Universities South Africa
CoPAL News
From the classroom to the constitution: three scholars on putting African languages to work
If Professor Leketi Makalela's keynote set out why South African universities need to teach through African languages, the three conversation starters that followed at the...
Professor Leketi Makalela on language, identity and curriculum transformation
Curriculum transformation without language is cosmetic. That was the argument at the centre of the keynote address Professor Leketi Makalela gave to the Community of...
Showing it can be done: a UCT booklet and the practice CoPAL exist to share
Progress in the teaching of African languages is discussed far more often than it is documented in a form that others can use. That is...
Digital literacies in the era of AI; A lively discussion
The rapid rise of generative AI tools like ChatGPT has forced educators and policymakers to grapple with urgent questions: How should universities prepare students for...
CoPAL contemplates driving a joint language conference with other associations
The Community of Practice for the Teaching and Learning of African Languages (CoPAL) of Universities South Africa (USAf) is exploring the possibility of convening an...
Universities’ on-going commitment to multilingualism
As South African public universities come to terms with the complexities of multilingualism, many are making notable inroads into implementing multilingual teaching on their campuses....
Sharing language resources for the benefit of all
Universities need to collaborate to meet the objectives of the Community of Practice for the Teaching and Learning of African Languages (CoPAL) of Universities South...
Universities urged to support the multilingualism study
Universities South Africa’s Community of Practice for the Teaching and Learning of African Languages (CoPAL) Chairperson, Professor Nobuhle Hlongwa, has urged public universities to support...
Advancing African Languages in Education: Prospects and Progress for Teaching and Learning
The increased need to integrate African languages in South Africa's basic and higher education system to improve learner performance and foster inclusive teaching and learning environments...
SA universities are consolidating planning towards integrating African Languages in their core functions and in administration
The 3rd Vice-Chancellors' Language Policy Colloquium that takes place from 5-6 December 2023 will sharply focus on implementation practices, monitoring and evaluation of the Language...
What follows the Joint Colloquium of Mathematicians, Linguists and Education Deans?
The Joint Colloquium on Multilingualism in the teaching and learning of Mathematics in Higher Education –Enhancing Success achieved its intended objectives with success, says the...
Mathematics teachers in the Venda region of Limpopo need to disclose the secret behind their high success rate
South Africa needs to study why TshiVenda communities produce an astronomical number of actuaries for this country, and why the Venda region of the Limpopo...
State funding for universities’ language initiatives could increase with compelling evidence of potentially bigger impact
The year 2023 marks the first year that the government has given more money to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) – an amount...
The changing profile of university students calls for a decolonial re-thinking of higher education, says Professor Emmanuel Mgqwashu
Despite all the financial and human resources pumped into higher education in South Africa, the depressing educational outcomes remain the same. Throughput, pass and dropout...
Teachers preferred adapting words from English rather than using coined terms in their first languages — a study revealed
Last week, Universities South Africa (USAf) held a Colloquium on Multilingualism in the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics – Enhancing Success but framing mathematics education...
Learners run away from any career that requires mathematical competence, says Dr Mxiwoxolo Krexe
At the recent Joint Colloquium on Multilingualism in the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics – Enhancing Success, Dr Mziwoxolo Krexe of theDepartment of Adult, Foundation Phase...
A framework for thinking about languages and literacies towards university mathematics curriculum for access and transformation
To make a case for a curriculum that encourages greater access and transformation, a mathematics education language development specialist used students’ talk about their experiences,...
Language is fundamental, but is not always the only enabler for university mathematics success
Results from research into engineering mathematics of students in the University of Cape Town’s Engineering Extended Programme showed that female students (58.6%) outperformed their male...
Research exploring alternatives to one-size-fits-all solutions to students’ Academic Literacy needs
Critical research is being done into improving curriculum responsiveness to enhance responding to students’ needs in both teaching and assessment. This is to move away...
Why meaning making is critical in multilingual mathematics classrooms
Professor Anthony Essien, Associate Professor in Mathematics Education and Interim Numeracy Chair, Wits School of Education used a rainfall chart to show his audience how...
