Conference Theme:
Seed. Root. Grow: Nurturing SoTL across Africa
28 – 29 August, 2026
The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning continues to take root across African higher education. As educators, researchers, and institutional leaders, we share a commitment to understanding how students learn and how teaching can support meaningful transformation. The second Annual SoTL Conference invites participants to reflect on the foundations, possibilities, and future of SoTL across the continent.
Using the ideas of roots, seeds, and growth, this conference explores how teaching and learning scholarship can be grounded in African contexts while contributing to global conversations about education. Just as healthy ecosystems require strong roots, fertile soil, careful planting, and sustained care, the development of SoTL in Africa requires collaboration, curiosity, and shared learning.
This conference aims to strengthen a community of educators who are committed to evidence informed teaching and student success across African universities and colleges.
Emerging Ideas and New Scholars
Seeds represent new ideas, early stage research, and emerging scholars who are beginning to explore the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. This theme highlights innovative approaches, pilot projects, and early investigations that show promise for future growth.
Possible topics include:
- Early stage SoTL research.
- New pedagogical approaches and classroom experiments.
- Student partnerships in teaching and learning research.
- Digital and technology supported learning innovations.
- Building your SoTL skill set.
Foundations of SoTL in African Higher Education
This theme explores the historical, cultural, and institutional foundations that shape teaching and learning across African universities. Contributions may examine how African philosophies, educational traditions, and institutional contexts inform SoTL practice and research.
Possible topics include:
- African perspectives on teaching and learning.
- Institutional support for SoTL.
- Building cultures of reflective teaching.
- Integrating local knowledge systems into curricula.
Expanding Practice
and Impact
Growth reflects the expansion of effective teaching practices and research across institutions and disciplines. This theme invites work that demonstrates impact and the scaling of successful initiatives.
Possible topics include:
- Collaborative SoTL research across institutions.
- Interdisciplinary approaches to teaching and learning.
- Professional development for educators.
- Evaluating the impact of teaching innovations.
The registration fee is GHS 576 (approx. $50) for both in-person and online attendees.
Undergraduate and graduate students may apply for a fee waiver by emailing sotlafrica@ashesi.edu.gh with the subject line: “SOTL Africa 2025 – Fee Waiver.
The conference will feature engaging sessions across two days, including keynote and plenary talks, interactive workshops, peer-reviewed paper and poster presentations, a cultural site visit, and networking dinners. Sessions will cover both foundational and advanced SoTL topics.
The 2-day conference will bring together teacher-scholar-mentors from across the country, Africa, and beyond to showcase their research through posters, paper presentations, storytelling, and other creative methods. The conference will feature engaging keynotes, interactive panel discussions, hands-on workshops, and other activities.
The conference aims to:
- Strengthen networks among African SoTL educators.
- Showcase innovative, Africa-centered teaching and learning practices
- Promote collaborative research and institutional partnerships
- Build a sustainable SoTL community across Africa
On 10–11 September 2025, Ashesi hosted its inaugural annual Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Africa Conference, bringing together faculty, researchers, leaders, and students from across the continent.
The conference elevated awareness of effective teaching practices, showcased emerging approaches, and created space for meaningful reflection on teaching and learning in African higher education.
24
Institutions
Represented
10
Paper & Poster
Presentations
91
Delegates in
Attendance
The SoTL Africa journal, in the spirit of Ashesi, through essays teaches SoTL philosophy and pedagogic practice, and publishes exemplary SoTL research relevant to the context of Africa.
Primarily, the journal is a forum for SoTL research in all disciplines, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary, in fields such as Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, and Entrepreneurship (STEAME).
The papers are structured in the general format of Introduction, Methodology, Results, and Discussion (IMRAD) to be a viable resource for effective teaching, learning, and scholarship in African higher education.
Registration Timelines:
- Registration Begins – 21st April 2026
- Registration ends – 31st July 2026
Call for Paper Abstracts:
- Call for Abstracts Begins – 21st April 2026
- Call for Abstracts Ends – 8th June 2026
- Initiate Abstracts Review – 9th June 2026
- End of Abstracts Review – 30th June 2026
- Communications Sent Regarding Paper Decisions – 2nd – 4thJuly 2026
- Virtual session for Selected Participants, Speakers – 14th Aug 2026
- Submission of Posters/Slides – 21st Aug 2026
- Conference Dates – 28th & 29th Aug 2026
The conference will take place at Ashesi University, Ghana, from the 28th to the 29th of August, 2025, in the Hive Banquet Hall.
(online attendance available, details provided upon registration)
Faculty, higher education leaders, educational developers, students (undergraduate, graduate, and early-career researchers), teaching and research assistants, and anyone interested in enhancing teaching and learning through SoTL are encouraged to attend.
Find out more here: https://ashe.si/4mWHqYH!