MA Students Academic Bootcamp

 

Facilitator: Mr Solani Ngobeni is the Publishing Director at the Centre for Scholarly Publishing Services (Pty) Ltd. He was previously the Director of Publications at the Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA), an institute of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). He holds a Masters of Arts degree in Publishing Studies from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. He is a published researcher and is the editor of a scholarly book titled Scholarly Publishing in Africa: opportunities and impediments, Africa Institute of South Africa, 2010.

 

Target Group: The Office of Research Development invites Master’s candidates to participate in a three-day Academic Writing Bootcamp designed to support postgraduate students in advancing their research writing.

 

Background: The bootcamp provides postgraduate students with a structured and supportive environment to focus on advancing their writing projects. The bootcamp offers dedicated, uninterrupted time for participants to work on key research outputs such as thesis chapters, dissertations, journal articles or research proposals. Through focused writing sessions and a collegial atmosphere, the bootcamp aims to enhance productivity, promote accountability and support participants in making meaningful progress towards the completion and dissemination of their research.

 

Expected Deliverables:

Participants are expected to leave the bootcamp with:
  • A draft research proposal
  • Draft thesis chapters or sections
  • Revised manuscripts ready for submission
  • A clear writing plan for the next stage of the research


Requirements:

Participants are required to
  • Submit the draft document (word format) that they intend to work on during the bootcamp to Jadine.Januarie@mandela.ac.za by Monday, 23 March 2026.
  • If a draft is already available, it may be uploaded to the relevant question on the online registration form.

 

Incentive: Participants who exit the bootcamp with a draft manuscript and submit it to a journal will be eligible for a prize.
 

 

This workshop is funded by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) through the University Capacity Development Grant (UCDG)

 

Workshop Information

Date:

  • 27-29 March 2026

Time:

  • Friday (13h00–16h00), Saturday (09h00–16h00), and Sunday (09h00–13h00)

Venue:

  • In-person attendance only. Venue to be confirmed

Registration:

  • Registration for this workshop has closed.    
     

Please note: The maximum capacity of this workshop is 20 participants.

 

Enquiries: