Dr Sara Hassan PhD, MSc, BSc

PhD in Planning and Environmental Management (2016)
University of Manchester
Thesis: 'Decision-making for sustainable transport planning: reducing car-dependency culture in Alexandria, Egypt'.

MSc in Urban Planning and Landscape (2011)
Alexandria University
Thesis: 'Streetscape: An Approach for Improving Urban Quality in Alexandria'.

BSc in Architectural Engineering (2008)
Alexandria University
Graduated with First-Class Honours
Thesis: 'Towards A Greener Alexandria: Recreational Tourist Complex on Lake Mariout'.

Dr Sara Hassan is a Research Fellow II at City-REDI, University of Birmingham, with expertise in urban planning, transport policy, and socio-economic development. With a multidisciplinary background in architectural engineering, urban design, and planning, her research focuses on place-based inequalities, participatory urban governance, and sustainable transport solutions. She applies both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, including participatory action research and urban data analytics, to address the social and economic challenges of urban mobility, particularly in the Global South.

Dr Hassan’s work extends beyond academic research into policy engagement, knowledge exchange, and engaged community research initiatives. She actively collaborates with local authorities, industry leaders, and international institutions to develop evidence-based policies that address socio-economic disparities. She has played a key role in evaluating the economic impact of civic universities for the National Civic Impact Accelerator, co-producing refugee integration strategies, and shaping inclusive urban policies. Her expertise has been sought for advising policymakers on urban development, inclusive growth and transport reform, particularly in areas of deprivation and for underrepresented communities.

In addition to her research contributions, Dr Hassan is involved in multiple interdisciplinary projects. She has secured competitive research funding from major bodies, including NERC, ESRC, and Research England. Among her funded projects, she has led research examining the economic impact of civic universities from an international perspective, co-produced the West Midlands Refugee Integration Strategy, and collaborated on community-led environmental projects to assess the impact of urban development on ecosystems. She also engages in research on participatory urban governance, sustainable mobility, universities as anchor institutions and inclusive policy frameworks that empower communities.

Dr Hassan is an active member of various academic and policy networks and has contributed to high-impact publications, including peer-reviewed journal articles, policy briefings, and conference presentations. She has organised and delivered workshops, international guest lectures, and academic seminar series, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and public engagement. As part of her knowledge exchange activities, she has worked with organisations such as the OECD, UN-Habitat Professional Forum, local government bodies, and international research consortia.

Beyond research, she is committed to mentoring and capacity-building, guiding early-career researchers, practitioner and community researchers and contributing to academic citizenship through reviewing proposals, supervising students, and supporting professional development initiatives. Her work exemplifies a commitment to bridging the gap between academic research, policy, and real-world challenges, ensuring that urban policies are inclusive, sustainable, and informed by community needs.

Sara has a track record in teaching and working hands on ‎with a number of student project work in Birmingham from undergraduates to postgraduates and also guided three ‎PhD students with their dissertations.

She was a Graduate Teaching Assistant at SEED, University of Manchester where she developed a variety of ‎teaching skills. She was responsible for designing course materials, delivering tutorials and assessing programmes such ‎as MSc Urban Design and International Planning and MSc Urban Regeneration and Development courses. ‎Moreover, She was responsible for planning, organising and conducting fieldtrips to different project sites. She managed ‎‎and led the planning student groups to different sites around Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and ‎Huddersfield. In ‎this role, she was also tutoring in designated drop-in sessions postgraduate international students to help them with ‎coursework ‎and essay submissions. In addition, she was a residential pastoral advisor (RPA) for students at Opal Hall ‎‎where she mentored and managed postgraduates from different cultural and ‎social backgrounds.

At Alexandria University, she supervised ‎BSc urban design graduation projects for three years. Moreover, she has wide experience in urban design studio ‎teaching where she assessed project portfolios and sat on assessment panels. She organised the ‎Architectural Engineering ‎Department Annual showcase projects’ day for four years. Her ‎experience with hands on student project work enhanced ‎her students experience and international employability. ‎

Research Interests

Urban and Transport Planning Policy – Sustainable mobility, Active travel, proximity planning, accessibility, and transport inequalities.

• Liveable Neighbourhoods Pilot Project (15-minute Neighbourhoods): Tyseley and Hay mills (2024-2025)
• The transitions to Resilient Low/Zero carbon Urban Transport System: The Cases of Beirut and Amman (2019 – 2020)
• Rebranding walking in communities (RWIC): Tackling ‎transport Inequalities to enhance wellbeing through co-‎production in Lebanon and Mexico (2020)

Community Development and Participatory Governance – Co-produced research and civic engagement.

• Youth transitions to good employment: East Birmingham & North Solihull (2025-2027)
• Communities in Energy Transition: Engaging with Decarbonisation and Net Zero in East Birmingham (2022)
• Community Practitioner Research Training Programme, Rights for Time, Palestine Trauma Centre, Gaza (2022)
• USE-IT! Unlocking Social and Economic Innovation together (2017-2020)

Social and Economic Inequalities in Urban Settings – Migration, mobility justice, and inclusive growth.

• Connected Futures Fund: Local Funding Flows For Youth Employment And Skills: Case studies in West Yorkshire (2024 -2025)
• Evaluation of the Community Sponsorship Programme, Home Office (2018 – 2020)
• Supporting the development of ‎Community Sponsorship policy and practice: from local to global (2020)

Knowledge Exchange and Policy Impact – University engagement in regional development and policymaking.

• National Civic Impact Accelerator: Evidence base of Economic Impact for Civic Universities (2023-2025)
• Universities as Anchor Institutions (2020-2022)

The role of universities in place leadership (2021-2022)

• Birmingham Community Heat Taskforce Roadmap for Transition: Developing Civic Policy and Delivery Scenarios to ‎Inform Central Government Investment (2020)
• Birmingham City Council Soft Market Test ‎Research and Policy ‎Project ‎‏(‏‎2020‎‏) "‏Mapping Organisational Strategies and Citizen Engagement in ‎Birmingham”‎