Dr Emma Agusita

Dr Emma Agusita - academic specialist in collaborative practice: creative and cultural research and education.

 

Emma Agusita is a Senior Lecturer in Cultural Industries, specialising in Digital Media, Culture and Communications. Emma is a collaborative academic-practitioner, with a sustained track-record of leading and implementing knowledge exchange and innovation projects, and generating socially-engaged impactful cultural and educational research. She has particular expertise in the use of co-creative/co-designed, visual, participatory and inclusive approaches to external partnership-working in a wide range of research contexts.

 

Emma's leading work in this area has evolved from practice-led and participatory community-media and arts work, including cultural research and evaluation, beyond academia, spanning 20+ years, involving collaborations with local/regional/national arts, education and public service organisations and creative practitioners. 

 

Emma's research interests include: 

Collaborative (Visual, Creative & Participatory) Pedagogies and Methodologies ~ Civic & Community Media ~ Digital Communications Technologies ~ Creative Studies of Migration ~ Cultural & Creative Entrepreneurship ~ Creative Enterprise & Entrepreneurship Education

 

(Current and previous research projects are listed below).

 

Emma teaches on the BA Hons Culture, Media and Creative Industries and BA Hons Media Communications, leading its Campaigns programme pathway, and on the MSc Sustainable Development in Practice. In addition to module leadership and teaching, Emma is experienced in curriculum development and re-design, pedagogic research and academic mentorship. She is a PhD Director of Studies, PhD supervisor and doctoral examiner, and MSc research supervisor. She is external examiner for Birmingham City University's Creative Arts MRes. Furthermore, Emma is an enterprise and entrepreneurship education specialist.

Current doctoral supervision:

 

Director of Studies for Laura Eldret, who is exploring commoning as a socially engaged creative practice and its interconnections with sustainability and environmental care.

 

Supervisor for Jelena Krivosic, who is investigating the evolving role of Natural History Documentary in storytelling about global environmental crises (exploring co-creative approaches to foster climate action).

 

Supervisor for Verity MacIntosh - who is exploring interdisciplinary approaches to examine the socio-cultural dimensions of safety and risks in virtual reality simulation.

Young People's Entrepreneurial Creative Practices 2021-2023 (Principal-Investigator) - This research project identified inclusive frameworks to support underrepresented young people's creative talent and enterprise development in the creative industries.

Kept Apart 2020 (Co-Investigator) This collaborative/co-produced project used 'narrative prose' and graphic illustration to explore how British partners separated from their spouses (and sometimes children) live with the profound uncertainty of their situation, and experimented with new support forms for those affected. Enabled by Brigstow Seedcorn Award funding.

Proof of Love 2019-2020 (Joint Principal Investigator) This collaborative practice-led research project explored the impacts of family immigration policies/rules on relationships between British & non-EU partners and families, creating an award-winning documentary film, www.dividedbylaw.org

Unexpected Enterprises 2018-2019 (Principal Investigator) This collaborative project, funded by Enterprise Educators UK, addressed new modes of creative/cultural work generated by non-traditional entrepreneurial activities and considered the implications for media and creative education pedagogies in higher education. www.unexpectedenterprises.org.

Design Thinking as a Pedagogic Tool 2018-2019 (Principal Investigator) This cross-faculty/cross-departmental project investigated the efficacy of employing design thinking as a pedagogical tool in order to innovate and improve teaching/learning experiences, through co-inquiry/co-design with higher education students.

Visualising Love 2017-18 (Principal Investigator) - This research project used creative, practice-led/collaborative/participatory approaches, to investigate impacts of family immigration policies/rules on relationships between British & non-EU partners/families, including modes of transnational communication employed by those affected to maintain emotional connections when forced to be apart. www.vizlove.org

Media, Community and the Creative Citizen 2012 – 2015 (Research Fellow) This multi-institution research council funded research project explored the social/economic value of creative citizenship/civic media-use with non-academic/external community partners. www.creativecitizens.co.uk

Crebiz 2014-2016 (Research Fellow) This multi-institution, European Commission funded research project, engaged in a best practice review of innovation in HE creative entrepreneurship teaching, creating a business module for undergraduate/graduate students exploring creative industries entrepreneurship.

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