CAD Writing Retreat
CAD Writing Retreat
Dr Layla Cassim; Founder and Managing Member: Layla Cassim ERS Consultants CC
Qhawekazi Memani
The Vaal University of Technology’s(VUT), Centre for Academic Development (CAD) held a writing retreat from 11-12 June. Academics, tutors and employees from various faculties who are studying towards their Master’s and doctoral degrees, gathered at Quest Conference Centre.
The facilitator of the event was Dr Layla Cassim; Founder and Managing Member: Layla Cassim ERS Consultants CC.
The aim for the gathering was to provide insights on writing academic papers and publishing them. Throughout her presentation, Dr Cassim shared writing tips, step-by-step instructions on how to formulate research and important facts to include in each of the chapters.
As someone who has gone through the stresses involved in writing and publishing academic papers, she shared her personal experiences, time frames, the patience it took for her to get her work published as well as actual comments from the papers she has written and published. The latter can be very upsetting and draining for a researcher. However, she encouraged the attendees not to despair when they get them or to take them personally, but rather to remember why they are writing.
She also gave the attendees an opportunity to present their own work. She gave tips on improving the work in an open, interactive conversation whereby all other researchers could also give their opinions on each other’s work.
It was observed that the overall research the attendees are working on is focused on improving, supporting and assisting VUT to become the cutting-edge research university it strives to be.
It is expected that many research papers will be written through collaboration and co-authorships across the board.
Dr Cassim closed off the retreat by saying she hopes everyone has left with something tangible and has identified things to consider that will assist them throughout their journeys.
The attendees also received a DVD compiled by Dr Cassim titled Postgraduate Toolkit that is considered to be a ground-breaking academic and self-empowerment toolkit to assist postgraduate students in any discipline to complete their degrees.