Discourse is the stuff academics and thought leaders are made of, and they can really demonstrate their talents at this year's SU Woordfees.

On RSG's Praat Saam programme at the Plataan Café, Prof Rachel Jafta of the Department of Economy will be addressing the matter of artificial intelligence, education and the future of work. A discussion on lessons we can learn from Afrikaner entrepreneurs that may benefit black economic empowerment will be led by Christo van der Rheede of Agri SA, Dr Anton Ehlers from the Department of History, and De Wet Schoeman, Director of the Centre of Entrepreneurship at the Stellenbosch University Business School (USB).

Also on Praat Saam, the topic "What is good leadership", will be discussed by, among others, Prof Piet Naude, Director of USB, and Dr Leslie van Rooi, Head of the Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Institute for Student Leadership.

Included in the Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Institute's discourses, lead by Tim du Plessis at Bloekomhoek, is the issue of land and land ownership, to be discussed by, among others, by Prof Erwin Schwella of USB's School of Public Leadership will participate. SU Rector Prof Wim de Villiers will give his views on the crisis in South African education currently experienced on all levels. Where America is heading under the new president will also generate much interest.

The Beste Professor discussion series, lead by Prof Andreas van Wyk in the Library Hall, will have Prof Rolf Stumpf, former Vice-Rector of SU, focusing on tertiary education in the country, while Prof  Gerhard Lubbe, retired Dean of Law, will discuss credit legislation.

On a different note altogether, is a discussion on whether SA sport has an international future by Prof George Claassen, former Head of Journalism, and Ilhaam Groenewald, Director of Maties Sport. A discussion on where corporate management in government enterprises has gone wrong should illicit some interest as well.

Matters spiritual will not be neglected at the Woordfees. The discourse series, Geloof op die Markplein (Faith on the Market Square), include participants such as Prof Anton van Niekerk on the topic of "Show me your God/gods: Faith and Philosophy", and Pieter Kloppers, who will be one of the people explaining the hashtag generation and social change.

Max du Preez, well-known writer and journalist, will tackle a hot potato, "Non-racialism – a living corpse", together with Prof Bill Nasson and Albert Grundlingh of SU's Department of History.

Don't miss the Science Café presented by Dave Pepler at the Plataan, where SU academics will discuss topics such as the alchemy of wine, chemicals in the home, and the issue of drug abuse or addiction.

• Find more information on discourses on www.woordfees.co.za.