Innovation in conducting writing retreats for academic staff in higher education

  • B. Dube University of Venda
  • S.B. Maphosa University of Venda
  • C. Mershon University of Virginia
  • K. Miner-Romanoff Franklin University
DOI: https://doi.org/10.20853/31-2-1352

Abstract

How do researchers and administrators in higher education plan and carry out writing retreats for academic staff? This paper presents a distinctive approach to developing creative writing retreats for academic staff in higher education. We distill lessons from our June 2016 writing retreat, which drew participants from the University of Venda and the University of Limpopo. Responding to the South African Journal of Higher Education’s invitation to “re-imagine” writing retreats, we specify the shortcomings of linear writing retreats and discuss how to enhance collaboration, participation, and leadership capacity in planning and carrying out writing retreats. We also focus on an oft-neglected yet crucial feature of retreats, follow-up. As we show, our approach offers general insights for creative designing and implementing writing retreats. 

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Author Biographies

B. Dube, University of Venda

Bevelyn Dube is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Communication and Applied Language Studies at the University of Venda. Her research interests are in journalism education and Media Law and Ethics.

S.B. Maphosa, University of Venda

Sylvester B. Maphosa is the chief research specialist in governance and security at the Human Sciences Research Council’s Africa Institute of South Africa division. He is also adjunct professor in the research office of the School of Human and Social Sciences at the University of Venda.

C. Mershon, University of Virginia

Carol Mershon is a Hugh S. and Winifred Cumming Chair in Politics at the University of Virginia. Her research and teaching focus is on party competition, intraparty politics, legislative politics, health politics, and diversity and inclusion in academe.

K. Miner-Romanoff, Franklin University

 Dr. Karen Miner-Romanoff is Associate Provost for Academic Quality and Executive Director of the International Institute for Innovative Instruction at Franklin University. She also serves as faculty in the areas of teaching and learning and criminal justice.

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Published
2017-04-23
How to Cite
Dube, B., S.B. Maphosa, C. Mershon, and K. Miner-Romanoff. 2017. “Innovation in Conducting Writing Retreats for Academic Staff in Higher Education”. South African Journal of Higher Education 31 (2), 4-21. https://doi.org/10.20853/31-2-1352.
Issue
Vol. 31 No. 2 (2017)
Section
Special Section

Copyright (c) 2017 Bevelyn Dube, Sylvester Maphosa, Carol Mershon, Karen Miner-Romanoff

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