SAICSIT 2021: South African Institute of Computer Scientists and Information Technologists 2021 Virtual online conference Pretoria, South Africa, September 13-15, 2021 |
Conference website | http://www.unisa.ac.za/saicsit2021 |
Submission link | https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=saicsit2021 |
Submission deadline | June 6, 2021 |
M&D Symposium | June 28, 2021 |
SAICIT 2021 - South African Institute for Computer Scientists and Information Technologists
The School of Computing at the University of South Africa (Unisa) will be hosting the virtual SAICSIT 2021 conference.
The theme of the conference is “Reimagining the Interconnected World”.
“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” Steve Jobs
The global community is not only dealing with the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, although it potentially is changing society in permanent ways. Simultaneously we are facing a convergence of potentially severely disrupting phenomena, some of which existed prior to the pandemic. These include the growing threat to global environmental stability, the rapid widening of divides in resources and technology, global political instability, and the international refugee crisis, to mention but a few. Simultaneously technology continues its rapid and disruptive evolutionary path.
The interconnected world we know today is the product of the imagination of visionary individuals and groups in the past. The current global situation has however exposed challenges affecting the state of the interconnected world. Some examples include challenges around the truth in social media and the potential contribution of these challenges to global political instability, major role players in the gig economy reducing the role of some workers to something resembling modern forms of slavery, and the pandemic highlighting the massively widening digital divide in education, despite the plethora of available educational technologies. Furthermore, there are concerns about AI running out of control, the potential risk of massive digital security breaches, and in general the future role of humans in a technology-dominant virtual world.
It seems therefore that the current convergence of disruptors is pointing towards several growing crises in the interconnected world that will need to be addressed to ensure sustainable and beneficial use of technology and tools by humanity. Several questions arise from this:
- How will the current changes in all levels of society due to disruptions impact on the adoption and use of technologies and systems?
- What systems and technologies will be required to deal with current realities and envisaged future challenges?
- How can the interconnected world be expected to develop in the future?
As always, the conference programme will consist of full research paper sessions, plenary keynote addresses, panel discussions, industry papers / case studies and workshops to cater for a broad audience. Monday 13 September 2021 will be reserved for auxiliary events such as the annual master’s and Doctoral Symposium. The main conference is scheduled for Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 September 2021.
You are invited to submit a research paper, industry paper or case study, panel proposal or workshop proposal for SAICSIT 2021. Postgraduate students can submit a master’s and Doctoral Symposium paper.
Submission Guidelines
All papers must be original and not simultaneously submitted to another journal or conference. The following paper categories are welcome:
- Full research papers
We invite the submission of FULL PAPERS (maximum of 10 pages, excluding references) to report original previously unpublished work in the topic areas of the conference. Full papers typically report on completed and mature research results.
We also invite submission of conceptual papers (maximum 10 pages, excluding references) to report on the latest developments in literature, theory, methods, and philosophy regarding the topic areas of the conference. Conceptual papers may report on novel non-empirical research.
All full paper submissions will be double-blind peer-reviewed by an international panel of experts. The review process will therefore retain the anonymity of authors and reviewers. The program committee will consider the following criteria when evaluating submitted papers:
- originality of contribution;
- relevance to the conference;
- technical/scientific merit; and
- presentation and clarity.
- Accepted full research papers must be presented at the conference by either the main author or one of the co-authors. Authors should ensure the anonymity of their submissions, by removing names and affiliations from the first page and elsewhere in the paper, as well as in the name that the paper is saved as.
- Panels
We invite proposals for PANELS on stimulating or controversial topics of current interest within the general scope of the conference.
Topics and/or themes for a panel session may also be proposed by individuals with an interest in chairing a panel in a topic of interest. Preference will be given to topics that raise forward-looking and/or contentious issues, and that promote debate among panel members and involvement of the audience. All suggestions will be assessed for their topicality and ability to generate stimulating debate.
