The North-West University (NWU) is proud to promote inclusivity by raising awareness and addressing crucial issues in society. Inclusivity and engaged awareness of current affairs are important building blocks towards excellence at the NWU.
This year, despite the various challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the university is again raising awareness of the role of both gender and language in creating a more equal South Africa. However, this will be the first time that it is a joint celebration taking place solely on the NWU’s online platforms.
The Gender Awareness Week (GAW) and Language Awareness Week (LAW) online event will take place from 28 September to 2 October. It will be filled with exciting workshops, lectures presented by renowned experts, group discussions following the lectures, and even a dance session.
Courageous conversations for a better society
“During the week, the NWU will facilitate courageous gender- and language-awareness conversations that ‘trouble our past’ and ‘re-imagine our future’. The events of the week will be offered online,” says Prof Robert Balfour, deputy vice-chancellor for teaching and learning.
“The NWU wants to encourage critical conversations about the current affairs relating to gender-based violence and to expand its conversations about the use of South African languages in domains such as education and the media,” he says.
Local, global and NWU experts will provide input to these conversations through pre-recorded video sessions. The audience members will then have an opportunity to raise comments and questions with the hosts of the sessions. There will also be parallel platforms where examples of best practices relating to gender and language will be showcased.
For more information about Gender Awareness Week and Language Awareness Week and the exciting events that form part of this, visit http://www.nwu.ac.za/gender-and-language-awareness-weeks or contact Adv Rene Koraan (rene.koraan@nwu.ac.za) for the GAW and Prof Susan Coetzee-van Rooy (susan.coetzeevanrooy@nwu.ac.za) for the LAW.
