In 2018, in association with the South African Cities Research Network, I obtained funding, set up and co-facilitated a PhD workshop for 18 PhDs working on urban studies in South Africa. Attendees came to UWC from six campus around the country and were at different stages of the PhD process. The focus was to help students progress in their research and writing by using the storytelling method to identify and reflect on the key themes of their thesis.  Below is are images from the workshop, a link to a digital story produced by participants and a selection of evaluations of the process. 

Video of work produced by participants in the workshop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSTFTb9CKXU

Evaluations of the PhD storytelling workshop:

•   "My research is all about telling stories and I've been battling with how to do that, in an academic environment, especially as I attend a 'Technical' University. This workshop has been amazing in showing me that story telling is a valid academic technique and strengthened my own view that we need a turn from more traditional quantitative research to telling and listening to stories as a way out of the present dilemma the world finds itself in."

•   "The workshop was a wonderful way to find a new way of thinking about our research. Taking a step away from writing our research in our usual settings allowed for alternative ways of expressing our focus areas and storylines (something I'd never have called my research before this). Plus, there was some catharsis in discussing and portraying some of the challenges of the PhD journey."

•   "This was a wonderful workshop for unlocking creativity and for starting to think creatively about situations that often seem 'normal'. I thought the different exercises and mediums, and group dynamics allowed for a rich workshop where immediate relationships were formed."