Information

Participate

Optentia Writing Retreat 2025

 

INVITATION TO A TRANSFORMATIVE WRITING RETREAT

 

Join us for the Optentia Writing Retreat 2025, an immersive four-day experience designed to enhance your research skills, writing productivity, and overall well-being as a scholar. Hosted at the breathtaking Mongena Game Lodge, this retreat offers an opportunity to refine your dissertation, thesis, or research articles while engaging in expert-led workshops, hands-on exercises, and collaborative discussions.

 

 

WHY ATTEND THIS WRITING RETREAT?

 

At Optentia, we believe that excellent research thrives in a supportive, well-structured environment. This retreat is designed to:

 

 

Each day will include a mix of interactive lectures, hands-on workshops, guided writing time, and networking opportunities. Late afternoons provide optional activities such as game drives, social gatherings, or individual writing sessions.

 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

 

DAY 1: Preparing for Research and Researcher Well-Being

 

Afternoon Options: Writing session | Game drive | Networking

 

DAY 2: Qualitative Methods

 

 

Afternoon Options: Writing session | Game drive | Social session

 

DAY 3: Mixed Methods and Quantitative Research

 

 

Afternoon Options: Writing session | Game drive | Group discussion

 

DAY 4: Writing for Impact & Research Dissemination

 

 

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

 

 

REGISTRATION DETAILS

 

Limited spaces available!

 

Deadline to register: 15 March 2025

 

For inquiries and registration: Lynn Booysen (lynn.booysen@nwu.ac.za)

 

Join us at Mongena Game Lodge for an enriching retreat designed to elevate your research and writing to the next level.

 

Let’s write, learn, and grow together!

 

The Optentia Writing Retreat 2025 features a distinguished panel of multidisciplinary experts who will provide participants with lectures, hands-on workshops, and individual coaching on research methodologies, writing strategies, and impact-driven research.

 

Experts Who Confirmed Already

 

Prof. Andries Baart

Extraordinary Professor in Ageing and Generational Dynamics, Optentia Research Unit, NWU

 

Prof. Baart is an internationally renowned scholar specialising in ageing, care ethics, and social relationships. He is known for his work on the Theory of Presence, which focuses on how researchers and practitioners engage meaningfully with communities and vulnerable populations. His expertise will be invaluable for participants focusing on qualitative research and research impact.

 

Dr Bruno Messina Coimbra 

Department of Methodology & Statistics, Utrecht University


Dr. Coimbra specialises in advanced statistical methods, measurement invariance, and structural equation modelling. His expertise in quantitative data analysis, psychometrics, and open science practices will equip participants with robust statistical approaches for their research. He is an expert on AS Review.

 

Mr. Fred Goede 

Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Applied Risk Management, NWU 

 

Mr. Goede will deliver a presentation on "Engaged Research." Engaged research involves the meaningful collaboration between researchers and organisational and community partners throughout the research process, ensuring that studies address pertinent community issues and that findings are effectively disseminated to those who can benefit most. 

 

Ms. Elizabeth Kriel

Statistical Consultant, Optentia Research Unit, NWU

 

Ms Kriel is an expert in quantitative research methods, statistical modelling, and data analysis. She assists researchers in optimising research designs, ensuring methodological rigour, and utilising advanced statistical software such as JASP and Mplus.

 

Prof. Marita Heyns

Research Professor in Industrial Psychology, NWU

 

Prof. Heyns specialises in positive psychology, meaning-making, and well-being in the workplace. Her research focuses on resilience, strengths-based leadership, and psychological capital, providing essential insights for participants exploring the human aspects of organisational research.

 

Prof. Jaco Hoffmann

Research Professor, Optentia Research Unit, NWU

 

Prof. Hoffmann is a leading expert in social gerontology, intergenerational relationships, and well-being across the lifespan. His expertise in conceptual and methodological frameworks for social research will guide participants in developing strong research questions and theoretical underpinnings for their work.

 

Prof. J.T. Janse van Rensburg

Extraordinary Professor in Information Technology, Optentia Research Unit, NWU

 

Prof. van Rensburg is at the forefront of digital research methods, AI in academic research, and information technology applications in social sciences. He will lead the AI and technology in literature reviews session, introducing tools like Elicit AI, Google Notebook LM, Scispace, and Zotero to enhance systematic reviews.

 

Prof. Mirna Nel

Deputy-Dean: Research and Innovation, Faculty of Humanities, NWU

 

Prof. Nel is a scholar in education and inclusive learning environments. Her research focuses on educational transformation and decolonial practices, equipping researchers with methodologies that address social inequalities in academia.

 

Prof. Blessed Ngwenya

Research Professor in Inclusion and Decolonial Praxis, Optentia Research Unit, NWU

 

Prof. Ngwenya’s work centres on social justice, decolonial approaches to research, and community-engaged scholarship. His expertise in qualitative methodologies and narrative research will provide valuable insights for researchers working with historically marginalised communities.

 

Prof. Vera Roos

Research Professor in Relational Dynamics, Optentia Research Unit, NWU

 

Prof. Roos specialises in relational well-being, qualitative methodologies, and intergenerational dynamics. She is a leading voice in photo-voice research, narrative inquiry, and participatory action research.

 

Prof. Ian Rothmann

Research Professor in Industrial Psychology, Optentia Research Unit, NWU

 

Prof. Rothmann is an expert in workplace well-being, flourishing, and psychological measurement. He will provide advice on the conceptualisation of projects and questionnaire design, and will lead a session on statistical analyses.

 

Prof. Linda Theron

Professor in Education, University of Pretoria

 

Prof. Theron is a global leader in resilience research and youth development in challenging environments. She specialises in qualitative and mixed-methods research and will offer guidance on researcher well-being and resilience.

 

Prof. Leoni van der Vaart

Extraordinary Professor in Industrial Psychology, Optentia Research Unit, NWU

 

Prof. van der Vaart is an expert in employee well-being, organisational behaviour, and advanced quantitative methods. She can advise on survey design and psychometric statistics and will lead a session of literature reviews.

Dr. Ronella van Rensburg

Certified ATLAS.ti Student Trainer

 

Dr. van Rensburg specialises in qualitative research methodologies and will conduct hands-on training sessions on using ATLAS.ti for coding, thematic analysis, and qualitative data visualisation.

 

Prof. Llewellyn van Zyl

Extraordinary Professor, Optentia Research Unit, NWU

 

Prof. van Zyl is an expert in positive organisational psychology, strengths-based development, and leadership research. His insights into scientific writing, publishing in high-impact journals, and mixed-methods research will benefit participants seeking to elevate their academic work.

 

How This Team Will Support Participants


Participants will receive: