Launch video — Ubuntu Digital Platform project

The Ubuntu Digital Platform project was launched by Professor Antoinette Lombard (IASSW incoming President)) during the Day of the African Child Students Conference (online) on 14 June 2024. The platform is developed on the Ushahidi, a knowledge crowd sourcing application developed in Kenya.

Details of the Project and Project Team

Aim, Rationale and Purpose of the Project

The project is a collaboration to design and develop an Ubuntu-inspired virtual learning and teaching platform with multiple digital resources and test it in different countries across the globe.

There is evidence that the philosophy of Ubuntu can play a huge role in transforming and decolonising social work learning, teaching and practice. Ubuntu is one of the themes of the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development 2020 to 2030 whose theme for 2020-2022 was ‘Ubuntu: Strengthening Social Solidarity and Global Connectedness´. The Agenda was set by the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), and the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW). This is an important development, however, there have been inadequate resources to illustrate how Ubuntu is being applied or can be applied in social work learning, teaching and practice. We propose to bring together four to six social work institutions from different regions of the world to collaboratively design an Ubuntu-inspired virtual learning and teaching platform with multiple digital resources and test it in selected countries across the globe. The platform will be a dedicated website that contains, in an engaging interactive manner, videos, lectures, photographs, audios, illustrations, stories and other resources. The African Social Work Network has offered to host the website for as long as it is required. Two journal articles will be produced, one focusing on the production of the resources and another focusing on use of the resources. The platform will have resources in the categories shown in the table.

Ubuntu Research Group

• Associate Professor Vincent Mabvurira, PhD
• Mr Felix Kakowa
• Dr Thembelihle B. Makhanya, PhD
• Dr Rugare Mugumbate, PhD
• Mr Bernard Mayaka
• Professor Chinwe R. Nwanna, PhD
• Dr Sharlotte Tusasiirwe, PhD
• Mr Robert Kudakwashe Chigangaidze
• Associate Professor Mfundo Mandla Masuku
• Associate Professor Janestic Twikirize