UniSey students upgrade academic writing skills |31 January 2012

The workshops were held on Wednesday and Thursday last week at the University of Seychelles (UniSey) campus at Anse Royale. 

Another group of 20 former students who followed diploma courses in early childhood and primary education at the School of Education also benefitted from the writing skills training in a workshop held on Monday at the UniSey Mont Fleuri campus.

Hosted by the Faculty of Science of the UniSey, the training workshops were conducted by Ian Mackenzie, a teacher of academic writing from the British Council – United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations.
 
Academic writing is a form of writing which addresses topic-based 'research questions' of interest to anyone who is seeking factually-based, objectively presented information on a particular topic.

The training was aimed at better equipping university students and teachers with good writing skills and techniques which are important in their studies and the teaching profession.

Experienced in teaching university students and corporate clients, Mr Mackenzie was considered by UniSey as very well placed to understand the working environment as well as the needs of the students and teachers here. 

He used the workshop to show the teachers how to relate to the outputs required from the students.

Mr Mackenzie also elaborated on the proper writing process, the use of markers and verbs as well as the appropriate introduction and conclusions teachers can incorporate in their methods of teaching, especially essay writing.

Those taking part in the training workshops have described the various sessions as very fruitful.

Acting dean for the Faculty of Science, Shirley Marie, said the UniSey wants to provide a two to three-week training course in academic writing to students prior to their enrolment on courses at the university.