Conference theme:

Rethinking social work in Africa: Decoloniality and indigenous knowledge in education and practice

 

Sub-themes:

There are 11 sub-themes for scientific presentations of 20 minutes (plus 10 minutes discussion) or poster presentations:

 

1. Critical thinking on ‘decolonisation’ and ‘indigenisation’ (what do these terms mean and how relevant are they in 21st Century Africa?)

2. The ethical dimensions of everyday social work in Africa (what kinds of ethical challenges do social workers face in different African contexts, and how can they draw creatively on both African and non-African value and knowledge systems as they respond?)

3. Indigenous practice theories and models

4. Rethinking social welfare and social development policy for Africa

5. Decolonial and indigenous practice with children, youth, families and older persons (in recognition of International Day of Older Persons on 1 October and celebrated by DSD in South Africa during the week of the conference)

6. Decolonising systems of gender and patriarchy

7. Promoting environmental and community sustainability (Theme 3 of the Global Agenda)

8. International lessons on decoloniality and indigenous knowledge (What can be learned from the experiences of other countries with a history of colonisation, particularly in the Global South, that may be relevant to different African contexts?)

9. Rethinking social work internship (field instruction) and supervision

10. Teaching methods for decoloniality

11. Structural impediments to a decolonial social work education

 

Special Additional Themes:

There are two additional themes that are based on practitioner and student experiences, and do not require a research or theoretical foundation, of a 10 minute presentation (plus 5 minutes discussion) or poster presentations:

 

1. Notes from practice: Local solutions for local challenges (Social service professionals from any setting are invited to do a presentation on a local solution to a local challenge that they have developed or learned through practice.)

2. Students’ contributions to a decolonial social work education (undergraduate students are invited to do a presentation on their experience of social work education in relation to decoloniality and indigenous knowledge and/or make suggestions for decolonial social work education for Africa)