This groundbreaking event, described by Prof. Pineteh E. Angu, Associate Professor and Director of the UAL, as “the first of its kind on the continent,” aims to create a platform for scholarly engagement in academic literacy and writing centre practices.

Theme and Purpose
Themed "Multilingualism and Curriculum Decolonisation in Higher Education: Reflecting on Decades of Academic Literacy and Writing Centre Practice in South African Higher Education and Beyond," the conference is a collaborative effort between SAAALP, the University of the Free State, South African Digital Language Resources (SADiLAR), and the University of Pretoria.

Key Themes
The conference will explore key themes shaping academic literacy and writing centre practice, including:

• Advancing multilingualism as practice in academic literacy
• Multilingualism and decolonisation in academic literacy
• Utilizing technology and Generative Artificial Intelligence (Generative AI) to enhance multilingual teaching and learning
• Multilingualism as a matter of linguistic and social justice in academic literacy
• Writing Centre Colloquium

This event is partly funded by SADiLAR and forms part of a large-scale research project on multilingualism in the Writing Centre.

Keynote Speakers
Keynote speakers include Professor Emmanuel Mgqwashu, Director of Teaching and Learning at North West University, who will deliver the national keynote address, and Professor Noreen Lape, Director of the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Scholarship and the Eberly Multilingual Writing Centre at Dickinson College in the United States, who will present the international keynote address.

Engagement and Collaboration
This conference presents an exciting opportunity for academics, practitioners, and researchers to engage in critical discussions on multilingualism, technology, decolonisation, and social justice in academic literacy. It will provide a unique platform for local and international collaboration as it reflects on the past and envisions the future of academic literacy in higher education.

The UAL looks forward to welcoming participants and sharing insights from this significant gathering.