James Derounian
B.Sc., M.Sc. (Newcastle), MRTPI, FHEA

Positions
National Teaching Fellow
Principal Lecturer

Contact
Email: jderounian@glos.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1242 714562

James Derounian is a practitioner-turned-academic. During the 1980s James was a rural community worker in Devon, encouraging villagers to set up community-run services. From 1985-93 he worked in Northumberland on a Rural Development Programme. This involved helping communities to tap into funding for tourism, social welfare and other rural development projects. James external examines at the National University Ireland and at the University of Bradford.

He leads field visits to the continent (exploring European Union policies and making comparisons with those in the UK). James has also completed a number of rural study tours to Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and other EU destinations.

James maintains strong work connections with agencies involved in community development and is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI). He serves on the RTPI Rural Panel and undertakes action research for agencies such as the Carnegie UK Trust and Housing Corporation. In 2007 he was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in recognition of his teaching ; and in 2007 was nominated for a LifeChanger award by students. 

Undergraduate Teaching
LOP105 Community and Locality
LOP106 Action with Communities
GE107 Fieldweek: East London
CRI203 Youth & Community Justice
EL210 Community Development theory and Practice
EL242 Design in the Community
EL307 Participation and Consultation
LP333 Dissertations

Research Interests
Inspirational teaching and learning
Local Governance
Rural Planning
Community-based action
Social Issues in the Countryside

Recent Publications
Derounian, J.G. (2009 forthcoming with colleagues) Action research to produce ‘Faith in Affordable Housing — A DIY Manual for using Church land and property for affordable housing’, Housing Justice, London

Derounian, J.G. (2008) Paper to the Higher Education Research and Development Society of
Australasia (HERDSA) annual conference on ‘Community Development: lessons for universities in engaging their communities’, Rotorua, NZ

Derounian, J.G. (2008) Paper on ‘Inspirational Teaching in HE’ to the ‘Celebrating Connections’ ISSOTL conference in Edmonton, Canada

Derounian, J.G. (2007) Presentation to Methods for Local Development conference, ‘Aspiration, Inspiration and Perspiration — Involving Communities in English Local Development’, Coompanion, Stockholm (November)

Derounian, J.G. (2007) ‘Skills for rural community developers’ (in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and NI), action research for the Carnegie UK Trust (with Bessant, T. and Fishbourne, S.)