Roundtable Discussion: Multilingualism and Knowledge Exchange in Academia
he Maria Sibylla Merian Centres for Advanced Studies MECAM (Tunisia), MIASA (Ghana), and ICAS:MP (India) are pleased to invite you to a roundtable discussion on Multilingualism and Knowledge Exchange in Academia.
Date: 18 February 2025
Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM IST
Venue: Conference Room 1, India International Centre (IIC), Delhi (India)
Multilingualism in academia presents both challenges and opportunities, influencing inclusivity and equity in research. While English serves as a global lingua franca, its dominance can marginalize other languages and perpetuate epistemic inequalities rooted in colonial histories. Despite efforts to promote language diversity, structural barriers remain. Scholars and institutions are increasingly recognizing the value of multilingualism in enriching academic discourse and broadening knowledge perspectives. This roundtable will explore how multilingualism can foster epistemic justice, challenge traditional language norms in research, and create equitable frameworks for global knowledge production.
Speakers:
- Grace Diabah (Ghanaese Director, MIASA, University of Ghana)
- Mamadou Diawara (German Director, MIASA, Frankfurt University)
- Agnes Schneider-Musah (Coordinator, MIASA)
- Rachid Ouaissa (Director, MECAM; Political Science, Middle East, Marburg University, Germany)
- Emna Beltaif (Vice-President, Tunis University, MECAM)
- Julius Dihstelhoff (Coordinator, MECAM)
- Ravikant (Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi, ICAS:MP Member)
- Martin Fuchs (Former ICAS:MP Director, Max Weber Kolleg, Erfurt)
The event will be moderated by Baidik Bhattacharya (Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi, former ICAS:MP Fellow).
If you wish to attend in person, kindly register by emailing Ms. Sukriti Manocha at manocha@mwsindia.org by 17 February 2024.