Chika Anyanwu, Ph.D FGLF is Professor of Digital Media and the Head of School, UNSW Canberra School of Professional Studies. His research interest and expertise are in generative artificial intelligence, digital media application and policy, migration and cross-cultural studies, African media and political economy, and creative industries.
During his career, Professor Anyanwu has held several significant leadership positions including Head of the School of Communication and Creative Industries at Charles Sturt University, Head of the Bathurst Campus of Charles Sturt University, Director of Partnerships for Southern Cross University, Founding Head of Media at the University of Adelaide, Head of Mass Communication at the Curtin University of Technology, and Founding Head of Media Arts, University of Papua New Guinea.
He has been two times President of the Australian and New Zealand Communication Association (ANZCA).
He is on the International Council of the International Association of Media and Communication Research (IAMCR), and Chairs the Committee for the Improvement of Academic Life.
Professor Anyanwu is a student-centred academic leader and researcher, with specialisations in creative industries, digital media, African political economy, diaspora, and migration. He has published widely, nurtured and led more than 14 competitive research grants including 2 large ARC grants, and helped to increase institutional donor income by 20%.
Professor Anyanwu was previously at the University of Sydney since 2021, where he taught and researched in the Digital Culture of the School of Arts Communication and Education. He is also a Chief Investigator in a multistakeholder Australian Research Council Discovery project investigating the Political and Economic Agency of Africans in Australia.
In 2023 he had joint appointments with the Strategic Policy division of the South Australia Department for Education, involved in the Department’s adoption of Generative Artificial intelligence in schools. He led the Department’s production of a professional development package in generative AI for teachers in SA government schools.
Professor Anyanwu has a PhD in Film from the Flinders University of South Australia, a First Class Honours and an MA in Theatre and Media Arts from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria.
He has graduate business qualifications in Leadership and Management from the Curtin Graduate School of Business and a Graduate Certificate in Online Education. He is a Fellow of the Governor's Leadership Foundation of South Australia, a recipient of the Leslie Humanities Cyberdisciplinarity Fellowship, Dartmouth College, USA, a recipient of the US House of Representatives Special Congressional Recognition for Extraordinary Leadership, and California State Assembly Certificates in Recognition of contributions towards Silicon Valley African Film Festival.
He has been a Visiting Professor at many institutions including the Annenberg School of Interactive Media, the University of Southern California, Benue State University Makurdi, Nigeria, Coal City University, Nigeria as well as an International Visiting scholar at Covenant University in Nigeria.
- Publications
- Research Activities
- Awards
Research grants
Anyanwu, C, Fozdar, F., Mickler, D., Farquharson, K., Gamlen, A., Dagbanja, D., Dzator, J., & Hiruy, K. (Chief Investigators) (2022) The Political and Economic Agency of Africans in Australia, Australian Research Council Discovery Project (DP220101642).
Anyanwu C. and Gerard G. (Chief Investigators) (2017-2018) International Association of Media and Communication Research, seeding grant to investigate academic precarity in Media and Communication around the world.
Anyanwu, C. (2016) (Chief Investigator), “A brief study of return on investment into the arts by local governments", project carried out for Arts Mid North Coast, NSW Australia.
Anyanwu, C. (2014-2016) Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA) project to monitor industry trends, earnings, technological changes, legal, and regulatory frameworks.
Anyanwu, C. Innes, M., Burgan, B., and Sorell, M. (2004 -2008) Australian Research Council Industry Linkage Grant: Creative Economy: Investigating South Australia's Creative Industries LP 0455674 (see Australian Financial Review 3 March 2008 on page 32) $650K.
Anyanwu, C. and Innes, M. (2005) University of Adelaide Learning and Teaching Development Research Grant: Addressing Issues Affecting International Students in the Humanities and Social Sciences: A way forward in the University’s Global Education Policy Plan $35K.
Anyanwu, C. (2005) Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Adelaide, Strategic Initiative funding to enable the Hosting of Australia, New Zealand Communication Association Conference in Adelaide 2006
Anyanwu, C. (2004) Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Adelaide, Summer Research grant
Anyanwu C. (2003), University of Adelaide Infrastructural Development grant to enable the setting up of multimedia lab $70K
Anyanwu C. et al (2001/2) Chair of Joint Contextualisation in the Curtin University successful AUSAID funded project for a Virtual African University Project $4.5m
Anyanwu, C. (2000) Curtin University of technology Humanities Seeding Grant to enable a research into Ghana film industry.
