Abstract

In recent years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has profoundly reshaped the research landscape, offering transformative tools for literature review, data analysis, and academic writing. However, Historically Disadvantaged Higher Education Institutions in rural South Africa have faced distinct challenges in integrating AI into research due to limited IT skills and infrastructure. The 3-day participatory workshop reported in this presentation, titled "Unlocking the Power of AI in Research," aimed to address these challenges by equipping researchers, postgraduate students (PhD), post-doctoral fellows, and early-career researchers with essential AI-driven research skills.
The workshop focused on bridging the IT skills gap, which has often hindered emerging academics and postgraduate students from fully utilising AI in their research. Through hands-on experience, participants were introduced to AI tools that automate literature reviews, enhance data analysis, and streamline academic writing. Additionally, the workshop promoted critical engagement with the ethical implications of AI use in academic research, ensuring that participants left with both practical skills and a strong understanding of responsible AI application.
Facilitators were trained using a "train-the-trainer" approach, enabling them not only to become proficient users of AI tools but also to act as effective mentors to participants. This approach ensured that the knowledge shared during the workshop could be sustainably transferred and adapted to environments with limited resources. The proposed presentation will highlight the experiences of both facilitators and participants, showcasing the practical challenges encountered and the innovative strategies adopted.
The presentation will conclude by offering valuable insights into how less well-resourced higher education institutions can overcome technological limitations and transform challenges into opportunities. By addressing gaps in IT skills and fostering AI literacy, such institutions have the potential to significantly improve the quality of their research outputs. The findings emphasise that embracing AI, even in under-resourced settings, can serve as a key driver of academic progress, positioning historically disadvantaged institutions to lead in research innovation.
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Research capacity building, Higher education, IT skills gap, Ethical AI usage