GaWC Project 79

Gateways into GaWC

Workshop on "New Ways of Thinking about Abu Dhabi as an Emerging Global City"

Funded by: Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development (ADCED)

Logo ADCED

Principal contact: Peter Taylor

The workshop was held on January 26-7 2009 and was attended by c. 100 public and private managers. The aim was to provide this group of leading citizens with new ways of thinking about their city through a GaWC perspective.

The Workshop Team

Workshop leader:	Peter Taylor. Loughborough University
Workshop organizer:	Andrew Wilson, Loughborough University
How commerce uses cities:	Peter Taylor, Loughborough University
Business knowledges:	Jon Beaverstock, Nottingham University James Faulconbridge, Lancaster University
Transport and logistics:	Ben Derudder, Ghent University Frank Witlox, Ghent University
Governance:	John Harrison, Loughborough University James Sidaway, Plymouth University
Creative Economy:	Phil Hubbard, Loughborough University Andy Pratt, London School of Economics Allan Watson, Staffordshire University
Global education hubs:	Michael Hoyler, Loughborough University Heike Jöns, Loughborough University Andrew Wilson, Loughborough University
Sustainability:	Kathy Pain, Loughborough University (+ panel with Hubbard and Sidaway)

Workshop Programme

Monday 26th January

Time	Topic	Activity	People
Day 1	Global city for commerce and business		Dr Andrew Wilson
9.00	1.01 Welcome and Introduction	Scene-setting	Professor Peter Taylor
9.15	1.02 Abu Dhabi in comparison to global commerce and business centres	Table work and discussion	GaWC team
9.55	1.03 How businesses use cities in contemporary globalization	Presentation	Professor Peter Taylor
10.15	1.04 How do businesses use Abu Dhabi?	Table work	GaWC team
10.30	1.05 Abu Dhabi as a city in contemporary globalization	Plenary	Professor Peter Taylor
10.45	Coffee break
11.15	1.06 Knowledges in global city clusters and networks	Presentation	Professor Jon Beaverstock & Dr James Faulconbridge
11.35	1.07 What are the business knowledges in Abu Dhabi?	Table work & discussion	GaWC team
12.05	1.08 Focusing on transport and logistics	Presentation	Professor Ben Derudder & Professor Frank Witlox
12.20	1.09 Knowledges , logistics and governance	Presentation	Professor James Sidaway & Dr John Harrison
12.35	1.10 Reflection	Participants to comment	Dr Andrew Wilson
12.50	1.11 Where have we got to and what's next?	Closing session	Professor Peter Taylor
1.00	Close and lunch

Tuesday 27th January

Time	Topic	Activity	People
Day 2	Global city of culture and sustainability		Dr Andrew Wilson
9.00	2.01 Welcome back & introduction to Day 2	Taking stock and moving on	Professor Peter Taylor
9.15	2.02 Abu Dhabi in comparison to successful culture cities	Table work & discussion	GaWC team
9.55	2.03 Culture and creative industries in global cities	Presentation	Dr Andrew Pratt, Professor Phil Hubbard & Allan Watson
10.15	2.04 How do creative industries use Abu Dhabi?	Table work	GaWC team
10.30	2.05 Global educational hubs	Presentation	Dr Heike Jöns, Dr Andrew Wilson & Michael Hoyler
10.45	Coffee break
11.15	2.06 What is a sustainable city?	Presentation	Dr Kathryn Pain
11.25	2.07 Task group working: groups defined by the 4 types of sustainability.	Group work	GaWC team
12.10	2.08 Posters displayed	Brief plenary and then viewing	Dr Andrew Wilson
12.25	2.09 Abu Dhabi as a sustainable city in contemporary globalization	Plenary	Dr Kathryn Pain
12.35	2.10 Reflection	Participants to comment	Dr Andrew Wilson
12.45	2.11 Where have we reached in two days and where to go from here	Closing session	Professor Peter Taylor
1.00	Close and lunch