The theme of the conference is ‘Visioning Digital Africa - Generating Local Content, Creative Careers and Positive Online Experiences’. The event will seek to engage students, early career academics and recent Media Studies graduates from UB and UJ only, in exploring opportunities and challenges of a digital future for young people in Africa and its Diaspora.
Contributions reflecting varied disciplinary approaches and formats should address issues, experiences or ideas towards increasing production of local and regional digital media content in Africa. Presentations could also highlight new or emerging types of career experiences in digital media environments, as well as discuss case studies in generating or creating positive online content and experiences for business, community or personal development.
150-word abstracts for presentations at the conference are invited in the following indicative thematic areas:
Digitalization and Media Reforms in Southern Africa
Africa and the Metaverse – Prospects and Challenges
Internet Access Issues in Southern African Countries
Motion Graphics, Animation and Visual Media in Africa
Artificial Intelligence, Ethics and Digital Africa
Website Development, Content Creation and Marketing
Social Media and Youth in Africa and the Global South
Film and Video Production – Case Studies
Mobile Telephony, Access and Citizen Communication
Digital and Visual Representations of Civic, Student and Urban Life
Media and Creatives in the Digital Environment
Preparing for and Experiencing New Careers in Digital and Online Environments
Other topics consistent with the theme of the conference.
Individual presenters will be allowed 12 minutes each for delivery, in panels of three (3) persons. Each panel will be followed by a short question and answer session. All presentations will be delivered in the plenary sessions of the conference.
The Conference will close with a panel discussion addressing: The Future of Education: Will Employers Still Value a University Degree? Should Short Courses, Work Internships and Apprenticeships Replace or Complement a 4-year Degree?
Publication
Papers presented at the conference will be published in conference proceedings. Participants who present papers will be awarded certificates.
Timelines
Abstract submission deadline: September 26, 2022, at 17.00 hrs CAT
Abstract acceptances will be confirmed by September 30, 2022
Abstracts can be submitted at (https://conferences.ub.bw/)
Inquiries or expressions of interest can be directed to: hopetondunn@gmail.com (UB) and sarahc@uj.ac.za (UJ).