Recently (3 Feb 2025), I attended a very interesting seminar at the Tin Temple (Wits University). The Title: Copyright and the Public Interest, Africa and the Global South. Thanks to Denise from Scholarly Horizons for the invitation. First, my apologies to her. I should have passed the invite onto my Mobile Literacy and Wikipedian friends. No matter, Matete Fezi, Lindani and Herschal were in attendance. Also was pleased to finally connect (finally) with Vukosi in person and see Jonathan again. Finally, I was very pleased to meet Klaus and find that there is a person who seems to share a common concern of mine, namely, the assetization of higher education.
It is always an interesting exercise to observe the room and see who gets to sit at the table. When I attend Digital Education events, it seems to me, at first glance, that we all have a common interests. Teaching and Learning. Whereas at this event, there were a range of different people and each with their own interests and agendas who were there. I can’t really say that we were all similarly aligned. In fact I know that some where diametrically opposed. But perhaps that’s democracy. A group of people gather for a single cause and they come to advocate for that cause, even if they have different interests? Quite refreshing to have to listen to many different perspectives.
But I’ve been wondering recently about this alignment that I expect in all seminars. Perhaps having a diversity of voices and interests at the table is better than all being on the same page? Still can’t really make up my mind. But I am glad that I attended.
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