Africa Day 2024: World Citizenship and African Higher Education: Preparing Students for a Connected World

Wednesday 22 May 2024, 15:30 → 19:00 Africa/Johannesburg

Centenary Complex

Under the overarching theme of World Citizenship and African Higher Education: Preparing Students for a Connected World, this year's dialogue promises to be an immersive experience. The commemoration will be embodied with music and meaningful conversations that will inspire reflection and discourse.

The heart of our dialogue will involve discussions on crucial facets of global citizenship in education. We will delve into topics such as ‘Epistemic diversity in global citizenship education, exploring the myriad ideas and perspectives that contribute to a holistic educational experience’. Additionally, our conversations will tackle ‘Promoting social justice through global engagement, addressing strategies to bridge socio-economic disparities in education and how we improve self-awareness on a world stage’.

The dialogue extends further to examine ‘The role of leadership in shaping a university with a global mindset, with a dedicated focus on achieving gender parity in academic leadership’. We will also explore ‘Strengthening Global Networks: Harnessing Epistemic Diversity for Collaborative Research and Innovation, with a Focus on African Contributions’ and ‘Examining the influence of religion within African institutions of higher learning in the context of globalisation: implications for epistemic diversity, social justice promotion, and inclusive leadership.’

These discussions are not only relevant, but also aligned with the University of the Free State's Vision 130 tenets, emphasising the commitment to being a diverse, inclusive, and equitable institution. As we gather for this commemoration, it is not just an event; it is a vibrant celebration of the interconnectedness that defines the future of African higher education as we explore, engage, and envision the transformative power of education in preparing students for a truly connected world.

Our panel guests will be Prof Francis Petersen(UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor), Prof Vasu Reddy (Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation), Adv Thando Gumede (Commissioner for Gender Equality, South African Commissioner for Gender Equality), Prof Itumeleng Mosala (author), Dr Petiwe Matutu (CEO USAf) and Dr. Temba Masilela (former Deputy CEO of the Human Sciences Research Council).

Live streaming is available: https://livestream.ufs.ac.za/​​​​​​​