UKZN set to offer website in isiZulu – a first in higher education
The University of KwaZulu-Natal is set to make history as it prepares to be the first in the higher education sector to translate its website into isiZulu.
The newly revamped university website, scheduled for launch soon, is translated into the vernacular language in terms of the University Language Policy approved on 1 September 2006. This policy is informed by the Higher Education Act 1997, and the Language Policy for Higher Education 2002.
In terms of this legislative framework, the university needs to develop, promote and implement proficiency and use of the official languages.
This project is spearheaded by the Corporate Relations Division in partnership with the University Language Planning and Development Office (ULPDO), which is part of the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning’s portfolio. The two divisions have sponsored the successful implementation of this project.
The website translation project is undertaken in various phases, with phase one beginning with the navigation menu items and all 1 589 static pages and posts within the main UKZN website. Phases two to four will include the remaining 480 sites, which include colleges, schools, disciplines, units, centres and professional services, with each site averaging 50-80 pages.
The goal of the university is to have a bilingual website accessible to all its stakeholders and this project aims to achieve this goal.
As part of further implementation of the Language Policy, Corporate Relations has also partially translated certain articles and reports in university publications.
The weekly UKZN Ndabaonline has increased isiZulu translated articles to five per edition. We are planning to increase this in the new year. See the link: https://ndabaonline.ukzn.ac.za/UkzndabaNewsletter/Vol10-Issue53
This indicates that UKZN is on a mission to develop and grow isiZulu in the region and globally through its strategic and operational endeavours. We welcome suggestions on how we can improve on this historic project.
Words: NdabaOnline