CUEA Hosts 11th GALA Conference, Champions Liberal Arts as Catalysts for Change

By Stephen Mbobu

The Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) hosted the 11th Biennial Conference of the Global Academy of Liberal Arts (GALA) from 13–15 October 2026, bringing together scholars and researchers from across Africa, Europe, North America and South America to explore the transformative role of liberal arts education. Held at the Learning Resource Centre (LRC) Auditorium at CUEA’s Lang’ata Campus, the conference was organised by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASSc) in collaboration with Bath Spa University, United Kingdom. It was held under the theme, “The Liberal Arts in Action: Catalysts for Change.” The gathering featured more than 30 academic papers presented by scholars from Kenya, Ethiopia, Namibia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, the United States, Colombia and Brazil. Participants joined both in person and online, enabling international engagement across disciplines and geographical boundaries. CUEA is the only GALA member university in Kenya. Its hosting of the conference underscored the University’s commitment to international academic collaboration, interdisciplinary research and the advancement of liberal arts education. CUEA Reaffirms Commitment to Global Academic Collaboration Officially opening the conference on Tuesday, 13 October, Vice-Chancellor Very Rev. Prof. Elias O. Opongo, SJ, welcomed delegates and emphasised the significance of hosting an international academic network in Africa. He noted that the gathering provided an opportunity for African scholarship to engage with global perspectives as an equal partner. “For CUEA, membership to GALA is not just a badge. It is a commitment,” he said. The Vice-Chancellor highlighted the opportunities GALA offers students and faculty through international exposure, academic exchanges, collaborative teaching, joint research and publications. He encouraged participants to attend sessions beyond their immediate areas of specialisation, ask questions and build lasting academic connections. He also acknowledged the contribution of Bath Spa University’s GALA management Group, including Prof. Ian Gadd, Prof. Rebecca McGuire-Snieckus and Gin Darcy, alongside the conference planning team. He recognised Prof. Samuel Nyanchoga, the University’s GALA liaison; Dr. Melvine Lilechi, Head of the Department of Humanities; Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Dr. Francis Muchoki; as well as the speakers, presenters, session chairs, staff and students who supported the conference. Liberal Arts Education and the Renewal of Society Bath Spa University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, Prof. John Strachan, commended CUEA for its hospitality and reflected on the value of liberal arts in broadening perspectives. He highlighted the importance of engaging with ideas, history, languages, literature and cultures beyond one’s immediate experience as a way of renewing thinking and understanding society. CUEA’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. Justus Munyoki, encouraged participants to build meaningful academic linkages that would benefit their institutions and students. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Prof. Maingi, also challenged participants to approach artificial intelligence responsibly, ensuring that technology serves and enriches human life rather than diminishing human creativity and fulfilment. Keynotes Explore African Academia and Responsible Citizenship The conference featured keynote presentations addressing the place of liberal arts in African higher education and society. Prof. Eric Masinde Aseka presented on “Liberal Arts in African Academia: Navigating Through a Field of Contestations,” examining the challenges and debates shaping liberal arts education within African academic institutions. Dr. Pius Kakai Wanyonyi delivered a keynote titled “Liberal Arts as a Foundation for Responsible Citizenship,” focusing on the contribution of liberal arts education to civic responsibility and citizenship. A plenary session on Thursday brought together perspectives from CUEA’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences to examine whether liberal arts education can drive change in repressive conditions. Interdisciplinary Conversations on Contemporary Challenges Across the conference, presenters explored the relationship between liberal arts education and contemporary social, cultural, political and technological challenges. Key themes included interdisciplinarity in education; technology and the liberal arts; civic engagement and social responsibility; global perspectives; music and the liberal arts; and sustainability and the environment. Specific discussions examined decolonising critical thinking, artificial intelligence from Global South perspectives, academic freedom and gender in Kenyan universities, public art and civic consciousness, creative research and public policy, the Kenya Music Festival, Ethiopian children’s literature, and environmental stewardship. The discussions demonstrated the relevance of liberal arts in fostering critical inquiry, creativity, responsible citizenship and responses to complex societal challenges. Strengthening the Global Academy of Liberal Arts Network Established in 2014 at Bath Spa University under the vision of its then Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Christina Slade, GALA is an international network of universities and institutions committed to advancing liberal arts education through collaboration. The network comprises 18 partner universities and institutions across 15 countries, working together on collaborative research, publications, academic exchanges, joint teaching and programmes, and student projects. GALA aims to expand its membership to between 25 and 30 partners by 2030. CUEA’s participation in the network strengthens its international engagement and creates opportunities for students and faculty to benefit from shared knowledge, cross-cultural learning and collaborative scholarship. The 11th Biennial Conference reaffirmed the role of liberal arts as a platform for critical thinking, interdisciplinary dialogue and social transformation, while strengthening CUEA’s place within an international community committed to advancing higher education.