Dr Peter Dewhurst

Faculty: Buxton

Dean of the University of Derby Buxton, which comprises Buxton College of Further Education and the HE School of Culture and Lifestyle.

Professional interests

Tourism policy and development, economic regeneration and enterprise, visitor attraction management.

Research interests

Visitor attractions and SMEs

Membership of professional bodies and advisory committees

Association of College Principals, Derbyshire Dales and High Peak Local Strategic Partnership, Peak District Rural Action Zone's Local Action Group, Derbyshire Economic Partnership's Rural Affairs Forum and Rural Implementation Group, Business Peak District, Peak District DMP.

Recent Conferences

Refereed Conference Contributions

•                Dewhurst, H., Dewhurst, P.D. & Livesey, R. (2006) "Tourism and Hospitality SME Training Needs and Provision: A Sub-Regional Analysis" Paper presented at the CHME Conference, Nottingham, May

•                Hassanien, A. & Dewhurst, P.D. (2005) "A Critical Analysis of the Design and Implementation of an Event and Venue Management Programme: A Case Study of the University of Wolverhampton" Paper presented at the 3rd International Event Management Conference & Inaugural event Education and Research Network Australia Symposium, Sydney, July

•                Dewhurst, P.D. & Dewhurst, H. (2004) "Strategies for Success? A Study of England's Most Visited Tourist Attractions" Paper presented at the Tourism: State of the Art II Conference, Strathclyde University, June

•                Dewhurst, P.D. & Horobin, H. (1997) "The Owners of Small Tourism and Hospitality Firms: A Proposed Classification" Paper presented at the EuroCHRIE conference, Sheffield Hallam University, November

•                Dewhurst, P.D. (1992) "The Transformation of England's Visitor Attractions" Paper presented at the Conference of Hospitality Management Education, Birmingham Polytechnic, April

Conference Contributions

•                Dewhurst, P.D. (1997) "A World of Possibilities: Tourism and Hospitality at Leeds Metropolitan University" Paper presented at the Ung '97 educational recruitment fair, Oslo, January

•                Dewhurst, P.D. (1991) "An Evaluation of England's Most Visited Attractions: A Methodological Review" Paper presented at the Environmental Sciences research seminar, Manchester Metropolitan University, May

•                Dewhurst, P.D. (1990) "Tourism and Geography" Paper presented at the Manchester School's Conference, Manchester Metropolitan University, November

•                Dewhurst, P.D. (1990) " England 's Tourist Attractions: An Evaluation of Success" Paper presented at the Museums, Heritage Centres, Design and Tourism research conference, Manchester Metropolitan University

Additional Interests and Activities

Dr Peter Dewhurst's academic career began in 1987 following a period of self-employment, when he joined the then named Manchester Polytechnic as a Research Assistant specialising in Visitor Attraction Management. In 1992, Peter went on to become a Lecturer in Leisure Management at Warrington Collegiate Institute, before moving on to Leeds Metropolitan University, where he became the Tourism Programme Leader. In September 2000, Peter moved to Wolverhampton University's School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure (SSPAL), where in 2002 he was promoted to the post of Assistant Dean with responsibility for Research and External Income Generation. During his time at Wolverhampton, Peter was responsible for the establishment of a number of spin-out and spin-in businesses, he also helped secure a number of patents and oversaw a significant growth in SSPAL's income from 'third stream' activities.

Peter joined the University of Derby in September 2007 as Assistant Dean and Head of the HE School in Buxton. He began by undertaking an extensive review of the curriculum offer that led to a focusing of the HE provision around a core, visitor economy focused, proposition. In July 2009, Peter was confirmed as the Dean of University of Derby Buxton with responsibility for both the HE and FE provision within the Faculty. Since that time he has worked to develop a high quality product offer that addresses the needs of the learners and employers, whilst also working to maximise the synergies between 'town and gown'.

Peter's vision is for the University of Derby Buxton 'to deliver the highest quality of student centred experiential learning, providing all students with an opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills within real working environments'. This vision is summarised in the faculty's strap line of 'Real World Learning'.

Peter's research work is in the field of tourism and comprises tourism policy and development, economic regeneration and enterprise, and visitor attraction management. He is actively involved in advisory committees relating to the Visitor Economy in the Peak District and Derbyshire, including for example, Derbyshire Dales and High Peak Local Strategic Partnership, Derbyshire Economic Partnership's Rural Affairs Forum and Rural Implementation Group, as well as the Peak District Rural Action Zone LEADER Local Action Group. In addition, he is on the Board of Business Peak District and the Destination Marketing Partnership.

Undergraduate qualifications

• BA (Hons) Combined Studies, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, 1983

Postgraduate qualifications

• MSc, Environmental Sciences (Countryside Recreation Management), University of Salford, 1986

Research qualifications

• PhD on England's most visited attractions: evaluation of success & taxonomy , Manchester Metropolitan University, 1996

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