Minister for Higher Education and Training, Dr BE Nzimande, will be hosting an international conference that will deliberate and come up with proposals on the future of Humanities and Social Sciences in Higher Education in South Africa.
The conference will take place at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre from March 28 to 30, with South African academics, political and social activists in attendance, as well as international guests coming from as far afield as Brazil, India, Russia, Senegal, Cyprus, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Under the theme: “The Future of Humanities and Social Sciences in South African Universities”, the conference is part of Minister Nzimande’s initiatives to rejuvenate and strengthen social sciences and humanities in SA’s Higher Education system since he became Minister in 2009.
Following his appointment, Minister Nzimande, set up a Ministerial Task Team led by the University of Cape Town’s Professor Ari Sitas and Dr Sarah Mosoetsa of Wits University to examine existing initiatives in South Africa and elsewhere, to explore innovative programmes and make recommendations for deepening the study of human and social sciences in South African universities.
“The initiative is born out of a deep concern that not enough support is being given to Social Sciences and Humanities in Higher Education institutions. It is not a deviation from the national priorities in relation to scares and critical skills development as defined in various policy documents. Rather, it should be read and understood as an important part of the broader national socio-economic and developmental context,” Minister Nzimande said.
The Task Team submitted its report to the Minister in August 2011, after-which the document was published for public comments. The team made a number of recommendations, the most important being the establishment of an Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences. Minister Nzimande will reflect on his response to the recommendations at the conference.
- Commissions at the conference will reflect on:
- Liberation Movements and the Challenges of Post-Colonial State
- Building Cooperation in Human and Social Sciences within Africa and the Global South
- Political Economy and Alternative Paths to Development
- Arts, Culture, Language and African Heritage in a Globalising World
- Human Development from the Genesis of Humanity to Colonisation
- Defining Human and Social Sciences and the Appropriate Relationship to the Natural Sciences
Members of the Media are invited:
Date: March 29 to 30, 2012
Venue: Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre, Boksburg
Time: 09h00
Wednesday 28th: Welcome Dinner and a Keynote Address by Mr Gwede Mantashe, African National Congress Secretary-General at 17h30 for 18h00
RSVP:
Welcome
Cell: 073 259 2258
Kgomotso
Cell: 072 996 5287
