Writing in Relation: From PPS&Q to Publication

Friday, Oct. 24, 7:30-12 a.m.

Online

About the Retreat

This is more than a workshop — it is a collective research journey. Designed for MA (thesis route), PhD students, and final-year undergraduates preparing for graduate studies, this retreat guides participants through the process of developing their Problem, Purpose, Significance & Questions (PPS&Q) while grounding their work in de/colonial and creative praxis.

The end goal: Every participant will develop a journal-ready academic paper that can be submitted for publication in an academic journal.

This retreat is structured in three phases:

Phase 1: Online Foundations – learn and draft your PPS&Q
Phase 2: The Wilds Retreat – deepen your methodology, workshop your writing, and reframe through de/colonial lenses
Phase 3: Winter Wisdom Circle – share your completed paper and receive feedback from peers and a faculty Wisdom Circle

Phase 1 – Online Foundations

Date: October 15 from 7 pm to 8.30 pm (Virtual)
Facilitator: Dr. Cecile Badenhorst

Graduate Assistants:

What You’ll Do

Understand PPS&Q as the seed of your research paper
Frame your research through de/colonial and anti-colonial perspectives
Reflect critically on AI in research design (supports, risks, ethics)
Begin drafting your PPS&Q with guided prompts

Homework: Complete a draft PPS&Q to bring to The Wilds.

Phase 2 – In-Person Retreat at The Wilds Resort

Dates: Friday, October 24 – Saturday, October 25, 2025
Location: The Wilds Resort (outside St. John’s)

Facilitators: Dr Beth Tuinstra, Dr Cecile Badenhorst, Dr Erica Hurley, Dr Jan Buley and Dr. Paul Adeji

Graduate Assistants:

This immersive two-day retreat offers time away from campus to write, reflect, and grow your research in community.

Highlights

Mapping Roots & Routes: tracing what shaped your research
Decolonizing Research Methodologies: Indigenous, feminist, de/colonial approaches
Creative/Decolonial Methodologies: art-based, land-based, and poetic inquiry
Story Circles & Peer Feedback: sharing, listening, and refining in supportive circles
Closing Rituals: collective commitments to sustaining community & publication goals

Outcome: You leave with a revised and reframed PPS&Q that anchors your future journal article.

Phase 3 – Winter Wisdom Circle

Date: Winter 2026 (TBC)

Facilitators: Dr Beth Tuinstra, Dr Cecile Badenhorst, Dr Erica Hurley, Dr Jan Buley and Dr. Paul Adeji

Graduate Assistants:

This final phase is about moving from draft to publication.

Submit your completed paper/proposal one week before the session
Present your work (15–20 minutes) to peers and a Wisdom Circle of faculty mentors
Receive in-depth publication-focused feedback
Celebrate with a closing reception

Outcome: A journal-ready paper, nurtured through iterative, relational, and de/colonial practice.

Why Join?

Learn how to write not just for completion, but for publication
Work with faculty who model de/colonial, feminist, and creative methodologies
Build solidarity with other graduate students pursuing justice-oriented research
Receive feedback across multiple stages to ensure rigor, creativity, and accountability
Create space for joy, reflection, and community care alongside academic writing

Registration

Who can apply:

Graduate students (MA thesis-route & PhD)
Final-year undergraduates preparing for research
Space is limited to ensure deep mentorship
Graduate students from other faculty are welcome to apply but preference will be given to the Faculty of Education students

Apply by October 3, 2025. If you are accepted to the program, then you will receive a confirmation and attendance details on October 6.

Application can be found here: https://mun.yul1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0Nyyjcg6tIx3wq2

Cost:
Transportation, meals, and accommodation at The Wilds will be covered by the Faculty of Education.

Contact:

If you have any questions about the program then email Abu Arif, PhD Fellow of Faculty of Education and Chair of the Racialized Graduate Student Collective at aabu@mun.ca

Presented by Faculty of Education

Event Listing 2025-10-24 7:30:00 2025-10-24 0:00:00 America/St_Johns Writing in Relation: From PPS&Q to Publication About the Retreat This is more than a workshop — it is a collective research journey. Designed for MA (thesis route), PhD students, and final-year undergraduates preparing for graduate studies, this retreat guides participants through the process of developing their Problem, Purpose, Significance & Questions (PPS&Q) while grounding their work in de/colonial and creative praxis. The end goal: Every participant will develop a journal-ready academic paper that can be submitted for publication in an academic journal. This retreat is structured in three phases: Phase 1: Online Foundations – learn and draft your PPS&Q Phase 2: The Wilds Retreat – deepen your methodology, workshop your writing, and reframe through de/colonial lenses Phase 3: Winter Wisdom Circle – share your completed paper and receive feedback from peers and a faculty Wisdom Circle Phase 1 – Online Foundations Date: October 15 from 7 pm to 8.30 pm (Virtual) Facilitator: Dr. Cecile Badenhorst Graduate Assistants: What You’ll Do Understand PPS&Q as the seed of your research paper Frame your research through de/colonial and anti-colonial perspectives Reflect critically on AI in research design (supports, risks, ethics) Begin drafting your PPS&Q with guided prompts Homework: Complete a draft PPS&Q to bring to The Wilds. Phase 2 – In-Person Retreat at The Wilds Resort Dates: Friday, October 24 – Saturday, October 25, 2025 Location: The Wilds Resort (outside St. John’s) Facilitators: Dr Beth Tuinstra, Dr Cecile Badenhorst, Dr Erica Hurley, Dr Jan Buley and Dr. Paul Adeji Graduate Assistants: This immersive two-day retreat offers time away from campus to write, reflect, and grow your research in community. Highlights Mapping Roots & Routes: tracing what shaped your research Decolonizing Research Methodologies: Indigenous, feminist, de/colonial approaches Creative/Decolonial Methodologies: art-based, land-based, and poetic inquiry Story Circles & Peer Feedback: sharing, listening, and refining in supportive circles Closing Rituals: collective commitments to sustaining community & publication goals Outcome: You leave with a revised and reframed PPS&Q that anchors your future journal article. Phase 3 – Winter Wisdom Circle Date: Winter 2026 (TBC) Facilitators: Dr Beth Tuinstra, Dr Cecile Badenhorst, Dr Erica Hurley, Dr Jan Buley and Dr. Paul Adeji Graduate Assistants: This final phase is about moving from draft to publication. Submit your completed paper/proposal one week before the session Present your work (15–20 minutes) to peers and a Wisdom Circle of faculty mentors Receive in-depth publication-focused feedback Celebrate with a closing reception Outcome: A journal-ready paper, nurtured through iterative, relational, and de/colonial practice. Why Join? Learn how to write not just for completion, but for publication Work with faculty who model de/colonial, feminist, and creative methodologies Build solidarity with other graduate students pursuing justice-oriented research Receive feedback across multiple stages to ensure rigor, creativity, and accountability Create space for joy, reflection, and community care alongside academic writing Registration Who can apply: Graduate students (MA thesis-route & PhD) Final-year undergraduates preparing for research Space is limited to ensure deep mentorship Graduate students from other faculty are welcome to apply but preference will be given to the Faculty of Education students Apply by October 3, 2025. If you are accepted to the program, then you will receive a confirmation and attendance details on October 6. Application can be found here: https://mun.yul1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0Nyyjcg6tIx3wq2 Cost: Transportation, meals, and accommodation at The Wilds will be covered by the Faculty of Education. Contact: If you have any questions about the program then email Abu Arif, PhD Fellow of Faculty of Education and Chair of the Racialized Graduate Student Collective at aabu@mun.ca Online Faculty of Education