Invited by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), Dr Bhuda was one of only three South African delegates selected to present at the conference, which was hosted virtually from India.
The BRICS Network University brings together universities from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to promote cooperation in higher education, research and academic mobility. Its conferences and thematic activities give scholars and policymakers opportunities to exchange perspectives on shared priorities, including the preservation and promotion of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS).
The Culture and Heritage Studies lecturer brought a South African perspective informed by decolonial research methodologies and African epistemologies, describing her selection as both an honour and a responsibility.
“Being chosen as one of three South African delegates recognises years of commitment to community-engaged research and the preservation of Indigenous Knowledge Systems.
It also provides a unique platform to represent the University of Mpumalanga and our region’s perspectives at an international level, while creating opportunities for collaborative research, funding and policy influence that can strengthen Indigenous Knowledge work in South Africa.”
Her presentation, titled South Africa: Mapping, Identification and Systematic Documentation of Indigenous Knowledge, contributed to discussions on strengthening collaboration among BRICS countries in recognising, documenting and protecting Indigenous Knowledge through ethical and community-centred approaches.
“Mapping and documenting Indigenous Knowledge should not be treated simply as a technical exercise, but as an ethical and political process that places Indigenous and local communities at its centre,” she said, emphasising that communities should be recognised as the primary custodians of their knowledge.
“Documentation initiatives must avoid repeating historical practices in which knowledge was extracted without acknowledging community ownership or authority.
The critical questions are not only what we document and how we document it, but also for whom the knowledge is documented and under whose authority that documentation takes place. Indigenous communities must remain the primary knowledge holders and decision-makers throughout the process.”
Building International Research Partnerships
Conference discussions highlighted the value of community-led digital repositories, stronger legal protection for traditional knowledge holders, collaboration among universities, government and Indigenous organisations, and culturally appropriate consent and benefit-sharing mechanisms.
Dr Bhuda noted that delegates also shared approaches that combine Indigenous Knowledge protocols with digital technologies to improve accessibility while protecting knowledge and supporting its long-term sustainability.
“The conference could create opportunities for UMP to strengthen its international partnerships and research profile through research collaborations, student and staff exchanges, and joint funding proposals focused on Indigenous Knowledge Systems and African epistemologies.
It can catalyse formal research partnerships, student and staff exchanges, and joint funding proposals focused on Indigenous Knowledge Systems and African epistemologies. For our students, it opens opportunities for collaborative fieldwork, internships and exposure to comparative research methodologies, while helping the University strengthen community engagement, research and curriculum development,” she said.
Dr Bhuda’s participation at the conference highlights UMP’s contribution to international research discussions on Indigenous Knowledge and its commitment to scholarship that recognises Indigenous Knowledge Systems as an important resource for sustainable development, innovation and social transformation.
Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Picture supplied. Copyright © UMP.