Workshops and Themes

This workshop equips postgraduate students with the skills to effectively communicate their research to non-academic audiences, including policymakers, communities, and the media. It emphasizes storytelling, visual communication, and public speaking, while also exploring strategies for engaging the public in research that drives social impact and informed decision-making.

This workshop explores how integrating diverse academic disciplines can enhance the depth, relevance, and impact of postgraduate research. Participants will engage in discussions on cross-disciplinary collaboration, methodological innovation, and the value of holistic approaches to solving complex societal challenges across Southern Africa and beyond.

Format: Hybrid panel discussion, presentations, and interactive working groups.

This workshop seeks to unpack the multifaceted challenges and opportunities surrounding environmental justice and sustainable development in Southern Africa. Participants will engage with the question:

“How do we make Southern Africa more climate resilient, while developing sustainably?”

The workshop explores critical intersections between climate change, public health, and food security, especially in rural and marginalised communities. It examines the role of policy frameworks and environmental governance in shaping adaptive responses and equitable resource distribution.

Key focus areas include:

• Climate change and public health linkages
• Just energy transitions and the future of green economies
• Local entrepreneurship and innovation in the green economy
• Geopolitical agreements, environmental policy, and governance mechanisms
• Food systems and water security in the context of climate vulnerability

Format: Critical dialogue, paper presentations, and case study roundtables.

This workshop critically interrogates the role of higher education institutions in advancing social justice, equity, and structural transformation within Southern Africa. Participants will explore enduring questions about access, representation, and power within academia, foregrounding Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS), feminist theory, and decolonial frameworks.

At the heart of the session is the guiding provocation:

“Transformation efforts in the higher education system: Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) for promoting social justice and equity — a myth or reality?”

The workshop will delve into:

• Gender equity and intersectionality in academic spaces
• Decolonial knowledge production and the politics of curriculum reform
• Higher education accessibility and regional mobility
• Institutional policy and governance reform toward inclusive change
• The role of student and staff activism in driving transformation

Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on existing transformation policies, evaluate their impact, and propose innovative, contextually grounded pathways for inclusive excellence in academia.

Format: Thematic panels, roundtable discussions and case study discussion.

This workshop explores the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI), big data, and automation on research, innovation, and postgraduate education across Southern Africa. Participants will critically assess the region’s preparedness for the accelerating pace of technological change, interrogating both the possibilities and the pitfalls of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

Framing the discussion is the question: “The readiness of Southern Africa for a changing technological world.”

Key themes include:

• AI and digital transformation in academic research and publishing
• Big data analytics, ethics, and responsible research applications
• Postgraduate education and capacity-building in the age of automation
• Bridging the digital divide in under-resourced institutions
• Regional policy alignment and innovation ecosystems

This session will bring together interdisciplinary scholars, technologists, and postgraduate students to explore how higher education can foster tech-literate researchers, ethical innovators, and inclusive digital futures.

Format: Leadership training, case discussions, and interactive panels.

This workshop is designed to equip postgraduate students with the leadership, advocacy, and governance skills needed to thrive within academic institutions and beyond. It focuses on building confidence, competence, and ethical leadership for navigating the complexities of academia and postgraduate representation.

The central question in this workshop is:

“How can postgraduate students lead effectively within academic institutions while balancing advocacy, research responsibilities, and institutional governance?”

Participants will gain practical insights into:

• Developing leadership capacity in student governance and advocacy
• Understanding university structures, decision-making processes, and institutional governance
• Managing research teams effectively, including communication, delegation, and supervision
• Building a mentorship culture in postgraduate spaces
• Fostering student-led policy influence and inclusive representation.

By empowering the next generation of academic leaders, this workshop aims to strengthen postgraduate voices in university governance and contribute to transformative institutional cultures.

Format: Skills-based masterclasses, industry dialogues, and applied research case studies.

This workshop focuses on preparing postgraduate students to successfully transition from academic research environments into industry, policy, and entrepreneurial spaces. It explores how postgraduate training can be adapted to meet real-world demands, with a focus on commercialisation, social impact, and career readiness.

At the core of the discussion are the following guiding questions:

How can postgraduate students develop academic portfolios that demonstrate relevance and value to industry, policy, and society in the Southern African context?

What strategies can institutions adopt to foster research that is both academically rigorous and commercially or socially impactful?

How can universities institutionalise industry partnerships to enable the co-creation, application, and commercialisation of research?

Workshop themes include:

• Building industry-relevant academic portfolios
• Exploring career pathways beyond academia
• Strategies for research translation and societal impact
• Institutional models for commercialisation and innovation ecosystems
• Strengthening university-industry collaboration frameworks.

This session aims to bridge the knowledge-to-action gap by equipping students with tools to position themselves as thought leaders and innovators across multiple sectors.