African Doctoral Academy
Welcome to Stellenbosch University

Summer School Programme

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

​ADA Summer School 2024

29 January - 16 February ​ 

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​​​​​​ Week 1 | Wee​​k 2 |Wee​​k 3 |Costs​ | Format | Apply |



The Doctoral School aims to offer high impact research design and methodology training, as well as options in academic preparedness and career development. The Schools are open to doctoral candidates (current and prospective), their supervisors and researchers.

Format: It is important to note that these courses are presented and planned as full day synchronous​ sessions at Stellenbosch University. We recommend that you take leave from your daily work and other responsibilities to attend the classes and complete the assignments as required by your presenters. ​​​Your attendance will be monitored to ensure that you meet/reach the requirements for subsequent certification. The school will be offered in hybrid mode with some courses in-person and others offered online. 
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Your role: You will be responsible for pacing yourself through the workshops wh​en busy with the prescribed exercises, synchronous sessions, and/or group work, and will have to be able to keep up. The estimated contact time required per session is presented below. These exclude morning and afternoon tea and lunch breaks. Group work is mandatory. Please remember it is possible to apply for only one course per week/session as the classes take place at the same time. However, it is possible to apply for more than one course in one week provided the dates do not overlap

Venue: In-person courses will take place at STIAS: Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (Address: Marais Rd, Mostertsdrift, Stellenbosch, 7600). Online courses will take place on MS Teams.

Week 1: 29 January - 2 February 2024 

Short-form Courses​​

29 - 30 Jan 2024
2 days

08:15 - 13:00 GMT+2

4 contact hours per day
1 - Fundamentals of​ Grant Proposal Writing: The crucial role of research impact in securing funding (2 days, online)​
It is increasingly expected of researchers to generate research funds. To do so, researchers need to acquire grant writing skills or hone the skills they already have. Although funding organisations and their application requirements differ, there are important elements expected by all funding agencies, whether it relates to small or to large grants. These elements will be addressed in the workshop. 
Mode: ​Online | Course​ fee: ​​Early Bird - R1950, Standard - R2150, Late Joiner - R2300 

- Riana Coetsee (Research Management & Skills Training Consultant)​

​29 - 30 Jan 2024
2 days

08:30 - 16:3​0 GMT+2
7 contact hours per day
​​2 - Developing Transferable Skills: Personal and professional competencies beyond your doctorate (2 days, online)
'Transferable Skills' are much more than just an additional supplement to your research. They are necessary to successfully master the doctoral phase and they are indeed transferable to your further career inside or outside academia. The aim of this course is to reflect on the skills that you have already acquired and to identify those you need to develop further. We will look at how to confidently present your competencies to others, while practicing some essential communication and collaboration techniques that you will benefit from throughout your PhD.
Mode: ​Online | Course fee: Early Bird - R1950, Standard - R2150, Late Joiner - R2300 

-Dr Kerstin Lange (​​Universität Hamburg, Hamburg Research Academy, Germany​)​​

​​31 Jan - 2 Feb 2024
3 days

08:30 - 16:3​0 GMT+2
7 contact hours per day
​​3 - Conducting a Literature Review: The key to a successful thesis (3 days, in-person)
​​​​​This course offers the fundamentals of the process of planning and writing a literature review of a thesis/dissertation or even at the proposal/protocol phase. This includes how to use the literature review to enter scholarly conversations and engaging with the other writers.​
Mode: ​In-person | Course fee: Early Bird - R6950, Standard - R7250, Late Joiner - R7450​ 

-Dr Alet Olivier (Freelance academic and plagiarism consultant previously: Postgraduate School, University of the Free State)

Long-form Courses

​​29 Ja​n - 2 Feb 2024
5 days

08:30 - 16:3​0 GMT+2
7 contact hours per day​​
4 - AI and Scientific Research: Issues, debates & opportunities (5 days, in-person)
​​​​​​This is a hands-on, active workshop where delegates will be introduced to numerous issues, debates and opportunities associated with AI in the scientific research process. A working understanding of not only the philosophical and practical implications of AI will benefit delegates, but scholarly voices from the field will also contribute to a broader understanding of this topic.​
Mode: ​In-person | Course fee: Early Bird - R9550, Standard - ​R9950, Late Joiner - R10250​ 