Multilingual mathematics classrooms can enhance learner understanding, change attitudes towards mathematics and increase success
Africa is endowed with works of art available for classroom illustration of various mathematical concepts from elementary schooling, all the way to university instruction —...
Multilingual education provision is invaluable provided this model is appropriately resourced, says a higher education top executive
Learning environments allowing students to exchange mathematical ideas in their mother tongue enable learners to grasp complex concepts more naturally and deeply, thereby turning multilingualism...
Issues warranting priority attention in universities’ pursuit of multilingualism in mathematics teaching and learning
Each of the three communities of practice (CoPs) that jointly hosted last week’s Colloquium on Multilingualism in the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics – Enhancing...
USAf’s three groups congregate at Stellenbosch University this Thursday to explore multilingual mathematics education in higher education
About 70 delegates representing all public universities in South Africa are expected to descend on Stellenbosch University this Thursday, 17 August, 2023. These are members...
USAf’s three Communities of Practice to explore Multilingualism in the teaching and learning of mathematics at universities
August 17 is a very special day for Universities South Africa (USAf), the representative body of South Africa’s 26 public universities. It marks the gathering...
An ICT Faculty discusses a technological solution-in-the-making for multilingual teaching at the Tshwane University of Technology
The best way to develop and intellectualise African languages in our universities is by using technology, says Professor Nobuhle Hlongwa, Chairperson of the Community of...
CoPAL has pressing issues to deal with in 2023
With the 2nd Vice-Chancellors’ Colloquium on language practices now achieved, real work begins for Universities South Africa’s Community of Practice for the Teaching and Learning...
The incalculable progress made by CoPAL as the language issue is now firmly centre stage
When Professor Langa Khumalo ends his term as the Chairperson of the Community of Practice for the Teaching and Learning of African Languages (CoPAL) this...
Why universities need to start sharing language resources
Even though universities thrive on competition, they need to stop competing in every single innovation. If, say Rhodes University is doing something about developing isiXhosa,...
The complexities surrounding multilingualism in South African universities
Just what are the challenges and complexities facing South African universities when it comes to the implementation of the new Language Policy Framework for Public...
Dedicated infrastructure, resources, and collaboration, must drive multilingualism implementation at universities
Stakeholder engagement, dedicated infrastructure, collaboration between universities and partnerships with other entities are key to furthering the implementation of multilingualism in public universities. ...
“Lift the language and you lift the people” – an esteemed professor borrows from DF Malan
When 80-year-old white-haired Professor Kwesi Kwaah Prah made his way to the podium dressed in the Kente cloth of his birth country, Ghana, a ripple...
The VCs’ Language Colloquium 2022 provided universities an opportunity to collaborate like never before
Language is not just a means of communication but the very fabric of peoples’ cultures and religions. This was emphasised by all speakers at the...
Universities can share language resources, notwithstanding their ongoing pursuit of a competitive edge
It was time to stop talking and start implementing. This was the view of speakers at the second Vice-Chancellors’ (VC) Consultative Colloquium on the revised...
2nd Vice-Chancellors’ Consultative Colloquium on the revised Language Policy Framework begins today
Public universities’ executive leadership and other stakeholders will descend on the University of Pretoria’s (UP’s) Senate Hall in Hatfield this afternoon for a start to...
UCT’s Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng advocates for compulsory basic language courses at universities
“To ensure implementation of multilingualism at South African universities, we should not start with learning in an African language. First, we need every university student...
Are universities complying with the revised Language Policy Framework, or are they really committed to multilingualism?
The stage has been set for universities to uplift the status of previously marginalised African languages. South Africa has revised the Language Policy for Public...
UFS students corroborate the value of multilingualism and translanguaging in teaching
In the build up to the 2nd Vice-Chancellors’ Language Colloquium on the revised Language Policy Framework for Higher Education Institutions, students from the University of...
The use of IsiZulu in teaching is helping UKZN students excel academically
Some institutions have begun to witness positive results from incorporating South Africa’s indigenous languages in teaching and learning. One such institution is the University of...
