PhD retreat for senior students

A group of 35 second-year postgraduate students from across the faculties received a boost when a mix of seasoned and up-and-coming researchers shared their learning experiences at a two-day annual UCT PhD retreat from 4 to 5 September at Cape Manor Hotel.

It is the second time the event has been hosted.

At the retreat, academics talked about lessons they had learned on their PhD journeys, such as how to maintain relationships with supervisors and how to tackle writing their theses, among others. There were also question-and-answers sessions.

Kathy Erasmus of the Centre for Higher Education Development (CHED), which organised the event, said the idea of the retreat is to stimulate the development of a vibrant intellectual community of doctoral students across disciplinary and institutional lines.

She said the discussions were designed to help the students develop strategies to deal with the challenges and problems they encounter with their studies. Judging by feedback, this was certainly achieved.

Lehlohonolo Mohasi, who is studying electrical engineering, said the event was "very informative", and should have been offered earlier in her studies. Her sentiments were echoed by criminology student Irvin Kinnes who said the amount of information he'd gained from the discussions and group participation was helpful.

"You realise that you are not alone," said Kinnes.