If you are interested in sponsoring SAICSIT2020, kindly view this presentation. Our virtual conference presents a special opportunity to reach 100 experts and 50 emergent researchers in CS and IT. Do contact me (SAICSIT2020's web and sponsorship chair) or CPUT's Advancement Department for more information.

1. Interfacing with Digital AfricaInterfacing with Digital Africa
Interfacingwith DigitalAfrica
DATE
14– 16September2020
VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
powered via Aventri + Whova + Zoom

2. Interfacing with Digital Africa
Welcome
TheFacultyof Informatics and Design at the Cape Peninsula Universityof Technology
is pleased to announcethe hosting of the 2020South African Institutefor Computer
Scientists and InformationTechnologists (SAICSIT)conference. This virtual conference
takes place from the 14thtothe 16thof September.Thetheme is Interfacing with
Digital Africa.

3. Interfacing with Digital Africa
With therapidincreaseof technology-for-developmentrelatedresearch,interfacingcan enableorconstrainlinesof communication.Assuchacademic researchersin Africa enjoyan importantresponsibilityindirecting theflows
of novel researchin ISand CS.Both Africanisationandthe decolonialturn pointto the importanceof developingknowledgefrom Africancontexts.Thiscan beinterpretedas anextensionof informationthat encapsulates
relevanceand contextfor thebenefitof allits citizenry.
Thedevelopmentof local knowledgerequiresan understandingof thecontext in which IS/CSsolutionsare to beappliedby incorporatingthe fourdimensionsofdigitaltechnology(computing,connectivity,contentand capacity).
Researchersin Africa enjoyspecialopportunitiesforinterfacingwith a diverserange of perspectivesandrealitiesby engaging thesefourdimensionsand closingrelatedgapsin literature.Suchresearchmay developintounique
contributionsthatrangefrom developingnoveltheoreticalknowledgeto triallingIS/CS innovations.Incontrast, localresearchersmightalsoface severeconstraintsthat mitigateagainstinterfacingoutsidethe dominantacademic
understandingof theGlobalNorth or the needsof “universal”softwaredevelopmentanditsusers.
Interfacingwith Digital Africa seeksto addresshowthe workof computerscienceandinformationtechnologyresearchers’interfaceswith uniqueopportunitiesandchallengesonthe continent.It alsoaimsto spotlightthegaps
andchallengesforourresearchcommunity’sexplorationof under-resourcedsettingsandmarginalisedcommunitiesoutsidethe defaultsof“standard”computing andinformationtechnologyenvironments.

4. Interfacing with Digital Africa
Topical questions
1. Whatprogressare softwaredevelopersmakinginSouthernAfricatointerfacewithAfricancontextsandusers?
2. Howiscomputerscience and informationtechnologyresearchrespondingtoAfricanrealitiesmore broadly?
3. Whatare thegapsin AfricanCSandIT researchandwhatconstraintsdo thesesuggest?
4. HowareAfricansolutionsforAfricanproblemsmeetingtheworld?
5. Whatare theenablersandconstraintsthatinfluenceinterfacedesignforAfricans?
6. HowaredeveloperscateringforpreviouslyneglectedcommunitiesthroughcustominterfacesandAfricanlanguagelibraries?
7. Howmightsoftwaredevelopmentformarginalised,Africancommunitiesbedevelopedassustainableprojects?
8. AmongmanyAfricanITstart-ups,could anygrowintohigh performingtechnologycompanieslike theFAANGs?
9. HowisAfricancomputerscience and informationtechnologyresearchrebalancing“global” understandingsdevelopedin verydifferentsettings?
10. HowcantransdisciplinaryresearchcontributetounderstandingofIT andCSdynamicsinAfricancontexts?
11. Whatare theunderlyingtheoriesandphilosophiesofAfricanisationin thetechnologydomain?
12. Howcanweensurethatwomenarebetterrepresentedin AfricanITeducation,softwaredevelopmentandresearch?

5. Interfacing with Digital Africa
Sponsorship tiers
PLATINUM
R50,000+
GOLD
R40,000+
SILVER
R20,000+
BRONZE
R10,000+
1. Companynameinconferenceproceedingsandon
saicsit2020.org.za
2. Yourbanneronthevirtualconference’s
homepagelinkedtoyourwebaddress
3. Avirtualexhibitionstandtorunpromotionsfrom
4. FREEregistrationforat leastfivecompany
representatives
5. Exclusiveopportunitytodoa virtualworkshop
and/orplenarytalk
6. Advertising/exhibitionspaceon
saicsit2020.org.za
1. Companynameinconferenceproceedingsand
onsaicsit2020.org.za
2. Yourbanneronthevirtualconference’s
homepagelinkedtoyourwebaddress
3. Avirtualexhibitionstandtorunpromotions
from
4. FREEregistrationforthreecompany
representatives
5. Advertising/exhibitionspaceon
saicsit2020.org.za
1. Companynameinconferenceproceedingsand
onsaicsit2020.org.za
2. Abannerinthevirtualconferenceappthatlinks
toyourwebaddress
3. FREEregistrationfortwocompany
representatives
1. Companynameinconferenceproceedingsand
onsaicsit2020.org.za
2. Abannerinthevirtualconferenceappthatlinks
toyourwebaddress
3. FREEregistrationforonecompany
representative

6. Interfacing with Digital Africa
Conference Costs
Website & online RSVP/booking system R10,000
Virtual conference R45,000
Event management R50,000
TOTALPROGRAMCOST
INCLUDINGVAT
R105,000
SAICSITwill sponsora portionof the registrationcostto Christel
House

7. Interfacing with Digital Africa
Beneficiaries
Christel House South Africa
ChristelHouseSouthAfricaisanon-profitschoolwithasinglemission:tobreakthecycle ofpoverty.ChristelHouseoffersno-
feescholarshipstostudentsfromsomeofCapeTown’spoorestneighbourhoodsandsupportthemfor18years(GradeR to
Grade12andfiveyearspostmatric)throughcharacter-basedandcareerfocusededucation.Itsbeneficiariesinclude 750
studentsfromgradeR to12, 250+post-matricstudentsandmore than3000parentsand othermembersofthecommunitiesit
serves.ThemaincriterionforadmissiontoChristelHouseisnotevidence oftalent – butevidence ofpoverty,one measureof
whichisa maximumaverageincome ofR1,500perhouseholdmemberpermonth.KeyaspectsoftheChristelHousemodel
include povertymitigationservicesin theformofdailytransporttoschoolandback,professionalhealthcare, nutritiousmeals,
psychosocialcounselling,familyassistanceandcollegeandcareersplanningandsupport.
SAICSIT
SAICSITwilluseanyfundsthisconferencegenerates
foraddressingitsstrategicobjectives,whichinclude
maintainingtheSouthAfricanComputerJournaland
sponsoringconferenceattendanceforpostgraduate
students.SAICSIT’sannual‘conferencewitha
conscience’initiativehasChristelHouseasits
beneficiaryin2020.

8. Interfacing with Digital Africa
Thankyou for your consideration
To sponsor SAICSIT2020,
please contact Calvin Maseko via masekom@cput.ac.za
For any specific queries about SAICSIT2020,
kindlycontact Izakvan Zylon vanzyliz@cput.ac.za