Stewart Emma Dr

Research Interests

• Exclusionary experiences of asylum seekers and refugees in the UK
• Skilled international migration of workers in the health sector, particularly refugee doctors
• Migration channels
• Refugee and asylum identity
• Asylum and refugee statistics

Teaching Interests

Society and Space

Block 3:  Global Population IssuesIn this era of globalisation, there are several key global population issues that merit our attention.  This block will focus upon global migration trends.  People are increasingly on the move, responding to factors pushing them away from some areas, and new opportunities attracting them to others. For some people, these moves may be only over short distances, but increasingly, such mobility has an international dimension.  Three global migration flows are discussed.  First, skilled international migration is explored and demonstrates how migration is being shaped by the global economy.  Next, the discussion turns to the international refugee regime and the increased flows of political and economic migrants.  Finally the growing phenomenon of trafficking is investigated as individuals become part of an international trade in people.  Whilst migration exemplifies a global process that has local implications, it is also true that globalisation processes have impacts on population processes operating at local levels. The second ambition of this block then, is to look at the impact of globalisation on fertility, mortality, and migration at the local level.  

• skilled international migration and global cities
• international refugee regime and trafficking
• globalisation and local impacts on fertility, mortality, and migration

Level 3/4: Forced Migration

To introduce students to forced migration research, the module is structured into five main blocks.

• First, the interdisciplinary context of forced migration research will be discussed and explored. The role of geographers, sociologists and other social scientists will be charted through the recent history of refugee research.
• Second, students will gain understanding of the mechanics of the international refugee regime by means of developing and developed world examples. Through the lens of empirical case studies, the interconnectedness and global nature of the refugee regime will be stressed. The impact of global events on the local landscape will also be examined.
• Third, international, European and national policy agendas will be explored. Students will be expected to reflect upon and critique the current UK policy regime. The workshops in this block will 'humanise' the asylum seeking and refugee experience relative to policy debates.
• Fourth, the module will explore media representations of asylum seekers and refugees. Additionally students will gain appreciation of multiplemethodologies employed in social science research. In this block students will be expected to apply their knowledge and analytical skills during the compulsory, local fieldtrip. This trip will help students to gain knowledge of one local 'dispersal site'. Students will also be expected to reflect upon what it is like to live as an asylum seeker in the UK.
• Fifth, the module will identify exciting new agendas within this field of academic research. This will include discussion of refugee women and transnationalism.

Diaspora and Transnationalism

This module advances beyond neo-classical models of migration and focuses upon two key conceptual frameworks, namely ‘diaspora’ and ‘transnationalism’.  First, students are introduced to the traditional concept of diaspora and forced departure from home.  Next, there is a discussion of ‘global’ and ‘new’ diaspora populations.  The political, economic, social and cultural role of diaspora populations is explored by drawing upon empirical examples (e.g. ‘white’ diaspora populations, New African Diasporas and Asian Diasporas).  In additional the ‘cartographies of diaspora’ are explored.  Second, students are introduced to transnationalism and transnational migration.  There is an examination of transnationalism from ‘below’ as well as from ‘above’.  The module investigates the importance of the nation state relative to transnational migration and the impact of transnational activities (or not) upon the home country and individual migrant identity.  Again, several empirical examples are employed to illustrate the workings of transnational communities.  Finally, forced transnationalism is explored.  Throughout the module students are encouraged to critique these two conceptual approaches in light of the current state of knowledge and calls for cross disciplinary theorisation.  As such, the module employs an innovate approach to assessment, with students recording a learning journal throughout the module as well as online assessment.

Biographical Summary

• 1996-2000 MA (Hons) Geography, University of Dundee, Dundee.
• Sept 2000 - June 2004 PhD Geography, University of Dundee. Thesis title: Scales of Exclusion: Overseas Health Professionals in the UK.
• Jan 2004- Sept 2005: Lecturer in Human Geography, University of Dundee
• Sept 2005 -  Lecturer in Human Geography, University of Strathclyde

Professional Memberships

• Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers)
• Population Geography Study Group

Administration

• Selector for Geography
• Advisor of Studies (Geography and Sociology)