The Inkanyiso journal 2026 Special Collection: We invite you to submit

AOSIS calls on all authors to participate in the Inkanyiso journal’s 2026 special collection, Liberating Minds and Shaping the Future, that will be published in the open-access scholarly journal. Submit your latest research for consideration, contribute to the open-access content available to everyone, and share your expertise with a wider audience.

Timeline:

• Online full manuscript submission open: 01 November 2025
• Online full manuscript submission closes: 28 February 2026
• Expected publication date: 31 August 2026

Inkanyiso 2026 special collection. Liberating Minds and Shaping the Future

The theme highlights the pivotal role of the Arts, Languages, Humanities, and Social Sciences (HSS) in promoting intellectual freedom, creativity, and critical thinking within higher education. These disciplines have long held a central place in the university’s core curriculum and academic offerings, shaping how knowledge is produced, contested, and disseminated.

In an era marked by complex global challenges, the humanities and social sciences serve as essential tools for questioning dominant narratives, challenging established discourses, and envisioning more just, inclusive, and sustainable futures. They foster the intellectual rigour and empathy needed to navigate diverse perspectives and promote meaningful dialogue across cultural, social, and political divides.

This conference invites scholars, lecturers, educators, and practitioners to explore how the HSS fields can drive transformative progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while redefining their relevance within and beyond academia. Intellectual freedom in these disciplines not only enriches the academic experience but also empowers individuals and communities to confront critical societal issues with nuance and innovation. Therefore, how does the field of humanities and social sciences challenge dominant discourses and narratives in addressing complex societal challenges?

Focus on subtheme:
This conference offers a critical space to explore the evolving role of the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) in shaping research, teaching, and societal impact. The subthemes foreground the enduring value of academic freedom, curriculum innovation, ethical inquiry, and interdisciplinary approaches in addressing global and local challenges. Through diverse perspectives and critical engagement, HSS disciplines contribute to personal transformation, social cohesion, and sustainable development.

Recommended topics:

Subtheme 1. Academic Freedom In Research, Teaching, And Learning
Academic freedom is foundational to intellectual inquiry, shaping the quality and scope of research, teaching, and learning in higher education. This subtheme explores:

• The role of academic freedom in advancing knowledge creation and dissemination.
• Challenges and opportunities in safeguarding intellectual autonomy within institutional and political contexts.

Subtheme 2. Innovative Pedagogies and Curriculum Design
In response to rapidly changing educational landscapes, there is an urgent need to reimagine teaching and learning. This subtheme invites contributions on:

• Emerging methodologies such as digital humanities, experiential learning, and interdisciplinary models.
• Decolonising and diversifying curricula to include global, indigenous, and marginalised perspectives.

Subtheme 3. Fostering Critical Thinking And Problem-Solving
Humanities and Social Sciences develop critical, analytical, and problem-solving skills essential for navigating complex realities. This subtheme investigates:

• How HSS disciplines equip students to tackle real-world problems.
• Case studies of interdisciplinary approaches that engage with pressing global issues.

Subtheme 4. Personal Growth and Human Development
Beyond academic achievement, HSS contribute to individual well-being, ethical awareness, and leadership. This subtheme explores:

• The transformative impact of HSS on personal identity, empathy, and resilience.
• The role of the arts and humanities in supporting mental health and holistic development.

Subtheme 5. Social and Global Challenges
As societies grapple with inequality, environmental crises, and conflict, HSS offer essential frameworks for critical reflection and action. This subtheme addresses:

• Contributions of HSS to climate justice, peacebuilding, and the fight against inequality.
• Intersections between the humanities and technology in addressing contemporary societal challenges.

Subtheme 6. Empathy, Social Cohesion, and Understanding
Humanities and Social Sciences foster intercultural dialogue, mutual respect, and collective identity. This subtheme considers:

• The role of HSS in promoting empathy, understanding, and inclusive citizenship.
• Strategies for building social cohesion through education, literature, history, and the arts.

Subtheme 7. Diversity Of Perspectives
Amplifying diverse voices is crucial for inclusive and relevant knowledge systems. This subtheme engages:

• The importance of integrating marginalised and indigenous perspectives in academia.
• Institutional strategies to promote diversity, equity, and social justice in research and teaching.

Subtheme 8. Advancement Of Knowledge In A Changing World
HSS must continuously evolve to remain relevant in a digitised, data-driven, and interconnected world. This subtheme encourages discussion on:

• Bridging disciplinary divides between HSS and STEM to foster holistic problem-solving.
• The future of HSS research and its role in shaping sustainable and ethical futures.

Subtheme 9. Ethics, Justice, and the SDGs
This subtheme explores the philosophical and ethical dimensions of sustainable development, including:

• The ethical obligations to future generations in development choices.
• Environmental justice and the disproportionate impact on marginalised communities.
• Application of ethical frameworks—utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics—to assess and guide SDG implementation.
• Philosophical arguments for gender equality and its implications for sustainable development.
• Exploring the alignment or tension between values such as economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social equity.
  

Manuscript information:

The author guidelines include information about the types of articles received for publication and preparing a manuscript for submission. Read the full submission guidelines.

Submission procedure:

When submitting your manuscript to the journal, choose ‘Liberating Minds and Shaping the Future’ as the article type. You can access the submission portal on the journal’s website after logging in with your personal credentials. For further information on the submission process, visit the journal procedure page.

All submissions will undergo an anonymous review process to guarantee high scientific quality and relevance to the subject. The Editor-in-Chief will make the final decision on acceptance, revision, or rejection based on the feedback from the reviewers.

We will be happy to provide you with any assistance during the submission and application process. Kindly enquire at submissions@inkanyisojournal.org.

All submissions and inquiries should be directed to the attention of the guest editors:

• Lucas Mafu, University of Zululand, MafuL@unizulu.ac.za
• Zoliswa Fikelepi-Twani, University of Zululand, TwaniZ@unizulu.ac.za

We would be honoured to receive a positive reply from you and look forward to receiving your manuscript.