Global Knowledge Exchange Preconference @ ICA in Africa 2023
Cape Town, South Africa
15 November 2023
The Global Knowledge Exchange Preconference at the 2023 ICA in Africa regional conference in South Africa is designed to facilitate mutually beneficial knowledge exchange without reinforcing systemic inequities in academia. It does so by bringing together emerging and senior scholars both within and outside the African continent into structured conversations with each other about how best to study media and communication in Africa.
Participants will be placed into four-member cohort groups consisting of an emerging scholar based in Africa, an emerging scholar studying Africa from outside the continent, a senior scholar based in Africa, and a senior scholar studying Africa from outside the continent. Cohort groups will be organized around research interests. Cohorts are not expected to engage in collaborative research; rather, the goal is to nurture and develop each member's own research projects and interests by recognizing the various ways members can learn from each other.
The preconference schedule will include dedicated time for each group member to discuss and receive detailed feedback on a current or future research project. It will also include presentations and discussions about topics such as how to offer constructive feedback, project development, research collaboration, and geographic disparities in scholarly knowledge production.
Application process. Applicants must apply as either emerging scholars or senior scholars. An "emerging scholar" is defined as anyone currently enrolled in an MA or PhD program as well as postdocs and early career faculty who have completed their doctoral degree within the past three years. A "senior scholar" is anyone who completed their doctoral degree more than three years ago.
To apply, emerging scholars must submit the following:
- A recent CV
- A 150-250 word personal statement that describes their research interests, current professional standing (e.g., student, post-doc, early career faculty, etc.), and previous experience with mentorship, teaching, or research collaborations.
- A 500-750 word research proposal. The research proposal should describe a study that has not yet been conducted but would benefit from dedicated feedback and guidance at the preconference. The proposal should include the topic, rationale, theoretical approach, and proposed methodology.
To apply, senior scholars must submit the following:
- A recent CV
- A 150-250 word personal statement that describes their research expertise, any relevant current research projects, and previous experience working with graduate students and/or early career faculty.
Applicants will be evaluated individually as well as based on the overall composition of cohort groups.
Travel grants. Resource limitations have a serious and significant effect on knowledge production in and about Africa. To this end, the ICA Executive Committee has generously committed to providing the following travel grants to help alleviate the financial strain that might otherwise prohibit participants from attending:
- $1,000 travel grants for emerging scholars based in Africa and outside the continent
- $500 travel grants to senior scholars based in Africa
Deadline. Submit application materials to preconference co-organizer Brian Ekdale at brian-ekdale@uiowa.edu. Please use the subject line "ICA in Africa Preconference Submission." Applications are due June 30, 2023. Notifications will be sent on or before August 15, 2023.
The preconference will take place 15 November 2023 at the University of Cape Town. The ICA in Africa regional conference will take place 16-18 November, 2023. To submit to the ICA in Africa conference, please review the full call here https://journalism.sun.ac.za/en/2023/02/15/ica-in-africa-call-for-papers/