-Dr Sonja Strydom (Stellenbosch University)

​​​29 Jan - 2 Feb 2024
5 days

08:30 - 16:3​0 GMT+2
7 contact hours per day

5 - The Quantitative PhD: ​​​From philosophy to study design, data analysis and reporting (5 days, in-person)
Participants will learn of the origins of quantitative approaches, how to choose an appropriate study design and an adequate sample size. They will learn of the related data analysis from basic statistics to regression and beyond to ensuring the appropriate presentation and write up of quantitative results. You will be provided with a series of tools and checklists. There will also be an opportunity to expand your knowledge and learn of novel quantitative approaches that may be useful for your PhD or future research.
Mode: ​In-person | Course fee: Early Bird - R9550, Standard - R9950, Late Joiner - R10250

-Prof Catherine Comiskey (Trinity College, Dublin University, Ireland)

​​​​29 Jan - 7 Feb 2024
8 days

08:30 - 16:3​0 GMT+2
7 contact hours

6 - "The Ultimate Research Supervisor" (Supervision - Module 1, Module 2, Module 3)​ (8 days, in-person) 
Mode: ​In-person | Course fee: Early Bird - R15500, Standard - R15950, Late Joiner - R1685​0

-​Prof Gina Wisker (University of ​​Bath, UK)


29 Jan - 2 Feb 2024
5 days 

08:30 - 16:30
GMT+2

7 contact hours 

Participants will explore experience (including their own), research-based ideas, and good practices in doctoral supervision along the whole doctoral learning journey. There will be focus on the development of their own skills and the sound experiences of their doctoral students in line with the three dimensions of intellectual and learning development, personal development, and engagement with appropriate institutional processes.​
Mode: ​​In-person | Course fee: Early Bird - R9550, Standard - R9950, Late Joiner - R10250
​​Prof Gina Wisker (University of Bath, UK) ​​
​​
Week 2: ​5 - 9 February 2024

Short-form Courses

5 - 6​ Feb 2024
2 days

08:30 - 16:3​0 GMT+2
7 contact hours​ per day

8 - Demystifying Conceptual Frameworks and Theoretical Perspectives for Research and Writing 
In this research and hands-on workshop, participants will be exposed to a variety of strategies, sources of information, tools and examples of theory, theoretical perspectives, conceptual frameworks, and ways to nudge conceptual threshold crossings to enable doctoral level work so they can thrive, succeed on their doctoral journey, and contribute to knowledge. They will also consider where and how to express theory and conceptual work in their literature review and throughout the thesis. Participants will explore the scholarship of doctoral education and the journey to doctoral success.​
Mode: ​​In-person |​ Course fee: Early Bird - R4250, Standard - R4450, Late Joiner - R460​0​​ 

-​ Prof Gina Wisker (University of ​​Bath, UK) ​​​  ​ ​

7 Feb 2024
1 day

08:30 - 16:3​0 GMT+2
7 contact hours​ per day
9 - Feedback on Postgraduate Academic Writing: Dialogues, practices and insights for students and supervisors (Supervision - Module 3)​ (1 day, in-person)
In this hands-on research and experience informed one day workshop/module, feedback practices will be considered and developed as an enabling learning dialogue. Participants will be engaged with considering and working to develop forms of feedback which encourage active learning and empower postgraduate students and also ways of working developmentally with such feedback when it is received, as a postgraduate student.​​​​
Mode: ​​In-person |​ 
Course fee: Early Bird - R2250, Standard - R2450, Late Joiner - R260​0​​​​

-​ Prof Gina Wisker (University of Bath, UK)

