Meqoqo under the Baobab : expanding participatory possibilities of (un)conferencing in South African higher education

Abstract

Conference participants often find dialogic value in conversations held in between conference sessions. As part of its annual event, the Higher Education Learning and Teaching Association of Southern Africa (HELTASA) grappled with how to disrupt traditional pre-conference workshop structures and foster a more inclusive, and participatory environment for scholarly engagement. This study explores the expansion of HELTASA’s (un)conference methodology through facilitated sessions of collective learning and teaching conversations on the first day of the event. Drawing on HELTASA’s (un)conference approach, the study is grounded in the principles of Ubuntu (human interconnectedness) and Ukama (relationality) to promote the values of community, balance, and reciprocity. Using the symbolic spirit of the Baobab tree as life, resilience, and interconnectedness, the Meqoqo (stories and conversations) under the Baobab sessions were conceptualised to support storytelling and dialogue that honoured diverse perspectives and lived experiences. Through a narrative inquiry methodology, an analytic framework towards planning and enacting methodological change was created and used to analyse the reflective narratives generated by the Meqoqo facilitators. The findings highlight that the intentional first day dialogic design of the (un)conference facilitated Ubuntu, Ukama, community building, and knowledge exchange through collaborative learning and peer-to-peer interaction. This enabled (un)conference participants to address contextually relevant, contradictory and contentious issues in higher education. This demonstrates that stretching the participatory boundaries of scholarly gatherings can foster more inclusive, equitable, and dialogic participation. The study contributes strategies for equitable participatory approaches that support cross-boundary and transversal thinking through dialogue, voice, and embodied action.