Professor Dr. Md. Asif Kamal, Professor in the Department of English, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at American International University–Bangladesh, delivered his keynote speech titled “Voices of the World: Language, Culture, Identity, and Curriculum in an Interconnected Future” at the International Conference on Social, Politics, Law and Language (ICOSPALL) 2026, held on August 27–28, 2026, at Universitas Teuku Umar, Aceh, Indonesia.

Invited by Universitas Teuku Umar, Prof. Dr. Asif Kamal delivered the keynote under the conference sub-theme “Language, Cultural Expression, and Identity in the Context of Global Development.” The conference was organized around the broader theme “Peace, Prosperity, and the Right to Sustainable Development in the Global South.”

In his keynote, Prof. Kamal explored the complex relationships among language, culture, identity, and curriculum in an increasingly interconnected world. He highlighted the role of language as more than a means of communication, emphasizing its significance in shaping cultural belonging, individual and collective identities, and people’s engagement with an increasingly globalized society. He also discussed the need for educational curricula to respond to linguistic and cultural diversity while preparing learners to participate meaningfully in a rapidly changing global environment.

The invitation to Prof. Kamal reflected the international recognition of his academic expertise in language, literature, culture, identity, and language education. The conference brought together scholars and researchers from different countries to exchange ideas on social, political, legal, and linguistic issues relevant to sustainable development in the Global South.

Prof. Dr. Asif Kamal's participation as a keynote speaker also contributed to enhancing AIUB’s international academic visibility and research engagement, particularly in the fields of language, culture, education, and the humanities and social sciences.