​​8 Feb 2024
1 day

08:30 - 16:3​0 GMT+2
7 contact hours​ per day
10 - Project Management for Researchers (1 day, in-person)
The course will provide participants insight into the following aspects of project management: project management theory; scope management; stakeholder engagement; quality management; time management; risk management; project control and progress monitoring. The course has a specific focus on individual research projects for participants that are involved in generic research projects or working towards a degree.
Mode: ​​In-person |​ Course feeEarly Bird - R225​​0, Standard - R2450, Late Joiner - R260​0

-​ Prof Joubert van Eeden (Stellenbosch University)


Long-form Courses

​5 - 9 Feb 2024
5 days

08:30 - 16:3​0 GMT+2
7 contact hours​ per day
11 - How to Argue and Write an Effective Proposal for your Master's or Doctorate (5 days, in-person)
In this interactive workshop, we’ll start with the purpose of writing a proposal and using micro-writing to plan your proposal. Delegates will also be exposed to a variety of argumentation strategies to use in their proposal as well as practical advice about how to develop their own academic voices.​​
Mode: ​In-person |​ Course fee:​ Early Bird - R955​​0, Standard - R9950, Late Joiner - R1025​0​

-​ Selene Delport (Stellenbosch University, Writing Lab)

5 - 9 Feb 2024
5 days

08:30 - 16:3​0 GMT+2
7 contact hours​ per day
12 - Introduction to Quantitative Research Skills​ using SPSS ​ (5 days, in-person)
During this course, participants will be introduced to the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) – one of the most widely used social statistical packages in the world. It needs to be emphasized that this is an introductory course, ideally suited for first time users or participants with limited experience with the software program. Participants should be computer literate and competent as this is a computer-based course with an emphasis on skills transfer. 
Mode: ​​In-person |​ Course fee:​ Early Bird - R955​​0, Standard - R9950, Late Joiner - R1025​0​

-​ Dr Cindy Steenekamp (Stellenbosch University)

​​5 - 9 Feb 2024
5 days

08:30 - 16:3​0 GMT+2
7 contact hours​ per day
13 - Mixed Methods: From design towards practical implementation (5 days, hyflex)
In this hands-on one-week workshop, delegates will learn how mixed methods research combines quantitative with qualitative research methods within the same study. The workshop will include exercises on understanding your own predominant research epistemology, coherently combining different research methods, minimising risk in combining approaches and addressing issues of quality. Throughout the workshop we will focus on practical implementation and participants will be encouraged to apply their thinking and learning to their own research. Particular attention is paid to the practicalities of using a range of methods and tools in one study and the implications for data collection, analysis, triangulation, interpretation, validity/reliability/trustworthiness and generalisability. 
Mode: ​Hyflex (Online & In-person) |​ Course fee in-person:​ Early Bird - R955​​0, Standard - R9950, Late Joiner - R1025​0​
Course fee Online:​ Early Bird - R7250, Standard - R7950, Late Joiner - R815​0​​ 
-​ ​Prof Catherine Comiskey (Trinity College, Dublin University, Ireland)​​​​ 

Week 3: ​12 - 16 February 2024

Long-form Courses

​​12 - 16 Feb 2024
5 days

08:30 - 16:3​0 GMT+2
7 contact hours​ per day
​​​14 - Academic Writing for Publications: An introduction (5 days, online)
This hands-on one-week course will provide a step-by-step guide to publishing empirical and non-empirical (i.e., conceptual, theoretical, and methodological) research works. Moreover, the objective of this course is to provide information that helps beginning scholars, emerging scholars, and experienced scholars to create an active research enterprise for exemplary research that will advance their careers, hence this course being coined as Project CAREER.​
Mode: ​Online |​ Course fee:​ Early Bird - R7250, Standard - R7950, Late Joiner - R815​0​​ 

-​ ​​​​​Prof Anthony (Tony) Onwuegbuzie (University of Cambridge, UK)

