SAHUDA CONFERENCE 2025

Conference Details

Date: 22-24 October 2025

Notification of Acceptance: 15 September 2025

Venue: Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha

Abstract Submission Deadline: 31 August 2025

Contact: sahuda@wsu.ac.za

Conference Theme

For over a century, there has been a view that the Humanities are in a crisis. Some scholars argue that the word "crisis" is inappropriate as it suggests that the Humanities are faced with extinction when all they are doing is what they have always done – reinventing themselves, staying relevant and thriving. Such scholars believe that as long as humans exist, it is inconceivable for the Humanities to be extinct. What cannot be ignored is the relentless drive in the last couple of decades towards education for economic gain, which has seen governments and corporates reduce funding for Humanities and inversely increase the funding of STEM. It might make sense, therefore, to think of the Humanities at consistent crossroads for renewal and not crisis. The real crisis, some scholars in the Humanities argue, is that those in the humanities do not articulate frequently and forcefully enough the value of the Humanities. To that end, while this conference will reflect on the "crisis" discourse, its main thrust will be how the Humanities are repositioning themselves for relevance, impact and excellence in the 21st century.

Conference Sub-Themes

1. Digital Humanities and Emerging Technologies

• AI, machine learning, and big data in humanities research
• Digital storytelling and interactive media
• Open-access scholarship and digital archives
• Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in cultural studies

2. Humanities for Social Justice and Public Good

• Decolonizing humanities: new narratives and perspectives
• Humanities in policymaking and advocacy
• Race, gender, and identity studies in the 21st century
• Public humanities: engaging communities and activism

3. Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Innovations

• Humanities and STEM collaborations
• Environmental humanities and climate change
• Medical humanities and the future of healthcare ethics
• Business, entrepreneurship, and the humanities

4. The Future of Humanities Education

• Rethinking pedagogy in the digital age
• Humanities and employability: new career pathways
• The role of humanities in leadership and global citizenship
• Equity, access, and inclusion in humanities education

5. Cultural Heritage, Memory, and Global Perspectives

• Preserving indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage
• Postcolonial and transnational humanities
• Migration, displacement, and historical memory
• Museums, archives, and the role of heritage in the digital era

6. Ethics, Philosophy, and the Human Condition

• Ethics in the age of AI and biotechnology
• The role of philosophy in contemporary global challenges
• Human rights, democracy, and the humanities
• The humanities and the search for meaning in a fast-changing world

Submission Guidelines

Abstract Submission Deadline: 31 August 2025

Notification of Acceptance: 15 September 2025

Full Paper Submission Deadline: 17 September 2025

Abstract Requirements:

• Abstract submission is limited to 2 per delegate whether single or co-authored.
• Indicate the Stream you have chosen
• Maximum 300 words
• Title of the paper
• Name(s) of the author(s)
• Institutional affiliation(s)
• Email address
• 3-5 keywords

Conference Fees

Alumni/Academic Staff: R2 800

Students: R600

Cancellation Fee: R1 400 for Staff, R300 for Students

Banking Details

Bank Name: First National Bank

Account Name: Walter Sisulu University

Account Number: 62099126601

Branch Code: 210521

VAT Number: 4770255679

SWIFT Code: FIRNZAJJ