Online, Friday 10 July 2026 – The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), in partnership with the University of Pretoria, the University of Zululand, and Sol Plaatje University, will host the Seventh Annual Emerging African Researcher Training Academy 2026, also known as the Academy.
Held under the theme “African research voices in the age of artificial intelligence,” the Academy will take place online via Zoom from 27 to 31 July 2026, from 09h00 to 16h00 daily.
The five-day online academy is designed to promote awareness of the importance of research among African scholars; expose emerging and early-career scholars to a career in research; and strengthen the development of research and related skills among scholars.
According to the lead convener, HSRC’s Dr Bongiwe Mncwango, the Academy will explore what it means for African knowledge and scientific communication to come into their own alongside artificial intelligence.
“AI is fundamentally reshaping how knowledge is produced, communicated, interpreted, and consumed. Within this rapidly evolving landscape, African scholars are not passive observers of technological change but active participants and critical contributors whose work is grounded in lived continental realities, contextual depth, and rich knowledge traditions that no algorithm can replicate. This conviction anchors the Academy’s theme and directly informs the programme design,” said Dr Mncwango.
She further underscored that the Academy recognises that AI presents unprecedented opportunities to enhance research productivity, expand access to knowledge, strengthen scientific communication, and extend societal reach.
“At the same time, it raises pressing questions about ethics, representation, authenticity, bias, and the future of human-centred scholarship. To engage with AI, then, is not simply to adopt new tools but to examine critically how such technologies can be harnessed in ways that strengthen African scholarship while preserving the humanity, integrity, and social purpose that give research its enduring value,” she added.
The Academy is structured around three interconnected dimensions of knowledge creation and scientific communication, each examined through the lens of working alongside AI:
- Knowledge creation in African contexts – ensuring that research remains grounded in local realities, indigenous knowledge systems, social histories, and lived continental experiences, while contributing meaningfully to regional and global scholarly discourse.
- Public engagement and scientific communication – strengthening scholars’ capacity to communicate research in accessible, relevant, and socially responsive ways, while engaging critically with how AI tools can expand reach and visibility yet simultaneously raise complex questions about voice, representation, credibility, and authenticity.
- Policy communication and evidence uptake – enhancing scholars’ ability to translate research into clear, credible, and actionable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and institutions operating within increasingly digital and AI-mediated information environments.
The Academy targets emerging African researchers based in South Africa and elsewhere on the continent. Its primary audience comprises postgraduate students – master’s and PhD candidates, postdoctoral fellows, and early-career lecturers at higher education institutions, science councils, and other public and private research institutions. Also targeted are participants from previously disadvantaged institutions. Fluency in English is required, as no translation services will be provided.
Participants from the three partner universities, as well as from other higher education institutions across the African continent, are also expected to attend. Based on attendance in previous cycles, the Academy expects over 1000 participants on the opening day, with numbers in the parallel streams thereafter varying by module.
Note to presenters: submit a session plan, background materials, and interactive exercises by mid-July 2026.
Certificate of attendance will be issued to participants who attend 75% of the modules.
Click here for more information. Registration closes on 17 July 2026.
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Details of the event
Date: 27–31 July 2026
Time: 9h00–16h00
Venue: Online
Link: https://hsrc.ac.za/seventh-annual-emerging-african-researchers-training-academy-2026-2027/ For media enquiries, please contact Adziliwi Nematandani: Cell: +27 82 765 9191 Email: anematandani@hsrc.ac.za
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Notes to the editor
About the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
Established in 1968, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) is South Africa’s statutory research agency and the largest dedicated social science and humanities research institute on the African continent. The HSRC generates evidence and insights that inform public policy, support development and improve lives. Through high-quality research, strategic partnerships and research capacity development, the Council contributes to evidence-informed decision-making in South Africa, Africa and globally.
strategic partnerships and research capacity development, the Council contributes to evidence-informed decision-making in South Africa, Africa and globally.
Click https://repository.hsrc.ac.za/ to search the HSRC Research Output Repository