African Academic Student Development Programme

Workshop Schedule

Download the schedule here [pdf]

Links for recordings and powerpoint presentations: https://shorturl.at/8GTWA or AASDP - 2026 Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/@unisapost-gradsupport5916

Please subscribe to the CGS youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/UNISACollegeOfGraduateStudies

 

Date:

Cohort / Stakeholders:

Session:

Facilitators

Session Links:

(The recording can also be accessed on the same link)

1.

March – April

All students

MOOC: Academic Integrity

CGS

https://adovh.unisa.ac.za/course/view.p hp?id=139

2.

9 April 2026

10:00 – 11:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students

2026 Programme Launch to all UNISA Honours, Masters and Doctoral students

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://shorturl.at/yX2VA

3.

15 April 2026

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students

Using Turn-it-in as an Academic Integrity Tool

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://shorturl.at/lWySW

4.

22 April 2026

All students

Topic and Focus of Your Study (part 1)

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://shorturl.at/zEK67

 


18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

 

Part I: Problematising your research focus area, formulating focus, research aims, contextualisation and demarcation

Introduction to UNISA’s 10 Catalytic Niche Areas

Maximising the scholarship and academic impact of your research

 

 

5.

23 April 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students*

Topic and Focus of Your Study (part 2)

Prioritising UNISA’s 10 Catalytic Niche Areas within your research.

Defining your research problems- articulating Africa research problems

Research objectives, Research Questions and Operationalisation

Maximising the Scholarship and Academic impact of your research

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://shorturl.at/Rh7Qg

6.

13 May 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students

Your Literature Review -exploring different review variants for use with varying literary sources (part 1)

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/ye29cyjt

7.

14 May 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students

Your Literature Review – conducting a critical review (part 2)

Exploring alternatives to mainstream review methodologies

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/e9v2eetm

8.

21 May 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students

Your Theoretical Framework and conceptual frameworks (part 1)

Your Theoretical Framework and Contribution of your Study (part 2)

From theoretical frameworks to conceptual framework and to data collection tools (the golden theoretical thread explained)

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/4b2tkwpf

9.

27 May 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students

Selecting a Methodology and Research Design: Quantitative Research (part 1)

(Sessions deals with different methodological orientations and how to select the best one for your study. Students are encouraged to attend all sessions, not just those on their chosen methodology).

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/4aubcjz3

10.

28 May 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students

Selecting a Methodology and Research Design: Quantitative Research (part 2)

(Sessions deal with different methodological orientations and how to select the best one for your study. Students are encouraged to attend all sessions, not just those on their chosen methodology)

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/2pjs6fv3

11.

3 June 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All Students

Optimisation of African epistemologies within research

Developing afro-centric research

Centering decolonisation in the research journey

Identifying opportunities for Indigenisation, Africanisation, and Decolonisation of your study focus.

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/55afzbec

12.

9 June 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students

Selecting a Methodology and Research Design: Qualitative Research (part 1)

(Sessions deal with different methodological orientations and how to select the best one for your study. Students are encouraged to attend all sessions, not just those on their chosen methodology.)

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/3kd24e97

13.

10 June 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students

Selecting a Methodology and Research Design: Qualitative Research (part 2)

(Sessions deal with different methodological orientations and how to select the best one for your study. Students are encouraged to attend all sessions, not just those on their chosen methodology.)

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/2wf6tuty

14.

11 June 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students

Selecting a Methodology and Research Design: Qualitative Research (part 3)

(Sessions deal with different methodological orientations and how to select the best one for your study. Students are encouraged to attend all sessions, not just those on their chosen methodology.)

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/3rvfd6r4

15.

18 June 2026

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students

Selecting a Methodology and Research Design: Mixed Method Research

(Sessions deal with different methodological orientations and how to select the best one for your study. Students are encouraged to attend all

sessions, not just those on their chosen methodology.)

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/3ekd6np3

16.

24 June 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

Masters proposal & Doctoral proposal students

The Role of Theory, Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks in Scholarly Research (part 1 and 2)

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/5dt22xfz

17.

1 July 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

Masters and Doctoral proposal students

Proposal Development: A guided tour of your proposal – Clarifying student Expectations for Master’s and Doctoral proposal students (part 1)

Maximising the Scholarship and Academic impact of your research

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/2e92r4m9

18.

2 July 2026

 

18:00

(Pretoria Time)

Masters and Doctoral proposal students

Proposal Development and defending your proposal: A guided tour of your proposal – Clarifying student Expectations for Master’s and Doctoral proposal students (part 2)

Approaches and skill-development in preparation for defending your proposal and defending your dissertation / thesis

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/4adfn8nn

 

 

 

 

 

 


19.

