What do you get when you bring together fourteen researchers and professionals from China, Germany, Malaysia, Myanmar and Uganda for the brand-new summer school Smart Writing for Researchers and Professionals – Human expertise and AI for better academic English?
Well, for a start you get a close-knit international group. Fourteen curious participants who respected one another, enjoyed themselves, and encouraged each other to learn. And above all: fourteen people who made great strides this summer in their ability to write academic texts more clearly and confidently.
Over the course of a week, Linguapolis language tutor Daniel Sossi familiarised the participants with modern academic writing styles, encouraged them to experiment with how GenAI can be integrated into their writing process, and provided personal feedback on their texts. Daniel was supported by the rest of the Academic English team, who, during their guest lectures, demonstrated how academic English can also be used outside the traditional academic context, for other target audiences and in a variety of formats.
More than just a course
This summer school is not your average academic English course. The intensive programme creates a unique dynamic: participants spend a lot of time together, and learn from and with each other, meaning they see their skills improve really quickly.
The 30 hours spent in the classroom are just one part of this new summer school. During coffee breaks and lunches, at social events organised by the Antwerp Summer and Winter University, and at the farewell dinner, conversations and connections developed were just as valuable.
A new summer school, built on nine years’ experience
August 2026 saw the first edition of this remodelled summer school. In doing so, we drew on nine years’ experience of running summer schools on academic writing and speaking for undergraduate and postgraduate students. This time, we deliberately opted for a new and specific programme: one that focuses entirely on writing, designed for researchers and professionals, and with a particular emphasis on the thoughtful use of GenAI to support the writing process.
Judging by the participants’ reactions, this approach has been a tremendous success. After the summer school had finished, researcher Ruth said:
‘I think I’m going to produce one of the best pieces of work I’ve ever done!’
Our group of 14 participants made the ideal audience for this first edition: always curious, always enthusiastic and absolutely ready to produce smart writing. 😊
