Rana Zein

Rana Zein is a PhD candidate at the Bartlett Development Planning Unit, University College London, affiliated with the State and Market Research cluster; a cluster that delves into the interactions between state entities and various stakeholders within policy frameworks, proposing diverse governance strategies to foster equitable and sustainable urban transitions. With a multidisciplinary background, Rana holds a bachelor's degree in architecture from Cairo University and a double master's degree in urban design from Cairo University and Brandenburg Technical University and currently focusing on the intricate connections between institutional strategies, organizational networks, and the economic performance of clusters in her PhD. Her academic interests include sustainable urban development, urban economics and governance, and urban heritage management and revitalisation. In addition to her research, Rana serves as a postgraduate teaching assistant at the Bartlett School of Planning and the Geography Department at UCL. She is involved in teaching courses on urban design, spatial planning, and relational urban geography. She also co-convenes the Bartlett Forum for The Global Majority, a staff and student-led initiative that creates a supportive environment for cultural and ethnic minorities. This forum facilitates cultural exchange and intellectual collaboration through talks, workshops, cultural excursions, and artistic events.