7 July 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

Masters dissertation and Doctoral thesis students only

The Development and Presentation of your Master’s Dissertation and Doctoral Thesis

Understanding                          your                          Chapter                          Development Requirements

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/4m4hs9az

20.

9 July 2026

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

Doctoral students

Preparing for Your Oral Defence (viva Voce) of your thesis

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/y6ardwn4

21.

14 July 2026

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

Doctoral students only

Developing the Doctorateness of your work

Maximising the Scholarship and Academic impact of your research

Doctorate by monograph versus PhD by publication: Introductory insights into different doctoral study options.

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/uzb5j2r6

 

 

 

PhD by publication: Walking the student through the structure and option-expectations.

Skills for orally defending your proposal and/or your thesis

 

 

22.

15 July 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students

Preparing your work for examination/ responding to examiner feedback

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/bdd2wnta

23.

16 July 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students

Blast Session: Motivation during and for my studies

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/5n95dvnf

24.

28 July 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students

Developing a data analysis plan

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/2s3sxt3f

25.

29 July 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students

Developing a sampling plan

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/3vpjnzy6

26.

30 July 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students

Maximising the scholarly impact of your research

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/hyujaa6t

27.

6 August 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students

Open Student Support Session

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/bd3me7jy

28.

12 August 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students

Writing for Publication Session (part 1) Assessing Potential for Publication

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/9pufafw4

29.

13 August 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students

Writing for Publication Session (part 2) Assessing Potential for Publication

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/3t8fnyfj

30.

18 August 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students and Interested Unisa

Academics/ Emerging Scholars

Blast Session: Writing for Publication – Topic will be determined by examining the aspects that students struggled with most related to publication. If no such aspects emerge, the session will be replaced by self-assessed take-home exercises for students.

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/2hpyd759

31.

26 August 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students

Open Student Support Session

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/3drs2uj3

32.

2 September 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students and Interested Unisa Academics/ Emerging Scholars

Grant Writing Session: Introduction to the world of grant writing and applying the logic model to support grant- proposal development

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/5n8awzsu

33.

3 September 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students and Interested Unisa Academics/ Emerging Scholars

Grant writing session:

Steps and processes in Proposal Developments for Grants

Sustainability considerations, Budget development and justifications

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/mu9z6294

34.

9 September 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students

Writing a Scientifically Rigorous Introductory Overview, Background to the Problem and Problem Statement for your Proposal, Dissertation and Doctoral Thesis

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/2mj5tnwa

35.

16 September

2026

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

Masters Dissertation

Chapter Development in a Master’s Dissertation

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/ubk2z9d9

36.

17 September

2026

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

Doctoral Thesis

Chapter Development in a Doctoral Thesis

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/m255xfft

37.

22 September

2026

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students

Trouble shooting – Question and Answer guidance session – all issues /challenges related to the development of your research

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/2pr2d5mc

38.

30 September

2026

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students

Open Student Support Session

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/5453whr5

39.

1 October 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All students

Scholarly argumentation revisited – Developing advanced scholarly writing within postgraduate work

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/zchrnnsc

40.

7 October 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All Students

Advanced Research Methods

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/45ary5yj

41.

8 October 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All Students

Maximising the Scholarship and Academic impact of your research

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/7a84hpbt

42.

13 October 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All Students

Africanising Research Ethics

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/bdh8vhhp

43.

14 October 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All Students

Your Literature Review Revisited

Exploring different review variants for use with varying literary sources (part 1)

Conducting a critical review (part 2)

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/4pja8nru

44.

21 October 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All Students

The Role of Theory, Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks in Scholarly Research Revisited

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/2yxvjynb

45.

22 October 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All Students

Writing for Publication

Assessing Potential for Publication

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/39hdtwdf

46.

28 October 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All Students

Open Student Support Session

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/msws4588

47.

3 November 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All Students

From theory to praxis: Developing a unique business idea (part 1)

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/kj688byx

48.

5 November 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All Students

From theory to praxis: Developing a unique business idea (part 2)

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/ypetdnp5

49.

10 November 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All Students

From chaos to clarity: Productivity Strategies for Postgraduate Researchers

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/4pamrsy6

50.

12 November 2026

 

18:00 – 20:00

(Pretoria Time)

All Students

Programme evaluation

Prof T Mgutshini and co-facilitators

https://tinyurl.com/2fchtu5u

Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/@unisapost-gradsupport5916

Please subscribe to the CGS youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/UNISACollegeOfGraduateStudies

Last modified: 2026/04/02