​​12 - 16 Feb 2024
5 days

08:30 - 16:3​0 GMT+2
7 contact hours​ per day
15 - Qualitative Research Design and Implementation: Principles and Practices (5 days, online)
Introduction to Qualitative Research Design and Methodology is an introductory course presented in two parts. Part 1 provides fundamental knowledge of several interlocking topics important to our understanding of qualitative research methodology design and implementation. Part 2 extends our understanding of these qualitative approaches as participants learn more about the practice and conduct of qualitative research. As a community of learners, we will focus on the core processes of qualitative design and implementation.
Mode: ​Online |​ Course fee:​ Early Bird - R7250, Standard - R7950, Late Joiner - R815​0​​ 

-​ Prof Wayne A. Babchuk (University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA)

​​12 - 16 Feb 2024
5 days

08:30 - 16:3​0 GMT+2
7 contact hours​ per day
16 - Preparing for the PhD: First steps towards doctoral success (5 days, in-person)
In most countries, the PhD is the highest academic qualification that can be achieved. The specific goal for this hands-on one-week workshop is to set participants on a path towards achieving this singular academic qualification. 
Mode: ​​In-person |​ Course fee:​ Early Bird - R955​​0, Standard - R9950, Late Joiner - R1025​0​

-​ Dr Nicoline Herman (Stellenbosch University) & Prof Susan van Schalkwyk (Stellenbosch University)​​

12 - 16 Feb 2024
5 days

08:30 - 16:3​0 GMT+2
7 contact hours​ per day
17 - Effective Academic Writing for Master's and Doctoral Candidates (5 days, in-person)
The facilitator takes an ‘outside-in’ approach. The facilitator will start with the general conventions of academic writing and then look at the external structure – how to build a skeleton for your text. She will then move onto the internal structure – how to pack the meat onto the bones so that you eventually have a functioning body of text.  
Mode: ​​In-person​ |​ Course fee:​ Early Bird - R955​​0, Standard - R9950, Late Joiner - R1025​0​

-​ Selene Delport and (Paul Adebayo) (Stellenbosch University, Writing Lab)
 

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|Apply Now|​​


Costs:



​​​​Rates
Application deadlines for courses: Early Bird - 8 Dec 2023; Standard - 15 Dec 2023; Late Joiner - 22 Jan 2024
Payment deadline 22 January 2024 ​​​​
One-day courses
      
  Early Bird: R225​​0 
Standard: R2450 
La​te Joiner: R260​0
  
    
 (In-person)

Two-day courses

Early Bird: R1950
Standard: R2150 
Late Joiner: R2300 

(Online
Two-day courses

Early Bird: R4250 
Standard: R4450 
Late Joiner: R460​0​​ 

​(In-person)
Three-day courses

Early Bird: R6950 
Standard: R7250 
Late Joiner: R7450

​(In-person)​​
Five-day courses

Early Bird: R9550 
Standard: R9950 
Late Joiner: R10250

​(In-person)
Five-day courses

Early Bird: R7250 
Standard: R7950 
Late Joiner: R815​0​​

​(Online)

​​
​​Additional information

  • Last day for applicationsEarly Bird - 8 December 2023; Standard - 15 December 2023; Late Joiner - 22 January 2024
      • Payment deadlines for courses: 22 January 2024
  • Course specific information is available on the Workshop Information page​

Included in th​e cost:

  • ​T​he fee per week includes the workshop fee for online courses, digital class materials and digital certification. For in-person courses the fee includes course fees, lunch, digital class materials, digital certification and refreshments at social functions hosted by the ADA.

Format:

  • All workshops are taught in English​
  • The school will be hosted in hybrid format with fully online courses and fully in-person sessions. You will not be able to join virtually in any of the in-person courses unless it is explicitly stated that the course is offered in hyflex format. ​​

The ADA reserves the right to cancel a course if the minimum attendance figures are not reached. If a delegate has already paid, we will refund them fully, or offer them the opportunity to attend another course of their choice, where possible. 

Cancellations:​​

  • The last day for withdrawal from the ADA's Summer School is 15 December 2023. Applicants will receive a 50% refund up until 15 December 2023.​ After this date there will be no refund unless someone else can take your place​. 
  • The ADA reserves the right to cancel a course.​​