The Faculty of Management Sciences (FMS) at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) kicked off the 2026 cycle of writing retreats on a high note, building on an outstanding publication success rate achieved in 2025. The faculty recently hosted its first retreat of the year at the Pumula Beach Hotel on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast.
The initiative, managed by the Faculty’s Postgraduate Staff and Student Development Coordinator, Mrs Phindokuhle Khoza, and facilitated by Mr Solani Ngobeni, a Publishing Director at the Centre for Scholarly Publishing, focuses on helping students identify relevant journals for their articles, write conceptual articles from their literature review chapters, develop empirical articles from data analysis, and understand the essential elements of journal writing as well as how to manage the peer-review process.
In the four retreats hosted in 2025, which included a total of 100 participants comprising FMS staff members and postgraduate students, the faculty produced an outstanding 98 journal articles and seven book chapters.
The recent retreat aims to emulate that success, having already seen a total of 14 papers submitted, with a further 12 expected to be submitted by the end of April 2026.
Khoza shared that the writing retreat initiative in the faculty started in 2024 as an effort to strengthen research output and support a culture of academic excellence, in line with the DUT ENVISION2030 Values Framework and the institution’s commitment to research and innovation. However, 2025 stands out as its most successful year.
“These retreats have not only increased our research productivity but have also strengthened collaboration among faculty members, provided participants with valuable guidance and mentorship, and fostered a culture of writing and academic excellence within the Faculty of Management Sciences. The retreats have become an important platform for supporting emerging scholars and advancing the faculty’s research profile,” said Khoza.
She described the recent writing retreat experience as fulfilling, noting that it brought together thoughtful planning and meaningful interaction.
This reflects the faculty’s strategic approach to hosting the retreats, which is designed to create an enabling environment for academic productivity.
According to Khoza, participants benefit from being in a quiet, focused environment, which makes it easier for everyone to fully engage with their work, leading to productive sessions and real progress on their writing.
“We have structured writing sessions, one-on-one time with the facilitator, and space for participants to work through feedback and improve their drafts. There are also moments for open conversations and peer support, which helps create a strong sense of community,” she said.
Khoza expressed appreciation on behalf of the faculty to all participants who contributed to the 2025 outputs, the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation for its funding support, and the former Executive Dean, Professor Fulufhelo Godfrey Netswera, who was the visionary behind this initiative.
She stated that the faculty aims to publish more than 100 papers this year and has submitted a funding proposal to the institution’s Research and Postgraduate Support Directorate.
Pictured: Attendees at the first writing retreat of 2026.
Thulasizwe Nkomo
