CUEA to Host 11th Biennial GALA Conference on Liberal Arts and Social Change
By Stephen Mbobu and Dr. Melvine Lilechi
The Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) will host the 11th Biennial Conference of the Global Academy of Liberal Arts (GALA) from October 13 to 15, 2026, at the Learning Resource Centre (LRC) Auditorium and LRC Rooms 6 and 7 at the Main Lang’ata Campus.
Organised by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, in conjuction with Bath Spa University, UK the conference will be held under the theme “The Liberal Arts in Action: Catalysts for Change.” It will bring together scholars from Africa, Europe and the Americas to explore the role of liberal arts in addressing contemporary social, educational, technological and environmental challenges.
GALA is an international network comprising 18 universities across 15 countries, with CUEA serving as its only member university in Kenya. The conference will feature more than 30 research papers, with participants engaging both in person and virtually.
The official opening ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, October 13, at 2.00 p.m. and will be presided over by the CUEA Vice Chancellor, Very Rev. Prof. Elias O. Opongo, SJ. The opening programme will feature keynote addresses by Prof. Eric Masinde Aseka, who will speak on “Liberal Arts in African Academia: Navigating Through a Field of Contestations,” and Dr. Pius Kakai Wanyonyi, whose address will focus on “Liberal Arts as a Foundation for Responsible Citizenship.”
The opening ceremony can also be followed online on Youtube: 11th Biennial Conference of the Global Academy of Liberal Arts (GALA) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAbawOJ1Wys
On Wednesday, October 14, at 1.30 p.m., the conference will feature a plenary session led by CUEA scholars Prof. Samuel Nyanchoga, Dr. Melvine Lilechi and Dr. Frida Nyiva Mutui.
Parallel paper sessions scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday will explore a range of topics, including interdisciplinarity in education, civic engagement, technology, sustainability, music and global perspectives. The discussions are expected to provide a platform for knowledge exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration and reflection on the contribution of liberal arts to societal transformation.
The conference will conclude on Thursday, October 15, with a closing session scheduled for 3.00 p.m.
It is preceded by a pre-conference Writers’ Workshop running from Saturday, October 10 to 13.
CUEA staff members and students are invited to participate in the opening ceremony, keynote addresses and paper sessions. Registration will open at 1.30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13, at the lobby of the LRC Auditorium.
The conference provides an opportunity for the university community to engage with international scholarship and contribute to conversations on the role of liberal arts in fostering responsible citizenship, innovation and positive social change.