Albert E. Sharra

Background

About Albert E. Sharra

Albert Sharra is a multi-disciplinary scholar who conducts research on technologies, media, society, development and the State. My split-site PhD involved spending 3 years at Wits University(South Africa) and the fourth year at the University of the Edinburgh(UK). This was enabled by the partnership between the two universities and the Commonwealth Scholarship. I am an Honorary Fellow in the Centre of African Studies (CAS) at the University of Edinburgh and a Joint-research Fellow at the University of the Witwatersrand and University of Edinburgh. I am also a Visiting Fellow at CAMRI, University of Westminster. My teaching and research work cover digital culture, society, politics, media, development and the State. I have lectured and tutored at Wits University, University of Edinburgh and University of Malawi for a combined period of 6 years. Taught modules Intro to Comparative Politics(UG), Wits Conflict, Stability & State Building in Postcolonial Africa (UG), Wits Politics & International Relations: Concepts and Debates (UG), Edinburgh Key Skills in Development Practice(PG-Masters), Edinburgh Government, Development and Poverty in Africa (PG-Masters), Edinburgh Interpreting Development: Institutions and Practices (PG-Masters), Edinburgh International Development: Research Design and Practice (PG-Masters), Edinburgh Political Economy of Development Communication:(PG-Masters), University of Malawi Print Media in Development: Theory and Practice:(PG-Masters), University of Malawi I have experience in teaching and supervising students and tutors. My students thesis have gone on to win prestigious awards. I have served as a Tutor and Senior Tutor. I hold an Academic Teaching Certificate (with distinction) from Wits University and an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy-UK obtained at the University of Edinburgh. I have raised over €65 for research and trainings, organised workshops and trained over 500 media personnel, activists and politicians in Africa. Book projects Technologies and Media Production Cultures:A global South Perspective(published) BBC’s Legacy in African Radios, Changes and Continuities(published) Digital State Surveillance Against political Activists in Southern African(Special Issue with JSAS, in press). Digital Political Activism and State Repression in Southern Africa (Monograph, Oxford University Press, under review) Prior to these, I spent 10 years in the newsroom, and won the most coveted award, MISA-Malawi’s Overall Best Journalist of the Year Award in 2016, 2017 and 2019.