SAAIR 2025 Pre-Conference Sets the Stage for a Week of Excellence and Innovation

The 32nd Southern African Association for Institutional Research (SAAIR) Annual Conference commenced on 27 October 2025 with a dynamic series of pre-conference workshops hosted at 2Ten hotel in Sibasa. Designed to set the tone for the week ahead, the day brought together institutional research professionals, higher education practitioners, leaders, industry partners and innovators for a focused exploration of emerging trends and transformative practices.
From data literacy and visualisation to the future of excellence and the integration of agentic AI (Artificial Intelligence) in higher education, the workshops provided a rich platform for knowledge exchange and capacity building.

In her welcome remarks at the pre-conference workshop of the 32nd SAAIR Annual Conference, the SAAIR President, Ms Elizabeth Booi expressed her pleasure in opening the event and high-lighted the pre-conference workshop as a valuable platform for connection, learning, and knowl-edge exchange. She encouraged participants to engage actively, share experiences, and draw from the collective expertise present, fostering collaboration, curiosity, and a renewed commit-ment to advancing excellence in higher education.

Dr Eric Atchison, Vice President for Strategic Research at the Arkansas State University System, delivered a presentation on Data Literacy and Visualisation Training for Institutional Leaders and IR Professionals with Data Governance Implementation. He explained that when he joined the Arkansas State University in 2019, the system’s seven institutions operated independently without a unified data function, which led to the creation of a collaborative, system-wide data governance and literacy framework.

Dr Atchison highlighted the crucial link between data literacy, governance, and visualisation in improving decision-making, efficiency, and accountability. Using practical examples, he showed how data mapping, quality assurance, and consistent data definitions strengthen institutional processes and support student success. He concluded that effective data governance depends on collaboration, clear roles, and open communication to ensure decisions are guided by reli-able, well-understood data.

Prof Riel Miller, Former Head of Foresight and Future Literacy at UNESCO and Senior Fellow at several leading universities worldwide, including the University of the Witwatersrand and Future Africa at the University of Pretoria, delivered a thought-provoking presentation titled ‘The Future of Excellence in 2060: “Mini-Futures Literacy Lab”. Drawing on his experience at UNESCO and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) he explained that futures literacy is a vital human competency, the ability to understand and use our natural capacity to imagine the future. While everyone thinks about the future constantly, he noted that few have the “alphabet” to interpret it consciously or systematically.

Prof Miller described futures literacy as the skill of distinguishing between different kinds of fu-tures, such as the desirable and the probable and using this awareness to make better decisions in the present. Understanding how imagined future literacies influence perception and choice, individuals and institutions can navigate uncertainty more creatively and effectively, opening pathways for new ways of thinking, innovation, and transformation.

Innocent Mamvura, Principal Data Scientist at the University of the Witwatersrand, presented an insightful session titled Agentic AI and Autonomous Agents in Higher Education: From Concept to Campus Implementation. He introduced participants to the emerging field of Agentic AI, artificial intelligence systems capable of achieving specific goals autonomously with minimal supervision. Mamvura explained how AI agents, built on large language models and enhanced through Re-trieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), can transform student success initiatives by delivering per-sonalised support, real-time academic insights, and automated assistance. Demonstrating the Lift@Institution Bot, an AI-driven student success coach developed in Microsoft Copilot Studio, he showcased how predictive analytics and design thinking can enable data-informed, scalable interventions that improve learning outcomes and institutional efficiency.
The pre-conference of the 32nd Annual SAAIR Conference closed on an inspiring note, setting a strong foundation for the week’s discussions. The vibrant “Tropical Sunset Soirée” provided a fitting end to a day of learning and connection, leaving delegates energised and ready for the main conference proceedings, which officially begin on Tuesday, 28 October 2025, and continue until Friday, 31 October 2025, at the Kalahari Waterfront in Thohoyandou, featuring a Gala Dinner and a series of engaging plenaries, panels, and networking events celebrating excellence in higher education.

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University of Venda
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