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School for Digital Deaf Studies

The School for Digital Deaf Studies 2025 is a hybrid school consisting of one week school in person in Ghana (15 - 24 August), followed by a one week school online later this year. It aims for the capacity building needed to expand academic research and education activities in digital Deaf studies, informed by insiders’ perspectives.

Leiden University has a leading position in research and education in the linguistics of languages around the globe, including sign languages. In recent years, digital approaches to studying spoken languages and their communities have rapidly expanded. Language technology and digital approaches relating to research and training on sign languages have remained extremely marginal. This is particularly true for sign languages in the Global South. To address this digital divide, new generations of students are trained in digital approaches to Deaf studies and the development of sign language technology. To ensure that the digital divide is addressed in a meaningful way that is relevant to Deaf signers, students are members of Deaf communities from around the world.

The School for Digital Deaf Studies 2025 follows up on the success of the first African School for Deaf Studies in 2019, the first pan-African school for deaf academics. Like the first edition, the school uses a Direct Communication approach, with signing as the medium of instruction. It prioritises signing students from Leiden University and the partner organisations, but is open to other students as well. This project presents a collaboration with partner organisations in Africa, Indonesia, and the UK. 

There will be two tracks, one on general Deaf Studies topics (with a focus on digital applications), and one on sign language technology (including sign language recognition and tools for sign language learning and teaching). 

  • Be Deaf and be able to sign fluently
  • Be enrolled at a program in the tertiary institution OR have completed such a program 
  • Have some research experience or concrete plans for doing research related to the deaf or sign language
  • Be committed to and have a plan for transferring the knowledge you will acquire (this summer) to others in your universities or countries. 
  • Have basic computer skills (general track) or advanced computer skills (tech track); participants are encouraged to bring a laptop

Please complete this application form and send the following documents to g.rodrigues.vermue@hum.leidenuniv.nl:

  • Your recent CV;
  • A short video clip (max. 5 minutes) with a personal motivation in a sign language (including the reason why you are interested in attending the school). This video clip can be recorded with your phone

Application deadline is 4 June 2025.
Applicants will be notified about the outcome no later than 10 June 2025.  

Application is open!

Application deadline is 4 June 2025. Applicants will be notified about the outcome no later than 10 June 2025.  

Apply now!

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