DepHUB at University of Salzburg!

On 17th June, the DepHUB's Shamira Ahmed participated at the University of Salzburg's, Division of Media Politics and Media Economics, Masters Course on Decolonizing Communication Theories.

As a guest lecturer she discussed "AI Governance in Africa" and delved into the following:

(1) The urgent need for African-led policy frameworks and the importance of local expertise in shaping AI governance and related strategies, rather than relying on external consultants, funding, and experts.

(2) The importance of incorporating evidence-based research that showcases how colonial legacies still influence data governance, knowledge production, media narratives, and access to technology across Africa, and why dismantling these structures is key to inclusive innovation and reducing multidimensional inequities. 

(3) How positionality and reflexivity are essential for building mutually beneficial regional and global partnerships that empower African voices and foster collaborative, context-sensitive solutions.

The lecture highlighted that reform in international cooperation requires partners allocating resources towards: recognizing and addressing power imbalances, building trust, enhancing equity and inclusion, strengthening transnational governance, and generating shared values and knowledge. These practices ensure that partnerships are not only effective but also just and sustainable.

Find out more from the presentation