Target Audience

The (un)conference welcomes a diverse group of stakeholders in higher education and beyond, including:

Academics and researchers in higher education
Higher education practitioners, professional staff and leaders
Industry leaders and entrepreneurs
Students and youth activists
Representatives from government and nongovernmental organisations
Technology and digital learning practitioners
Environmental and sustainability advocates
Academic development practitioners

Types of Contributions and (Un)Conference Formats

The HELTASA (Un)Conference 2025 provide opportunities to a wide range of participants to share ideas, research studies, thoughts and engage in one of the listed formats:

Keynote Addresses/Provocations

Duration: 30 minutes per session
Format: Presentations by invited participants to share provocations related to higher education, sustainability, and innovation.

Research Papers/Oral presentations

Duration: 15 – 20 minutes including Q&A.
Format: Brief presentations focusing on research findings, followed by a short discussion.

Activity-Based Presentations

Duration: 10 – 15 minutes including Q&A.
Format: Presentations sharing practical experiences or changes in activities or practices in teaching and learning.

Workshops/Playshops

Duration: 1 hour per session
Format: Interactive, hands-on sessions designed to engage participants in active learning. Please submit your proposed interactive workshop structure and format as part of your proposal.

Panel Discussions

Duration: 45-60 minutes
Format: Sessions featuring multiple speakers discussing a common theme, often including audience interaction.

Creative/Multimodal Demonstrations

Duration: 10 – 15 minutes including Q&A.
Format: Artistic presentations such as poetry, song, dance, or other creative expressions related to higher
education themes. Showcasing innovative projects.

Poster Presentations

Duration: 1-hour collective session
Format: Visual displays of research or projects, facilitating informal discussions.

Student-Led Sessions

Duration: 10 -15 minutes including Q&A.
Format: Sessions organised and presented by students, focusing on topics relevant to student experiences and perspectives.

Exhibitions & Networking Spaces

Duration: 1-hour session
Format: Fostering collaborations, talks, one-on-one talks or group talks.

Submission Guidelines

The proposal must include the following information:

Proposal Title (not more than 20 words)
Presenter and co-presenter information
Proposal (Up to 500 words, 3 – 5 keywords are accepted)
Engagement questions: 2 questions for engagement
with participants

Join Us
This (un)Conference is more than a gathering; it is a collaborative movement toward transforming higher education in South Africa and the broader Global South. We invite you to share, engage, and imagine a future where education is inclusive, innovative and sustainable.

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