Languages: 
At least 20 WSU academics currently enrolled for Masters and doctoral degrees participated in an intense four-day workshop aimed at training the group on fundamental and structural academic research concepts.
The cohort gathered at a venue in East London from 12-15 October for yet another instalment of the university’s research and innovation directorates’ ‘writing retreat’ series to assist academics gain knowledge and confidence in their various stages of postgraduate studies.
Calls for participation in the programme - an integral part of the university’s various strategies to help produce a highly and adequately qualified academic staff profile, were initially advertised on the university’s internal communication platform on a first come first serve basis.
‘’This workshop is designed to help our Masters and PhD-candidates by providing them with the necessary space, time and opportunity to fine tune critical aspects of their research papers and in this regard we provided facilitators to assist in sharing knowledge regarding data collection and proposal writing of dissertation and theses,‘’ said Directorate for Research and Innovation Acting Senior Director, Prof Thobeka Ncanywa.
A plethora of topics were interrogated and discussed during the four-day workshop, and these included proposal writing and research ethics; writing of chapters; communication of findings; plagiarism; and publication from dissertations and/theses.
One of the facilitators charged with imparting the aforementioned academic insight to participants was Associate Professor in the biological and environmental sciences department at Mthatha Campus, Prof Madira Manyangi
Central to Prof Manyangi‘s knowledge exchange, to a group consisting of those busy with their proposal submissions, those currently collecting data, as well as those knee deep in writing up their actual theses, was for the aspirant academics to adopt and utilize a structured template for their research papers.
‘’Primarily we wanted the participants to have a structured format upon which they could create a skeleton of the thesis or proposal. From the skeleton we are able to develop headings and sub-headings that are supposed to be included in a research paper. To this end, we gave them information on where they’re supposed to get the articles that are examples of such skeletons or frameworks. Basically we wanted to ensure they write in a specific manner and according to specific guidelines that meet the standard,‘’ she said.
One of the academics who jumped at the opportunity to participate in the programme, Komani Campus-based lecturer in the education faculty, Motsi Qoyi, expressed great enthusiasm for the potential impact of the intervention thanks to the lessons learnt from the workshop.
Qoyi, currently bust with the write-up of his Masters paper, said: ‘’This workshop has assisted me greatly in two aspects, firstly, gaining insight on how to automate my contents page which has been a mind-numbing arduous task when done manually. Ive also learnt a lot about ethical consideration when conducting research. This is a crucial aspect of research as it has the potential ruin ones academic aspirations as a result of committing academic offences.‘’
Because of the overwhelming response to the call for submissions, the research and innovation directorate found it necessary to hold another workshop in quick succession and this second retreat is scheduled to take place from 18-21 October.
By Thando Cezula
