About the IS Annual Conference

The Department of Information Studies at the University of Zululand wish to invite you to participate in the 21st Information Studies (IS) conference at the University of Zululand, Kwazulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa between 9th – 11th September, 2020.

This year’s conference theme is “information, knowledge and technology for sustainable development goals (IKT4SDGs) in Africa”

Information, knowledge and technology (INT) has become synonymous with development and means of production by enabling individuals and communities to access and use IKT for daily livelihood both at home, at work, privately or in public in order to achieve their needs and improve their lives and those of others. As is widely known the ‘SDGs are a set of seventeen global goals set out by the UN, which governments all over the world have accepted’ with the purpose of reducing inequality, improving standards of living and protecting lives and the planet. The seventeen goals focus on: poverty, hunger, good health, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, renewable energy, good jobs and economic growth, innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequality, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption, protective planet, sea below water, life on land, peace and justice, partnership for the goals. We believe that INT through its massive capabilities in terms of capital, infrastructure, systems and services, processes, platforms should be able to make a meaningful contribution to SDG. We recognise efforts made so far to fulfil SDG in Africa but anticipate that the 2020 IS annual conference will provide an international open forum for academics, students, researchers, knowledge and information managers and authorities, and information and communication related professionals, largely from Africa, to converge, discuss, and share knowledge and experiences on the conference theme, with an emphasis on the progress made in Africa. The purpose of the conference is to explore and share current research results and experiences information, knowledge and technology for sustainable development goals( SKT4SDG).We invite researchers worldwide, and especially from Africa, to submit their contributions to the 21th IS Annual Conference in the form of original full research papers (FRP), research-in-progress (RIP) papers, or posters that have not previously been presented elsewhere and make new contributions to the theme’s theory and practice.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• IKT and Education
• IKT and Poverty
• IKT and hunger
• IKT and good health
• IKT and Gender equality
• IKT and water and sanitation
• IKT and renewable energy
• IKT and employment
• IKT and innovation
• IKT and infrastructure
• IKT and inequality
• IKT and sustainable cities and communities
• IKT and environmental protection
• IKT and peace and justice

Submissions are invited on any topic within the main theme and subthemes listed above, in any one of the following formats:
• Poster Papers (PP): To enable conference participants to interact one-to-one with presenters in workshops.
• Research-in-Progress (RIP): Ideas for future research or not fully completed research to generate discussion and feedback
• Full Research Paper (FRP): Completed research for possible publication in the Conference Proceedings

Kindly note:
• All presentations should not exceed 20 minutes.
• At least one of the authors of qualifying papers must be present at the conference.
• Qualifying papers in FRP format will be published in double blind peer- refereed and the subsidy-attracting South African Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) conference proceedings or book

Important dates:
• Submission of Abstract for Full Research Paper (FRP) by 15th April 2020
• Notice of acceptance: by 15th May 2020
• Submission of full research papers(FRP): 15th June July 2020
• Notice of acceptance 30th July 2020
• Submission of Research-in Progress (RIP) Abstracts: 30th April 2020
• Notice of acceptance of abstracts: 30th May 2020
• Submission of RIP papers: 30th June 2020
• Notice of acceptance of RIP papers: 30th July 2020
• Submission of poster papers:1st July 2020
• Notice of acceptance: by 30th July 2020

Requirements for submission of Abstracts:
• Title of paper
• Name(s) of author(s)
• Institutional Affiliation
• E-mail address
• Maximum of 300 words and to include: purpose of the paper; the central argument and indication of methodology, results and/or conclusions, recommendations and, implication and include 3-5 keywords.
• Final submissions should be in Arial, font size 12, 1.5 spacing on A4 portrait.
• FRP papers to include separate title page with names of authors and a separate manuscript

Length:
• Final Full Research Papers: - 3000 – 5000 words
• Research in Progress Papers: -2000 - 3000 words
• Final Poster Papers: - Maximum 2000 words

Contact:
All written submissions to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Travel and Visa Requirements
It is expected that most participants should make their travel arrangements. However, most SADC residents do not require entry VISA to travel to South Africa. For those requiring visas it is advisable to apply in good time to the South African Embassy in your respective countries. The Conference Committee will facilitate letters to confirm the hosting of the conference.

Accommodation
The costs for travel, accommodation and incidentals are the responsibility of the participants. Participants are expected to make their own accommodation arrangements.

Call for papers