Faculty of Social Sciences
Department of Geography
Staff Profile
Jamie Kesten
j.kesten@open.ac.uk
Research Student
Geography
Profile
I am originally from Milton Keynes and currently in the third year of a full-time ESRC CASE studentship collaboration between the Open University and Milton Keynes Council.
Qualifications
MSc Ethnicity and Multiculturalism, Bristol University (2006)
BA American Studies, Brunel University (2004)
Awards and Achievements
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) CASE Studentship (2007-2010)
Professional Affiliations
Postgraduate Fellow, Royal Geographical Society with Institute of British Geographers
PhD Research Project
My research project investigates the ways in which multiculturally constituted communities become established in new urban spaces - considering the ways in which it might be possible to develop forms of inclusive growth, rather than looking for ways of more positively managing decline or fostering regeneration. It seeks to identify opportunities for increasing the effectiveness of multicultural community cohesion initiatives within Milton Keynes and explore how it might serve as a case study exemplar for policy interventions in other places with long as well as short multicultural histories.
The study will draw on the experience of two recently settled Black African migrant populations in the city (Ghanaian and Somali) and will examine the differences and difficulties, commonalities and successes in the two processes of inclusion, particularly focusing on the role of schools and provision for young people and on religious centres.
Recent Publications
Kesten, J. (2006) Assessing the effects of the Spatial Patterns of Refugees: A Case Study of Kosovar and Somali Refugees in Bristol (Unpublished MSc thesis)
Kesten, J. (2004) Higher Education in the United States… The Black Experience: African-American Male Experiences of Higher Education in the USA (Unpublished BA Hons thesis)
A repository of research publications and other research outputs can be viewed at The Open University's Open Research Online.
Other Interests
Alongside my academic interests I am also a Level 2 qualified basketball coach, referee and table official and run a successful community basketball club called the Shenley Scorpions.