Planning Association.

Publication Profile

Scopus

📚 Education

Se Hoon Park earned his Ph.D. in Urban Planning from Seoul National University in 2001, focusing on urban social policies in colonial Korea. His dissertation explored the intricate relationships between neighborhood associations, moral indoctrination, and district welfare commissioners under the guidance of Professor Tai-Joon Kwon. Prior to his doctorate, he completed a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from Seoul National University in 1994. His academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Ceramic Engineering from Yonsei University in 1992. Throughout his academic career, Dr. Park has deepened his expertise through international research experiences, including a visiting scholar role at the University of Tokyo and a Senior Visiting Fellowship at the London School of Economics in 2023, further contributing to his comprehensive understanding of urban development challenges and solutions.

🏢 Experience

Dr. Se Hoon Park has over two decades of experience in urban planning and policy. Since 2003, he has served as Associate Researcher, Research Fellow, and Senior Research Fellow at KRIHS. His leadership roles include Director of the Urban Research Division and Director of the Global Development Partnership Center. Dr. Park’s international experience includes a Senior Visiting Fellowship at the London School of Economics and a consultancy with UN-Habitat. He has also served as a consultant to the Office for Government Policy Coordination in South Korea and worked as an Associate Researcher at the Seoul Development Institute. Additionally, his academic engagements include serving as a Visiting Scholar at the University of Tokyo. His extensive experience in advising urban policy reforms, promoting sustainable urban development, and fostering international partnerships makes him a leading figure in the field of urban planning.

🏆 Awards and Honors

Dr. Se Hoon Park has received numerous accolades for his impactful contributions to urban planning. His awards include the Excellent Paper Award from the Korea Planning Association in 2018 and the International Activity Award in 2016 for his research on urban growth regimes. In 2016, he received an Official Commendation from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport for his policy contributions. He was also honored with the Book of the Year Award by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in 2014 for his edited volume, Beyond Creative Cities: From Cultural Developmentalism to Creative Community. In addition, he earned an Official Commendation from the Minister for Cabinet Office in 2008. These accolades reflect his dedication to advancing urban policies and fostering inclusive, sustainable urban environments.

🧪 Research Focus

Dr. Se Hoon Park’s research spans state-society relations in urban development, culture-led urban regeneration, and planning history, particularly in Korea and East Asia. He critically analyzes the impacts of government-led cultural districts and explores how urban policies shape societal dynamics. His work often investigates creative city strategies and their implications for urban resilience. Additionally, he examines international development cooperation from an urban perspective, contributing to sustainable urban growth frameworks. Dr. Park’s recent publications address participatory urban governance, urban regeneration in Incheon, and marketization’s influence on North Korean urban planning. His interdisciplinary research bridges urban sociology, policy analysis, and cultural geography, making significant contributions to both academic scholarship and policy implementation.

Publication Top Notes

📝 Park, S.H. (2025) – New Urban Governance and the Dilemma of Participatory Planning in South Korea, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Forthcoming.
🖼️ Park, S.H. and Shin, H.R. (2024) – The Entrepreneurial Creative City and Its Discontents: The Politics of Art-led Urban Regeneration in Incheon, South Korea, Urban Studies, [Cited By: –].
🏙️ Park, S.H. and Kim, J.E. (2018) – Constructing ‘Participating Citizen’: Urban Regeneration Activists and Changing State-Civil Society Relation in Seoul, Space and Environment, 28(3), pp. 9-39, [Cited By: 15].
🌆 Park, S.H. and Song, J.E. (2017) – Marketization and its Impact on Urban Planning Practices in North Korea, Journal of Korea Planners Association, 52(7), pp. 55-71, [Cited By: 22].
🏢 Sonn, J.W., Shin, H.R., and Park, S.H. (2017) – A Mega Urban Project and Two Competing Accumulation Strategies: Songdo International Business District Development, International Development Planning Review, 39(3), pp. 299-317, [Cited By: 38].
🎨 Park, S.H. (2016) – Can We Implant an Artist Community? Government-led Cultural Districts in Korea, Cities, 56, pp. 172-179, [Cited By: 29].
📍 Joo, Y.M. and Park, S.H. (2016) – Overcoming Urban Growth Coalition: Culture-Led Urban Revitalization in Busan, South Korea, Urban Affairs Review, 53(5), pp. 1-15, [Cited By: 31].
🏛️ Park, S.H. (2016) – Understanding the New Urban Agenda of Habitat III: Background, Features and Implications for Korean Cities, Space and Society, 26(4), pp. 9-39, [Cited By: 12].
🌉 Shin, H.R., Park, S.H., and Sonn, J.W. (2015) – Multi-scalar Growth Regime and Scalar Tension in Songdo New City, Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 33, pp. 1618-1638, [Cited By: 44].
🧩 Park, S.H. (2015) – Operational Characters of Intermediary Organizations in Community Planning, Journal of the Korean Urban Management Association, 28(3), pp. 75-104, [Cited By: 10].

Se Hoon Park | Urban Planning | Best Researcher Award