International Literacy Day - 8 September 2025
Celebrate International Literacy Day with NWU Library and Information Service (LIS)
The Library and Information Service (LIS), in collaboration with the Faculty of Humanities, will celebrate International Literacy Day 2025 under the global theme "Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era". This event will take a fresh and dynamic approach, highlighting the various forms of literacies essential for success in today's world, including Information Literacy, Digital Literacy, AI Literacy, Reading Literacy, and Oral Literacy.
In today's context, literacy extends beyond reading and writing; it encompasses the ability to find, evaluate, create, and ethically use information in multiple formats. Just as importantly, it includes acknowledging heritage and cultural practices such as oral literature and storytelling, which have historically laid the foundation for literacy development.
This event will create a platform for robust dialogue, artistic expression, and knowledge-sharing to empower both students and communities. It will also highlight storytelling, including its performance art form with song and music, as a key bridge between heritage preservation and new forms of digital literacy. Aligning with South Africa's Heritage Month, the programme will reflect on how these literacies intersect with cultural identity, heritage preservation, academic success, and responsible digital citizenship.
Programme |
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Theme: Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era |
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| 10:00 - 10:15 | Opening, welcome and setting the scene: Dr Mathew Moyo |
| 10:15 - 10:30 | Word of Support: Prof Jeffrey Mphahlele |
| 10:30 - 10:40 | Poem Item |
| 10:40 - 11:50 |
Panel Discussion Topic: Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era
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| 11:50 - 12:20 | Q & A Session |
| 12:20 - 12:40 | Poem Item |
| 12:40 - 13:00 | Closure & Vote of Thanks: Ms Dina Mashiyane |
Speakers
Dr. Sabelo Chizwina
Dr. Sabelo Chizwina is a seasoned librarian and has been serving as a Director responsible for Information and Learning Services at North-West University (NWU) since 2023. Dr. Chizwina holds a doctoral degree in Library and Information Sciences, obtained in 2019 and has made significant contributions to the advancement of Information Literacy in higher education. He has been instrumental in integrating information literacy into the curriculum, empowering students and researchers with critical skills for navigating and evaluating information in academic and real-world contexts. Some achievements in the area of information literacy include being a Co-Chair of the International Conference on Information Literacy, co-publishing an edition on information literacy in 2024, co-editing a special edition on the Information Literacy journal issue and presenting on the topic in a number of local and international conferences.
He is part of engaged scholarship initiatives of the Library and Information Service, such as the NWU Science Shop, where they are training community members on information and digital literacy.
Dr. Chizwina's research interests include Information Literacy, community-based research, knowledge democratisation, and library innovation. He is passionate about creating inclusive learning environments and fostering partnerships that promote access to knowledge and social impact.
Professor Janelize Morelli
Janelize Morelli is the director of the newly established NWU Centre for Digital Humanities. She teaches undergraduate modules in community music and music education with a focus on ethical digital heritage practices. Janelize holds a PhD in Music Education from NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. She supervises postgraduate students interested in transformative music education and community music. Her creative practice focuses on telling stories otherwise through digital and multimedia explorations. She is currently exploring themes related to how human-computer interactions contribute to or detract from participatory musicking ethics. Janelize is an avid supporter of arts-based research, artistic practice and storytelling as acts of public scholarship and engagement.
Professor Anné H. Verhoef
Anné H. Verhoef is a professor in Philosophy and Director of the North-West University (NWU) AI Hub. He holds a PhD from the University of Stellenbosch and a second one from the Free University of Amsterdam. His research interests are, amongst others, ethics, artificial intelligence and academic integrity, and the philosophy of happiness. He published various academic articles on academic integrity in Higher Education. He is the co-founder and former associate editor of the academic journal Transformation in Higher Education. He is also the co-founder of AICSA - the Artificial Intelligence Circle in South Africa for Higher Education.
Mr Jeff Nyoka
Jeff Nyoka is the E-learning Manager for City of Johannesburg Library and Information Services in South Africa, with over 20 years of experience in the information sector at both academic and public libraries. His current role involves researching ICT trends, establishing partnerships and collaborations, and initiating innovative ways of incorporating technology in library programs, such as introducing Digital literacy and Reading with technology programs, such as the BCX Innovation Award-winning Mobireadathon. He has presented papers on these programs at various conferences. He collaborates with NGO's, the private sector, and academic institutions to support these programs.