Empowering digital language champions: TUT students at the forefront of digital linguistics
The SWiP project, in collaboration with the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), hosted another successful intensive six-day SWiP and Train-the-Trainer Workshop as part of students’ work-integrated learning (WIL). The workshop took place from 23 to 28 February 2026 at the Soshanguve South Campus of Tshwane University of Technology.
The SWiP project, in collaboration with the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), hosted another successful intensive six-day SWiP and Train-the-Trainer Workshop as part of students’ work-integrated learning (WIL). The workshop took place from 23 to 28 February 2026 at the Soshanguve South Campus of Tshwane University of Technology.
Attended by over 240 students, the workshop empowered third-year language practice students with hands-on practical skills aligned with their WIL requirements. It equipped them not only as contributors but also as future trainers in the digital knowledge space, thereby increasing their employability opportunities within the digital sector.
He celebrated the remarkable achievement of students who contributed 140,000 new words to Wikipedia in 2024, which was a milestone that demonstrated both the commitment and technical capability of TUT students to contribute to large language models.Looking ahead, he set an ambitious target of 500,000 new words for the current academic year, signalling TUT’s strong commitment to expanding South Africa’s digital language footprint.
He further emphasised that TUT is the first university to integrate the SWiP and Train-the-Trainer Workshop into its curriculum, specifically within the language and translation module, which includes practical components in translation and language editing.He stated that the workshop aligns closely with TUT’s strategic pillars, as it introduces innovative approaches to practical translation and language editing. In conclusion, he expressed his satisfaction at seeing TUT students at the forefront of innovative language education and digital authorship training, describing it as an essential contribution to the scientific development of South African indigenous languages.
READ MORE: https://www.bizcommunity.com/article/empowering-digital-language-champions-tut-students-at-the-foref...
Attended by over 240 students, the workshop empowered third-year language practice students with hands-on practical skills aligned with their WIL requirements. It equipped them not only as contributors but also as future trainers in the digital knowledge space, thereby increasing their employability opportunities within the digital sector.
A strategic vision for societal impact
In his welcome address, Prof Tebogo Rakgogo, head of the department of Languages at TUT, opened with a quotation from the executive dean of the faculty of Humanities, Prof Mashupye Maserumule, who regards the project as part of the decoloniality agenda aimed at advancing linguistic justice.Prof Rakgogo emphasised the strategic importance of the SWiP project in preparing students for the evolving digital language landscape.He celebrated the remarkable achievement of students who contributed 140,000 new words to Wikipedia in 2024, which was a milestone that demonstrated both the commitment and technical capability of TUT students to contribute to large language models.Looking ahead, he set an ambitious target of 500,000 new words for the current academic year, signalling TUT’s strong commitment to expanding South Africa’s digital language footprint.
He further emphasised that TUT is the first university to integrate the SWiP and Train-the-Trainer Workshop into its curriculum, specifically within the language and translation module, which includes practical components in translation and language editing.He stated that the workshop aligns closely with TUT’s strategic pillars, as it introduces innovative approaches to practical translation and language editing. In conclusion, he expressed his satisfaction at seeing TUT students at the forefront of innovative language education and digital authorship training, describing it as an essential contribution to the scientific development of South African indigenous languages.
READ MORE: https://www.bizcommunity.com/article/empowering-digital-language-champions-tut-students-at-the-foref...