SA’s indigenous languages must all be fully developed and featured in digital resources – a UP professor says
South Africa has 11 official languages but we may be moving into a world of monolingualism, especially when it comes to finding information online, says...
The Linguistic Revolution at the University of KwaZulu-Natal
The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is one of the country’s pioneers in developing a language policy, a process that started in 2004 and culminated in...
The role of PanSALB in upholding multilingualism in SA’s society
In order to effectively elevate the status of South Africa’s indigenous languages, they have to be transformed into, and used as, languages of learning —...
From theory to implementation – the tools needed to make the Language Policy Framework workable
Promoting South Africa’s indigenous languages at universities as required by the Language Policy Framework for Public Higher Education Institutions is not only about teaching and...
We cannot afford not to embrace and implement multilingualism says Professor Madadzhe
Studying African languages in institutions of higher education does not mean abandoning English. It simply recognises languages as an integral part of humanity, as communication...
The strides that the University of Mpumalanga is making towards multilingualism
The University of Mpumalanga (UMP) recently introduced a Master’s degree in siSwati language and literature, following the offering of a Bachelor of Arts Honours in...
Implementing multilingualism can cost millions but the benefits outweigh the challenges—Stellenbosch University
Professor Deresh Ramjugernath of Stellenbosch University (SU) just provided a taste of what can be expected at the forthcoming 2nd Vice Chancellors’ Language Colloquium. Primarily...
New office bearers elected to lead USAf’s Community of Practice for the Teaching and Learning of African Languages
Professor Nobuhle Hlongwa (left), Dean of the School of Arts in the College of Humanities at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, is the new Chairperson...
How universities are transforming their language policies and why this is critical
Language has the power to change higher education in this country and lead to better social cohesion. This is the message from Professor Langa Khumalo,...
The state of language policies at public institutions
As universities enter the second half of 2022, they are ramping up efforts to accelerate progress toward implementing the Language Policy Framework for Public Higher...
Challenges confronting the teaching of African languages at South Africa’s universities require dedicated attention
The possibility of a shortage of supply of African languages teachers across South Africa’s education landscape by 2030 became a subject of fierce debate among members...
Community of Practice for the Teaching and Learning of African Languages remains determined to achieve more in 2022
Universities South Africa’s Community of Practice for the Teaching and Learning of African Languages (CoPAL) has put together an elaborate plan of action aiming to realise...
How language scholars and activists are keeping multilingualism on universities’ transformation agenda
South African universities are required to start implementing the government’s Language Policy Framework for Public Higher Education Institutionsfrom this year – a measure that aims...
SA universities claim to be multilingual yet have monolingual websites; a recent language symposium heard
With South Africa’s new Language Policy Framework for Public Higher Education Institutions set to enhance the role and status of marginalised languages scheduled to kickstart...
The conversation at the Round Table on African languages and 4IR suggested new ways of thinking
Should South African universities focus only on their own African languages? What is happening about the digitisation of indigenous language literature? Is interdisciplinarity essential for...
We will lose our identity if African languages are left behind in the world of technology
The Fourth Industrial Revolution is regarded as the era when things become smaller and faster. However, the smaller part is debatable because when it comes...
Data is the new commodity in our digital world
Dr Karen Calteaux, from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has never forgotten a comment a Google speech technologist made at a conference...
A UP academic is leading cutting-edge research to increase the availability of African languages online
If you have ever thought “there are hardly any African languages on the internet”, Dr Vukosi Marivate’s presentation at a recent USAf Round Table not...
How USAf is working towards bringing prominence to African languages in cyberspace
When COVID-19 struck and communication went largely online, Prof Mbulungeni Madiba soon realised how inadequate African languages are in the digital arena. Read more> ...
USAf’s CoPAL pays tribute to the late Prof Gregory Kamwendo
On 22 May, 2018, a highly-esteemed sociolinguistics academic, Professor Gregory Kamwendo, was shot dead outside his Empangeni home in KwaZulu Natal. At their 14 June meeting...