For North-West University (NWU) PhD candidate Dakalo Goitsilwe, presenting her doctoral research at an international conference in Kenya, marked another important milestone in her development as a social work researcher and scholar.
Dakalo represented the NWU and South Africa at the 2026 Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development (SWSD 2026), held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 26 to 29 June 2026.
The conference brought together social workers, social work educators, researchers, academics, practitioners and policymakers from different countries and continents. Held under the theme “Harambee for sustainable shared futures”, the conference provided a global platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange on social justice, sustainable development and the future of social work.
As a PhD candidate in social work, Dakalo submitted an abstract for consideration, which was accepted for presentation at the conference. Her participation provided an opportunity to place her doctoral research within a broader international conversation on gender equality, social justice and institutional transformation.
Taking gender equality research to the global stage
Dakalo’s research broadly focuses on gender equality in traditionally male-dominated institutions, reflecting her wider academic interests in gender equality, social justice, advocacy and institutional policy.
Her work seeks to understand how institutional structures, policies and practices influence women’s experiences and opportunities, while exploring how research can contribute to creating more equitable and inclusive institutional environments.
For Dakalo, presenting her research in Nairobi was an opportunity not only to share her work, but also to learn from scholars and practitioners working in different contexts.
“Giving a presentation at the SWSD 2026 provided an important opportunity to place my research in a broader international conversation,” she says.
“It allowed me to exchange ideas with researchers working in different contexts, learn from diverse approaches to social challenges and gain perspectives that extend beyond my own academic and national context.”
The international setting enabled her to reflect on the similarities and differences in how social challenges are experienced and addressed across countries.
Building connections across borders
One of the highlights of the conference was the opportunity to connect with social workers, academics and researchers from different parts of the world.
Although social work is practised in diverse cultural, political and institutional contexts, Dakalo notes that many of the challenges facing societies are interconnected, particularly those relating to inequality, social justice, human rights and social development.
These interactions reinforced her belief in the importance of knowledge exchange and collaboration across borders.
The experience also demonstrated the value of international academic platforms in creating opportunities for researchers to test their ideas, receive feedback and engage with perspectives that may not be readily available in their immediate academic environments.
Growing confidence as an emerging scholar
For Dakalo, the Nairobi conference was also significant at a personal level.
Presenting research to an international audience requires confidence, preparation and the ability to engage critically with questions and perspectives from people working in different contexts.
“The Nairobi experience also strengthened my confidence as an emerging scholar,” she says.
“Presenting research to an international audience creates an opportunity not only to share knowledge, but also to receive perspectives, engage critically with other scholars and position one’s work within wider global conversations.”
Her participation at SWSD 2026 builds on an earlier international conference experience in 2025.
From Bloemfontein to Nairobi
In September 2025, Dakalo attended the ASASWEI International Conference at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, where she presented her master’s-degree research.
The conference brought together more than 600 delegates under the theme “Advancing social, economic and environmental justice, peace building and sustainable development through teaching, research and practice”.
The experience provided her with an early opportunity to engage with an international academic audience and share her research beyond her immediate institutional environment.
A year later, she returned to an international academic platform – this time presenting her PhD research in Nairobi.
A growing commitment to social justice
Dakalo’s experiences at both conferences have strengthened her commitment to research that contributes to discussions around gender equality, social justice and institutional transformation.
Her international engagements have also reinforced the importance of learning from scholars and practitioners working in different parts of the world.
For an emerging researcher, these opportunities provide more than exposure. They create platforms to build academic networks, exchange ideas, refine research perspectives and contribute South African experiences to global conversations.
As she continues with her PhD at the NWU, Dakalo hopes to use the knowledge and perspectives gained through her international engagements to strengthen her research and contribute meaningfully to the social work profession.
For Dakalo, the journey is ultimately about using research to contribute to a more equitable society.
The experience has strengthened her resolve to pursue research that engages meaningfully with questions of gender equality, social justice, advocacy and institutional transformation, while continuing to learn from and collaborate with scholars beyond her immediate academic and national context.
Photo: NWU PhD candidate Dakalo Goitsilwe presents her doctoral research at the 2026 Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development in Nairobi, Kenya.