Send your proposal (including an abstract of up to 500 words) directly to Prof. Shawren Singh (singhs@unisa.ac.za). Submissions for panels are NOT anonymous and will be reviewed by leaders in the appropriate area. The proposal should include the proposer’s name and affiliation as well as the names and affiliations of possible panel members. The description of accepted panels will be published in the conference proceedings.
- Workshops
We invite proposals for WORKSHOPS as auxiliary events associated with the conference.
Workshop proposals should include the aim of the workshop; tentative programme; possible speakers; and expected outcomes.
Send your proposal (including an abstract of up to 1000 words) directly to Prof Bester Chimbo (chimbb@unisa.ac.za). Submissions for workshops are NOT anonymous and will be assessed for appropriateness and feasibility by the conference committee. The proposal should include the proposer’s name and affiliation.
- Post Graduate Simposium
SAICSIT 2021 offers postgraduate students at master’s and Doctoral levels the opportunity to actively engage with their peers and established researchers on the first day of the conference. Successful students will be required to present their research during the dedicated session. Due to the virtual nature of the conference, the symposium will also be hosted in a tailored virtual collaboration space. Details will be communicated upon acceptance.
Participation is free and open to all CS, IS and IT postgraduate research students at any stage of their research.
The Postgraduate Symposium provides students an excellent opportunity to:
- Do presentations of their research in a friendly and fertile environment;
- Present research to peers and experienced supervisors for valuable feedback;
- Participate by also providing feedback to peers;
- Meet other postgraduate researchers working on similar areas of research but based in different locations.
- There is no registration fee for the postgraduate symposium for students who present at the symposium. If they attend the main conference, a registration fee will be charged for the main conference. The postgraduate symposium is open to postgraduate students and invited moderators only.
- Master’s and doctoral research papers should be no longer than 4 pages, references excluded. Clearly indicate that the paper is intended for the Postgraduate Symposium. Submit the paper via EasyChair.
- Postgraduate student papers must include:
- the student’s name and email address,
- the names and email addresses of their supervisors,
- their affiliation and discipline (IS, CS, IT), and
- indicate whether you are doing a doctorate or master’s degree.
- Prospective symposium participants should clearly and carefully introduce the following in their papers:
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- The topic of interest and problem statement. Carefully argue WHY this problem issue is relevant and persisting in the field of study.
- The research questions or study objectives. Add a clear purpose statement to each of the research questions/study objectives.
- The value of doing the research and HOW you can know that the results of the research will contribute to your chosen field of study.
- The methods/methodology that will be employed to ensure that you can demonstrate a command of the literature of the field of study.
- The choice of research methodology/methods and WHY it is appropriate given the problem and field of interest. Where applicable, include a discussion on the sources of data and WHY they are appropriate for observing the phenomena of interest that you are investigating.
- The theoretical framework/conceptual framework if applicable.
Important dates:
23 February 2021: Call for papers opens
3 May 2021, 17 May 2021: Submission of research papers, panels, industry papers, workshops (notification end-June 2021)
28 June 2021: Submission of master’s and Doctoral symposium papers (notification end July 2021)
14 August 2021: Conference registration deadline
13 September 2021: Masters and Doctoral symposium
14 – 15 September 2021: SAICSIT 2021 conference
Committees
Program Committee
- Prof Hugo Lotriet
- Dr Jan Mentz
- Prof Bobby L. Tait
Organizing committee
- Prof Shawren Singh and Dr. Mathias Mujinga (conference chairs)
- Conference secretary: Prof Bester Chimbo
- M&D Symposium chair: Prof Kirstin Krauss (krauske@unisa.ac.za)
- Panel chair: Prof S Singh
- Workshop chair: Prof Bester Chimbo
- Keynote chair: TBA
- Treasurer: Dr Mathias Mujinga
- Information specialist: Dr Filistéa Naudé
Contact
All questions about submissions should be emailed to Dr. Jan Mentz (mentzjc@unisa.ac.za)