German Studies experts from Africa and Germany meet in Stellenbosch

A conference entitled “German language and culture in an African context” – for German and African experts in German Studies – will take place at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) from 25 to 29 March. The conference is organised by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in cooperation with its advisory council for German Studies and Stellenbosch University. During the three days, some 80 German language and culture experts – teachers and researchers alike – will exchange views and ideas concerning the situation and perspectives of their discipline.

From 16 countries, representatives of just about every German department in Sub-Saharan Africa will travel to Stellenbosch to attend the event. In about 60 podia, lectures, study groups and poster presentations they will discuss German-African relations from a subject specific perspective and present the latest contributions to research and teaching in various fields of German Studies, including translation, interpreting, and German cultural studies. The wide variety of topics ranges from images of Africa in German literature to concepts of multilingualism and the relation between German Studies and development policy. On a departmental level, models of cooperation for the training of German teachers, the qualification of young scholars as well as for professionally oriented teaching programs will also be presented.

The conference will be opened by, among others, the Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University, Prof Russel Botman, and the German Consul-General in Cape Town on 25 March at 18:00 during a festive dinner held at “De Oewer” garden restaurant. Guests will be welcomed by Professors Klaus-Michael Bogdal (chair of DAAD’s advisory council for German Studies) and Eva Neuland (DAAD board member).

On 27 March, a public panel discussion in Cape Town will address questions pertaining to the practical use of learning German in Africa, and to what exactly motivates learners. The podium discussion will take place in German.

• Contact Dr Julia Augart, DAAD Lecturer at the Department of Modern Foreign Languages, Stellenbosch University, tel 021 808 3886 or augart@sun.ac.za for more information or Susanne Lüdtke, DAAD, German Studies abroad and German as a foreign language, tel.: +49228/882-579 or Luedtke@daad.de