Albert Sharra

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT ALBERT SHARRA

Albert Sharra is a multi-disciplinary scholar who conducts research on the intersection of technologies and politics, media and development. 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 universities and the Commonwealth Scholarship. I am a Joint-research Fellow at the University of the Witwatersrand and University of Edinburgh and an Honorary Fellow in the Centre of African Studies at the University of Edinburgh. I was a Visiting Fellow at CAMRI, University of Westminster. I have taught at Wits University, University of Edinburgh and University of Malawi for a combined 7 years.Taught Modules:The Internet & Society,(UG), EdinburghIntroduction to Political Data Analysis (UG), EdinburghPolitics & International Relations: Concepts and Debates (UG), Edinburgh Key Skills in Development Practice(PG-MSc), EdinburghTechnologies, Government, Development and Poverty in Africa (PG-MSc), EdinburghInterpreting Development: Institutions and Practices (PG-MSc), Edinburgh International Development: Research Design and Practice (PG-MSc), EdinburghIntroduction to Comparative Politics(UG), WitsConflict, Stability & State Building in Postcolonial Africa (UG), WitsPolitical Economy of Development Communication:(MA), University of MalawiPrint Media in Development: Theory and Practice (MA),University of MalawiI have experience in teaching and supervising students and tutors. My students dissertations have gone on to win prestigious awards. I hold an Academic Teaching Certificate (with distinction) from Wits and an AFHEA-UK from University of Edinburgh. I have received over €65 for research and trainings and organised workshops that have trained over 500 media personnel, activists and politicians in Africa.ProjectsMonograph-Digital Politics: Oxford University Press (on contract).Special Issue-Digital Surveillance: Journal of Southern Africa Studies (in print).Edited books-The BBC legacy in Africa(published)-Technologies and Media Production Cultures(published)-Generative AI and Digital Divide in Africa: Access and Uses (in print)-Innovative Approaches to Journalism Education (in print)-Content, Capital and Culture: The Political Economy of Digital Platforms in Africa (under review).Prior to this, 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.