Overview
I delivered a two-day capacity-building training on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Academic Writing and Scientific Research Support, organized by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer at Wollega University on February 18-19, 2026.
The training, initiated by Mr. Bodena Terfa and Dr. Etana Fikadu (PhD), brought together academic staff from various disciplines across the university’s main campus. The program aimed to strengthen participants’ understanding of Artificial Intelligence, improve research productivity, and promote the ethical and responsible use of AI in academic research and scientific writing.
My Role
As one of the lead trainers, I delivered three technical sessions focusing on the practical application of Artificial Intelligence in research and higher education.
My sessions covered:
- Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: concepts, evolution, and current global trends.
- Opportunities, challenges, and future directions of AI.
- AI Ethics, Responsible Use, and Academic Integrity.
- Python programming fundamentals for researchers.
- Basic data analysis using Python.
- Practical applications of AI for improving research productivity.
The sessions combined conceptual discussions with hands-on demonstrations, enabling participants to understand how AI technologies can support research activities while maintaining ethical standards and academic integrity.
Training Outcomes
Participants strengthened their ability to:
- Understand the fundamentals and emerging trends of Artificial Intelligence.
- Apply AI tools to support academic writing and scientific research.
- Use Python for basic programming and research data analysis.
- Recognize ethical considerations and responsible AI practices in academia.
- Improve research productivity through AI-assisted workflows.
Impact
The training enhanced participants’ awareness of how Artificial Intelligence can transform research and academic writing. By combining theoretical knowledge with practical exercises, the program equipped academic staff with modern digital competencies that can improve research quality, increase productivity, and support evidence-based scholarly work.
Reflection
It was a privilege to contribute to this university-wide capacity-building initiative. As Artificial Intelligence continues to reshape higher education and scientific research, developing practical AI competencies alongside ethical awareness is becoming increasingly important. I believe empowering researchers with these skills will strengthen research excellence, foster innovation, and support Wollega University’s ongoing digital transformation.
Acknowledgement
I sincerely thank the Office of the Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer, Dr. Girmaye Kenasa, Director for Research and Innovation, for his leadership and support, my fellow trainer, and all participating academic staff for their active engagement and valuable contributions throughout the two-day program.
Source
This article is based on the official capacity-building training organized by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer at Wollega University on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Academic Writing and Scientific Research Support, conducted on February 18-19, 2026.
Click here to view the source announcement or see below.
