The National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS) will host the first virtual Annual National Doctoral Conference (ANDC) from the 3 November – 6 November 2020.
This flagship programme, under the auspices of the CEO’s office, will sustain the annual primary theme: Annual National Doctoral Conference: ‘Building and dynamising the Humanities and Social Sciences,” complemented by the hashtag -“Advancing Digital HSS”/”Human-centred Digital HSS”.
The ANDC provides a platform for second and third year NIHSS PhD scholarship recipients to present their doctoral work, as well as constructively engage with their peers, while exploring emerging critical discourses within HSS scholarship.
Over 200 doctoral scholars have graduated, since the inception of the NIHSS scholarship programme, with 500 scholars still in the system.In this way the ANDC creates a unique space for students, mentors and researchers to collectively explore pertinent questions around the status and possible futures of HSS scholarship nationally, continentally and globally. It is also important to note that the Conference is a mechanism utilised by the NIHSS to foster a student-centred culture of learning and exchange within the
higher education system with the aim of contributing towards creating an environment where the critical, analytical and normative capacities of doctoral candidates are enhanced.
“In its endeavour to promote HSS research while opening up new vistas in knowledge production and scholarship, the ANDC draws on the NIHSS network of mentors and researchers to create a space for critical engagement as well-structured intellectual support”, says Professor Sarah Mosoetsa,
NIHSS CEO
The event utilises a wide range of HSS experts who facilitate assigned thematic sessions which promote active engagement among students. A ‘Best Paper’ award will also be made at the end of the Conference; and prior to the ANDC submitted full-papers will be reviewed by external reviewers who
select the winners according to the following criteria: clarity of research questions, soundness of theory and innovative use of methodologies.
The NIHSS will work collaboratively with its partners, the South African Humanities Deans Association (SAHUDA) and the Council for the Development of Social Science in Africa (CODESRIA) to deliver the conference.
