Dr. Aparrajitha Ariyadasa
(PhD, MoDE, LLM, MA, BCS)
Attorney-at-Law, Chapter Chair International Association of Privacy Proffessionals, Chartered Patent Agent CIPA, Chief Executive Officer South Asia Privacy Proffessionals Association (SAPPA).
Research in the age of AI: how to use AI ethically without crossing the plagiarism line
Objective
The workshop aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how AI tools are using academic research and scholarly writing while exploring the ethical considerations surrounding their use, including issues of authorship, originality, and academic integrity. It seeks to clarify the boundaries between ethical AI assistance and plagiarism in academic work, and to examine policies and best practices related to AI-generated content. The workshop emphasises that ChatGPT functions as a cognitive support tool rather than an author, fieldworker, or source of original knowledge. Clear boundaries are outlined regarding safe and unsafe uses of ChatGPT in literature exploration, problem formulation, and qualitative research design. By the end of the session, participants will leave with practical prompts, ethical guidelines, and a replicable exercise model to confidently integrate ChatGPT into research and teaching in a responsible, plagiarism-free manner.
Dr. Neel Withanage
(PhD, MSc, MA, MA, BA)
Senior Lecturer in Geography, University of Ruhuna.
Transforming Research Ideas into High-Quality Academic Publications
Objective
This lecture aims to equip undergraduate students and academic staff in the fields of Social Sciences and Languages with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to transform research ideas into high-quality scholarly publications. It will focus on the fundamental principles of research design, the selection of appropriate methodological approaches, and the development of effective academic writing skills. Participants will explore strategies for formulating clear and focused research questions, identifying suitable research methods, structuring scholarly articles in accordance with academic conventions, and selecting relevant journals indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. The lecture will also address common challenges in the academic publishing process, ethical considerations in scholarly communication, and effective strategies for responding to peer-review feedback. By integrating theoretical insights with practical guidance, the session seeks to enhance participants' research competencies, strengthen the quality of research proposals and manuscripts, and improve their preparedness for successful publication in reputable academic journals.