Academic leads international initiative to empower South African researchers

A Teesside University academic is tackling the under-representation of South African scholars in high-impact agricultural publications.

Lecturer in Environmental Science Dr Oluseye Oludoye received a British Academy International Writing Workshop grant to break down barriers to publishing research around Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies in agriculture.

He is working in collaboration with Dr Olonade Olawale, University of Johannesburg, and Dr Wegayehu Fitawek, University of Pretoria, to strengthen the academic writing capabilities of early-career researchers (ECRs) in South Africa.

The project includes a comprehensive workshop series designed to equip participants with the skills needed to produce high-quality, internationally recognised research.

A key goal is for each researcher to submit at least one manuscript to a leading journal.

The initiative launched with a pre-workshop online seminar, which focused on academic writing, manuscript revision and mentoring.

This was followed by a fully funded three-day, in-person writing workshop held at the University of Johannesburg.

The workshop featured intensive writing sessions and strategies for research dissemination, as well as opportunities to network with scholars and journal editors from across the world.

Participating early-career researchers will continue to benefit from ongoing mentoring, peer reviews and guidance on submitting to high-impact journals.

Dr Oludoye said: “Amplifying South African voices in global agricultural innovation is at the heart of this initiative.

“We’re proud to support early-career researchers in shaping the future of sustainable farming through cutting-edge research.”

The project is funded under the UK’s International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF), managed by the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT), and reflects a growing commitment to equitable global research collaboration.

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