The Faculty of Education at the University of Zululand (UNIZULU) is this week hosting the 49th instalment of the Southern African Society for Education (SASE) Annual International Conference to deliberate on how African wisdom can be employed to make global impact and build sustainable education for the 21st Century.
The engagements are taking place at the Premier Hotel, Richards Bay.
Over 100 scholars representing various higher education institutions across the Southern African region, including Namibia and Mozambique, have descended in Richards Bay to contribute to the intellectual discourse of this year’s gathering.
Ahead of the commencement of the discussions, Professor Nokuthula Kunene, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation, commended the conference organising team for selecting a timely theme. She said, “This year’s theme reminds us that education is not merely about transmitting knowledge but anchoring that knowledge in wisdom drawn from African philosophies, African cultures, our history and lived realities, while ensuring that it resonates globally and sustains generations to come.”
In her opinion, African principles of interconnectedness (ubuntu), community and resilience which are ingrained in Africans can potentially prepare the continent to thrive in complex and uncertain circumstances and in the interdependent global context. Her conviction is that African knowledge can enrich the global landscape, offering models of sustainability, inclusivity and innovation, which is part of African culture.
Prof Sithabile Ntombela, Dean of the Faculty of Education at UNIZULU, reminded attendees that conferences are meetings of great minds, thus ideas and solutions are bound to be discussed at length. With this, she urged her colleagues to cease this opportunity to network around African wisdom, adding that the platform is conducive to finding collaborators, external moderators, examiners and mentors.
“This is also a safe space to present your work to people who are concerned about your development. Iron sharpens iron. Great ideas will flow here for three days. Be fully present and soak yourself in the moment,” she expressed.
In true conference fashion, the gathering has seen a plethora of research studies or papers presented in a variety of areas which include, among others, the topical issue of artificial intelligence, basic and higher education policies, and educators’ experiences in schools.
Professor Nomabandla Cishe, SASE President, expressed sheer excitement in the increased participation of postgraduate students this year in comparison to previous events. She happily added that the studies were of a high quality, too.
On the key outcomes of the conference, she highlighted: “After this year’s conference, SASE is hoping to have publications from previous special issues. We have also promised delegates that we will have our very own journal which we encourage them to contribute towards. Lastly, we will endeavour to have the works of this year’s delegates published in the form of books which we will categorise according to disciplines.”
The three-day conference will conclude on Friday, 3 October 2025. Other key activities include a gala dinner which will take place this evening (Thursday, 2 October 2025) and a boat cruise.
– Naledi Hlefane
Pictures
Main picture: James Thwala
Pic 2-4: Xolani Ncube
