Course Description
This course is designed for researchers, postgraduate students, and academics across Africa. It explores the evolving relationship between academic writing and generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI). Grounded in the South African and broader African higher education context, the course examines academic voice, integrity, originality, knowledge production, and ethical authorship, while offering practical guidance on how AI can support — rather than replace — rigorous scholarly thinking and writing. The course will equip participants with critical perspectives and practical strategies for using Gen AI as a tool to strengthen scholarly thinking, argumentation, and writing, while safeguarding the integrity and authenticity of their academic work.
Course Outcomes:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the different stages of academic writing
- Prepare for their research write-up
- Critically engage with academic texts (journal articles)
- Build and sustain clear, coherent arguments and an academic voice
- Develop and refine their academic writing
- Understand the role of generative AI in academic writing, including considerations of integrity, originality, and ethical authorship
- Use AI tools to support idea development, structuring, and clarity while maintaining scholarly rigour and ownership of their work
3-day course
Standard Rate R5450
Application Deadline: 3 June 2026
Payment Deadline: 10 June 2026
Late Joiner Rate R5900
Application Deadline: 1 July 2026
Payment Deadline: 3 July 2026
Target Audience
The course is designed for doctoral and master's students from any discipline.
Course Materials
All course materials will be uploaded onto the MS Teams online platform. Worksheets, exercises/tasks and class notes will be provided on this platform and/or distributed during the classes.
What to Bring
Laptop, stable internet connection and writing material. Course material will be provided electronically.
Delegate Requirements
Participants should be engaged in academic writing and interested in exploring the opportunities and challenges associated with the use of generative AI in scholarly work.
Workshop Format
The workshop will be interactive, and participants will be actively involved in the learning process; engage in discussions and activities that will contribute to developing their academic writing.
The ADA reserves the right to cancel any course should the minimum required number of participants not be reached. In such cases, all fees already paid will be fully refunded, or where possible, delegates will be offered the option to transfer to an alternative course.
Cancellations and Refunds
The final date to withdraw from the ADA Winter School is 29 May 2026. Participants who withdraw on or before this date will be eligible for a 50% refund. After 29 May 2026, no refunds will be issued, unless a replacement participant can be found to take their place.
The ADA also reserves the right to cancel a course where necessary.