Global Studies University held an in-person Research and Writing Training on February 10–11, 2026, for students in the Ph.D. in Global Studies and MA in Global African Studies. Part of GSU’s postgraduate academic development strategy, the program aimed to provide structured research support and enhance students’ academic writing skills.
The sessions were facilitated by Professor Carli Coetzee, a leading scholar of African literature and cultural studies whose work examines the ethics and politics of knowledge production. She explores how editing, translation, and mentorship can challenge entrenched hierarchies within global academia. Professor Coetzee is the author of Written Under the Skin: Blood and Intergenerational Memory in South Africa (2019), which received the African Literature Association’s award for Best Scholarly Monograph, and Accented Futures: Language Activism and the Ending of Apartheid (2013).
Students worked on key elements of dissertation development, including refining research questions, structuring arguments, conducting literature reviews, clarifying methodological frameworks, and managing sources. An accompanying workbook served as a practical guide for organizing arguments, identifying key concepts, and planning writing timelines to support sustained independent research.
“It was a pleasure working with these students, who engaged seriously with the challenges of research and writing and demonstrated a strong commitment to developing their projects,” Professor Coetzee said. “One of the most important things to stress is that you become a better writer by becoming a better reader. You can read articles not only for their content, but for their structure, their argument, and the way they are put together.”
Reflecting on the experience, Lubacha Deus, an MA in Global African Studies student, said the workshop reshaped her approach to scholarship. “It sharpened my ability to craft clear thesis statements, structure complex ideas coherently, and write with precision and confidence. More importantly, it shifted my mindset from completing assignments to engaging critically and writing with purpose. It was also a privilege to meet Professor Carli Coetzee in person.”
The training formed part of GSU’s broader academic support initiatives and was overseen by Sara Majdi, Director of Academic Affairs, and Binyam Sisay Mendisu, Associate Dean of The Africa Institute and Director of Graduate Studies.
Global Studies University held an in-person Research and Writing Training on February 10–11, 2026, for students in the Ph.D. in Global Studies and MA in Global African Studies. Part of GSU’s postgraduate academic development strategy, the program aimed to provide structured research support and enhance students’ academic writing skills.
Global Studies University held an in-person Research and Writing Training on February 10–11, 2026, for students in the Ph.D. in Global Studies and MA in Global African Studies. Part of GSU’s postgraduate academic development strategy, the program aimed to provide structured research support and enhance students’ academic writing skills.
The sessions were facilitated by Professor Carli Coetzee, a leading scholar of African literature and cultural studies whose work examines the ethics and politics of knowledge production. She explores how editing, translation, and mentorship can challenge entrenched hierarchies within global academia. Professor Coetzee is the author of Written Under the Skin: Blood and Intergenerational Memory in South Africa (2019), which received the African Literature Association’s award for Best Scholarly Monograph, and Accented Futures: Language Activism and the Ending of Apartheid (2013).
Students worked on key elements of dissertation development, including refining research questions, structuring arguments, conducting literature reviews, clarifying methodological frameworks, and managing sources. An accompanying workbook served as a practical guide for organizing arguments, identifying key concepts, and planning writing timelines to support sustained independent research.
“It was a pleasure working with these students, who engaged seriously with the challenges of research and writing and demonstrated a strong commitment to developing their projects,” Professor Coetzee said. “One of the most important things to stress is that you become a better writer by becoming a better reader. You can read articles not only for their content, but for their structure, their argument, and the way they are put together.”
Reflecting on the experience, Lubacha Deus, an MA in Global African Studies student, said the workshop reshaped her approach to scholarship. “It sharpened my ability to craft clear thesis statements, structure complex ideas coherently, and write with precision and confidence. More importantly, it shifted my mindset from completing assignments to engaging critically and writing with purpose. It was also a privilege to meet Professor Carli Coetzee in person.”
The training formed part of GSU’s broader academic support initiatives and was overseen by Sara Majdi, Director of Academic Affairs, and Binyam Sisay Mendisu, Associate Dean of The Africa Institute and Director of Graduate Studies.
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