Institutional Partnerships for Graduate Research Excellence
Design2Defense is an academic and research skills development initiative that partners with universities to build student success and research capacity through high-impact academic skills development.
The initiative delivers carefully designed workshops that strengthen academic writing, critical reading, and research capabilities while complementing existing curricula. With particular attention to multilingual and diverse learner contexts, Design2Defense supports institutions in advancing NEP-aligned goals, improving assignment quality, and cultivating a stronger undergraduate research culture.
Its scaffolded studio model enables universities to support students progressively—from foundational academic literacy to confident independent research.
Approach
At the core of this initiative is the Academic Literacies Studio. Within the studio, workshops are intentionally designed to build strong foundations in academic writing and core academic literacy while aligning closely with course expectations and faculty priorities.
Working in collaboration with faculty, I design targeted, interactive sessions informed by evidence-based practices and grounded in culturally responsive, student-centered pedagogy. Sessions are typically mapped to specific assignments, ensuring that students work directly with their own drafts and course readings.
This applied, studio-based approach supports students in developing transferable academic habits—such as argument development, critical reading, and effective source use—while producing clearer, more coherent work for their current courses.
For faculty and programme teams, the result is improved assignment quality, more engaged classroom participation, and a stronger developmental pathway from early undergraduate academic literacy to more independent scholarly work.
Core Focus Areas
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Participants learn how to
Systematically identify, evaluate, and organize relevant scholarly sources
Locate key theoretical conversations, gaps, and debates in their field
Connect the literature review to research questions and framework development
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Participants will learn how to:
Distinguish appropriate support from academic misconduct,
Apply AI responsibly for idea development and editing,
Ensure proper transparency and disclosure in theses and publications.
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Designed as highly interactive, practice-based learning spaces, where participants work directly on their own projects while developing tools, templates, and strategies they can immediately use to strengthen research design, writing, and analysis.
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Item descThis workshop introduces students to the structure and expectations of academic writing across disciplines, while working closely with faculty to ensure alignment with course goals and disciplinary standards.ription
Flexible Engagement Model
Design2Defense works collaboratively with institutions through:
• Standalone workshops
• Multi-session graduate series
• Embedded research methods support
• Doctoral masterclasses
• Writing and framework clinics
• Faculty-aligned program partnerships
All sessions are customizable by discipline, cohort stage, and institutional need.