National Conference on the Recognition of Prior Learning in Indigenous Knowledge
A national Conference on the Recognition of Prior Learning in Indigenous Knowledge will be held in Ulundi from 27 to 31 October 2025.
The media are invited to the opening session, which will start on the evening of Monday, 27 October 2025, with sessions continuing into the early hours of Tuesday, 28 October. The timing is intentional: key discussions on indigenous cosmology and astronomy will include night-sky observations.
The conference aims to finalise national norms and standards for the recognition of prior learning (RPL) across a wide range of indigenous knowledge (IK) disciplines. It builds on RPL pilot projects implemented in KwaZulu-Natal, North-West and Limpopo, particularly in the traditional healing sector, which demonstrated the feasibility of formalising IK competencies through structured assessment frameworks.
Organised in collaboration with North-West University and the University of Venda, the conference aligns with the Protection, Promotion, Development and Management of Indigenous Knowledge Act, the White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), the STI Decadal Plan, and broader national and global agendas, including the National Development Plan and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The conference will contribute to the formal recognition of the competencies of IK practitioners in diverse domains, and to design a robust RPL system that enhances the quality of services provided by IK practitioners, promotes social and economic inclusion, and facilitates the meaningful integration of IK and other knowledge systems in South Africa.
IK disciplines that will be discussed include traditional rites of passage (for men and women), traditional Khoi and San leadership institutions, cosmology and astronomy, hunting and fishing (including habitat knowledge), farming and animal husbandry (including food systems, seed banking, and harvesting practices), trade, knowledge acquisition and the intergenerational transfer of IK, traditional cultural expressions (the visual arts, performance, couture, language, music and literature), and indigenous technology and architecture.
The conference will bring together IK practitioners, academics, policymakers and other stakeholders for in-depth dialogue aimed at finalising a comprehensive national framework for IK norms and standards.
Media are invited as follows
Date: 27 and 28 October 2025
Time: 19:00 to 05:00
Venue: Ophathe Museum, Spirit of eMakhosini, Kwanobamba, Ulundi, KwaZulu-Natal
Issued by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation.
For enquiries and to RSVP, please contact Julian Leshilo-Sebake at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 060 961 2194.
