News

University of Botswana’s Department of Communication and Study Skills Unit successfully hosted the Fifth International Conference on Academic and Professional Communication (ICAPC) which took place at the University Library Auditorium from the 16th-18th July 2025.

Themed “Shaping the Future: Trends and Approaches to Academic and Professional Communication in a Digital Era”, the conference brought together academics, researchers, educators and industry professionals from across Africa and beyond.

Now in its fifth edition, ICAPC has become a platform for dialogue and collaboration on emerging trends and innovations in academic and professional communication especially in light of technological advancement and digital transformation.

Speaking at the official opening, Director of the Centre for Academic Development (CAD), Dr Lovie E. Seru, highlighted the evolution of ICAPC into a leading academic platform. “Digital transformation is no longer a future vision. It is our present reality. Artificial intelligence is reshaping the way we write, research and interact,” said Dr Seru. He added that the conference fostered collective reflection and forward-thinking strategies to meet the demands of a rapidly changing digital world.

Chairperson of the 5th ICAPC, Dr Irene M. Segopolo, shared that this year’s theme focused on how emerging theoretical and methodological approaches to communication were adapting in the digital era. She revealed that 51 peer-reviewed abstracts were accepted, covering a broad spectrum of subthemes. “We are hosting delegates from Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe,” she said.

Delivering the official opening remarks, Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Teaching and Learning, Professor Richard Tabulawa, commended the Communication and Study Skills Unit for spearheading the conference. “The University of Botswana is undergoing a transformation to become a high-performance institution. Conferences such as ICAPC reflect our commitment to research, innovation and digital integration in higher education,” he noted.

One of the keynote speakers, Professor Samuel Amponsah from the University of Ghana, delivered an address on digital transformation and sustainable academic networking. He underscored the importance of addressing Africa’s digital divide through investment in infrastructure, digital literacy and the development of localised content.

The conference features keynote speeches, panel discussions and individual oral presentations, all aligned with the central theme. It provided a platform for knowledge exchange, cross-border collaboration and critical engagement with global communication trends.

As the three-day conference concludes, it leaves behind a shared commitment to advancing academic and professional communication for impact, equity and innovation in the digital era.