International Conference on Language, Multilingualism and Decolonization Practices 12 – 14 July 2023

International, African, and local universities converged at the Academy for Multilingualism at the University of the Free State to converse and discuss Language, Multilingualism, and Decolonization Practices in Higher Education. The purpose of this conference was to bring together academics, researchers, and higher education practitioners working on diverse projects on language, multilingualism and decolonization in higher education institutions and the aim of the conference was to promote discussion at the intersections of language, multilingualism, and decolonization practices in higher education. To share and foster theoretical and practical approaches to enhance knowledge exchange between academics, researchers, and higher education practitioners of diverse languages. To gain a better understanding of the intersections of language, multilingualism, and decolonization in a changing higher education landscape.

The conference was honoured by the presence of language, multilingualism and translanguaging experts from all over the world. Among important keynote speakers were respected scholars like Professor Suresh Canagarajah from Pennsylvania State University, Professor Ofelia Garcia Otheguy from City University of New York, Professor Mbulungeni Madiba from the University of Stellenbosch, the Multilingualism Education Project (MEP) Director Associate Professor Lolie Makhubu-Badenhorst from the University of Cape Town, Professor Berrington Ntombela from the University of Limpopo, Professor Mlamuli Hlatshwayo from the University of Johannesburg, Professor Pearl Sithole from the University of Free State, Professor Emmanuel Mgqwashu from North West University, and Professor Christian Williams from University of the Free State. All these experts discussed and advocated for a decolonised university in the global south and touched on complexities, insights, and possibilities of these issues, not forgetting to mention plus minus 62 papers were presented by scholars from all over the world in three days including a presentation from MEP Director A/Prof Makhubu-Badenhorst and MEP lecturer Ms Tyam. The conference exhausted issues related to multilingualism, decolonization practices and translanguaging expansively. Multilingualism and Decolonization practices are becoming a norm not a problem and other universities are making strides in embracing this norm.