·Anyanwu, C. (1999) Curtin University Research Grant (CURG) to enable Cybermedia Project aimed at assessing students’ performance in a Virtual Classroom Environment
Anyanwu C.; Carter, D.; Duffield, D. and Trinidad S. (1998) New Media Research Grant for a project titled "Core Curriculum of IT knowledge and skills for undergraduate students in the Humanities" Curtin University of technology
Research Presentations
Anyanwu, C. (2023) Inclusive Voice in Generative Artificial Intelligence, in Artificial Intelligence, Education Policy and the Future of Learning. Sydney. 27 Sept 2023.
Anyanwu, C. (2023) Generative AI in South Australia Schools in Shape the Future of AI in Education: Teaching and Learning Conference. Flinders University, Adelaide 28th October 2023.
Anyanwu, C. (2022) Romancing with Stone, engaging silicon and marrying Data: Africa’s Creative Industry sovereignty in the age of digital platformisation at Contemplating Evolving Trends and Impermeable Places in Arts and Design conference, Durban University of Technology, South Africa.
Anyanwu, C. (2022). Me, Myself and My Writing: Considerations In Academic Publishing. Webinar On Academic Writing and Publishing for Early Careers and Graduate Students. Emerging Scholars Network, IAMCR, sponsored by Daystar University, Kenya.
Anyanwu, C. (2017) “Awards and Responsibilities: Challenging the youths of Tomorrow”. A Guest Speech at Bathurst High Campus Award Night. Denison College Bathurst, 5 Dec 2017.
Anyanwu, C. (2017) “What Was, What Is, and What We Do not know: A Reflection on Educational Transformations since the 1960s”. A keynote Speech at the 2017 Bathurst Teachers College Alumni Association, Annual General Meeting, Castlereagh Hotel, Sydney 18 Feb 2017
Anyanwu C. (2013) “You are now a graduate so, what?” Occasional Address to Graduates of Charles Sturt University Bathurst 18th December at the Blake Auditorium
Anyanwu C. (2011) Creative Industries and Entrepreneurial Programs in Nigerian Institutions: Challenges and Opportunities: Benue State University Public Lecture Series June 2011
Anyanwu C. (2009) Extending Yunus’ Social Business Enterprise (SBE) to Adelugba’s Intellectual Capital Development in Nigeria: Case study of Diasporic Contributions to Nigerian Economic Growth. Adelugba 70 Conference, Lagos Nigeria 28 Nov—5 Dec 2009
Anyanwu C. (2009) African Leadership and Development Failures: Quest for Alternative Strategies through Diasporic collaborations: Keynote Speech at the Leadership Values in Africa Conference Nsukka, Nigeria 1-3 Dec 2009
Anyanwu C. (2009) Media and the Law: A Guest Lecture delivered to Staff of Fresh FM Radio, Adelaide 14th February 2009
Anyanwu C. (2008) “Nurturing the Young: New Challenges and New Hope” Speech to Staff and Teachers of Nazareth Community School, Seaton, South Australia 3 June 2008
Anyanwu C. (2008) “Cry the Beloved Country: A Journey into Spiritual Growth Among the Youth” Talk given at the Spirituality in the Pub, Stanley Bridge Tavern, Verdun, South Australia 6 May 2008
Anyanwu C. (2007) Innovative Resistance in an era of market driven Educational policy: Challenges for Media and Communication Educators, Presidential Address Australia and New Zealand Communication Association International Conference, Centre for Media and Communication Law, University of Melbourne 5 July 2007
Anyanwu C (2007) ‘Works of Ken Saro Wiwa’, Adelaide Pen (Imprisoned Writers of Conscience) Adelaide Writers Week Mellor St. 23 March 2007
Anyanwu, C. (2006) ‘Virtual African Digital Story Project’ First Person Digital Story Conference, Australia Centre for the Moving Images Melbourne February 2006
California Assembly - Certificate of Recognition for Community Volunteering for Strengthening the Culture of Silicon Valley
US House of Representatives - Special Congressional Recognition for Extraordinary Leadership and Outstanding Individual Service to the Community
Australian African Chamber of Commerce - Excellence Award for Distinguished Service in Media Education
Dartmouth College - Leslie Humanities Research Fellowship in Cyberdisciplinarity
Curtin University - Cross-Cultural Staff Prize for Outstanding Contribution Toward Culturally Inclusive Curriculum and Internationalisation of Curriculum
Finders University Research Scholarship