UJ academic awarded Unesco Chair to advance digital inclusion and cultural equity in Africa

A University of Johannesburg academic has beenawarded a Unesco Chairin Cultural Inclusivity and Equity in Digital Media in Africa, following a competitive global process that drew 135 applications to Unesco headquarters in Paris. ProfessorPrinola Govenden, based in UJ’s Faculty of Humanities, will lead the chair for the 2026 to 2030 cycle, positioning her within Unesco’s Unitwin network of more than 1 000 chairs across over 120 countries. Established in 1992, the programme links academic research with policy development and international cooperation, with participating institutions contributing to the identification of emerging issues and the development of governance frameworks across sectors.

The appointment places South Africa within a global network shaping how digital transformation is understood, particularly as debates shift from access to deeper questions of representation, ownership and influence. The university formally marked the award on Friday through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Communications and Digital Technologies MinisterSolly Malatsi, signalling an effort to align the chair’s work with South Africa’s digital policy agenda. The agreement, signed with vice-chancellor ProfessorLetlhokwa Mpedi, positions the chair within a broader national push to advance digital transformation, policy development and inclusive innovation.

UJ has framed the initiative as supporting South Africa’s digital diplomacy and leadership on the continent, elevating it beyond a purely academic intervention. Malatsi said the partnership reflects a shift towards a more collaborative approach to digital development. “It will require partnerships across sectors.

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Government brings the public mandate and policy direction. “Universities bring research capacity and critical inquiry. Industry brings investment and innovation, while civil society helps to foster accountability and social legitimacy,” he said.

His remarks situate the chair within a wider policy environment in which the state is increasingly drawing on academic institutions to inform its approach to complex areas such asartificial intelligence, platform governance and data regulation. Mpedi said the chair reinforces UJ’s role as a leading African institution shaping the future of digital society. “Our Unesco Chair will contribute innovative research, practical and strategic solutions, as well as policy recommendations for fostering a decolonised and inclusive internet that serves African societies,” he said, adding that the work would focus on both knowledge representation and access within digital systems.

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