The Academy of Science of South Africa’s Scholarly Publishing Unit hosted its first online Lekgotla webinar on Artificial Intelligence (AI) titled Study This, Not That! The Future of Work on 13 March 2025. Chaired by Dr. Martin Bekker from the University of Witwatersrand, the webinar explored the impact of AI on career choices and the value of various skills in the evolving job market. With over 300 participants in attendance, the event featured insights from leading experts in education and technology.

Highlights

Professor Ivy (Ige) Gledhill from the University of Witwatersrand opened the session by discussing the evolution of AI and its effect on the meaning and dignity of work in society. She emphasized the need to understand AI’s role in reshaping industries and employment landscapes.

“The future of work is changing at an unprecedented pace,” said Dr. Bekker. “Technological advancements that were groundbreaking five years ago are now considered standard. Large Language Models (LLMs) have introduced new complexities and ethical considerations, raising questions about their impact on society and the workforce.”

Werner Cloete, co-founder and CEO of Calling for Education NPC, presented Sensing Purpose in an AI-Driven World, highlighting the importance of purpose-driven education. He introduced the Called to Impact program, which equips and empowers young people, transforming lives in South African communities.

Professor Kobus Oosthuizen from Boston City Campus and North-West University presented Beyond Skills: Cultivating Practical Wisdom for the AI Era. He emphasized the importance of developing uniquely human skills that AI cannot replace and posed the thought-provoking question: “Will AI shape Africa, or will Africa shape AI?”

Professor Boitumelo Diale from Sol Plaatje University explored AI curriculum development and its intersection with education, technology, and career pathways. She underscored the pressing need for AI integration in curricula to prepare students for the future workforce. Additionally, Professor Jonathan Jansen from Stellenbosch University highlighted the role of AI in higher education and its integration into university learning models.

By prioritizing technological literacy, emotional intelligence, lifelong learning, remote work proficiency, and creativity, workers can ensure they remain valuable assets in an AI-driven future.

Academy of Science of South Africa

The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) was inaugurated in May 1996. It was formed in response to the need for an Academy of Science consonant with the dawn of democracy in South Africa: activist in its mission of using science and scholarship for the benefit of society, with a mandate encompassing all scholarly disciplines that use an open-minded and evidence-based approach to build knowledge. ASSAf thus adopted in its name the term ‘science’ in the singular as reflecting a common way of enquiring rather than an aggregation of different disciplines. Its members are elected on the basis of a combination of two principal criteria, academic excellence and significant contributions to society. The Parliament of South Africa passed the Academy of Science of South Africa Act (No 67 of 2001), which came into force on 15 May 2002. This made ASSAf the only academy of science in South Africa officially recognised by the government and representing the country in the international community of science academies and elsewhere.

The recording and slides can be accessed from here: https://research.assaf.org.za/items/e4b0ac38-cc28-4cad-afce-4f82d8a5905e

For more information contact:

Ms Henriette Wagener, communications@assaf.org.za