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African Doctoral Academy

The African Doctoral Academy (ADA), housed within the Centre for Capacity Development in Africa​ (CCDA) serves to coordinate and strengthen excellence in doctoral education at Stellenbosch University (SU) and across the African continent. The ADA’s bi-annual, two week long Doctoral Schools take place every year in Summer (January) and Winter (June-July) and aim to offer high impact research and methodology training, as well as options in academic preparedness and career development.

The Schools are open to doctoral candidates, their supervisors and researchers in general. Each week offers a number of workshops taking place concurrently and offers an intense and concentrated training opportunity by experts in their fields. With delegates hailing from South Africa, Africa and beyond, these Doctoral Schools are an opportunity to network with fellow delegates and lecturers and exchange ideas and knowledge during the formal classes, additional extra-curricular classes open to all delegates and the social evenings each week. 

Contact us

+27 21 808 2232
[email protected]

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Winter School

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

What We Offer

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Our Presenters

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Master Class Webinars

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Previous Schools and Strategic Initiatives


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Our Mission

The African Doctoral Academy fosters skills, scholarship, and growth in doctoral education across Africa by providing high-impact research training and development through its Doctoral Schools, empowering scholars to advance knowledge and contribute to global research excellence.


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