GenAI workshops for academics at Obuda University in Budapest

Prof. Matthew Montebello, Head of Department of Artificial Intelligence within the Faculty of ICT at the University of Malta, was invited to deliver a distinguished series of Generative AI workshops to academics and doctoral students at Óbuda University in Budapest, Hungary. The visit formed part of Óbuda University’s ongoing investment in digital transformation and its commitment to equipping scholars with advanced AI competencies for research, teaching, and data-driven innovation. Across multiple sessions, Professor Montebello led two intensive hands-on workshops: Academic Research & Writing using Generative AI and AI for Data Analysis. These workshops provided participants with structured, hands-on training exploring how generative AI can be responsibly integrated into academic practice.

The first workshop, "Academic Research & Writing using Generative AI", focused on how scholars can incorporate AI into the research cycle—from literature review and synthesis to drafting abstracts, structuring papers, analysing citations, and improving academic clarity. Drawing on European guidelines for the responsible use of AI in research, Prof. Montebello guided participants through a sequential, tool-supported process for conducting literature reviews, generating research outlines, and refining academic writing. He stressed transparency, intellectual ownership, and the importance of using multiple AI engines to reduce bias and cultivate an original academic voice.

The second workshop, entitled "AI for Data Analysis" introduced a comprehensive seven-step workflow for using generative AI in quantitative and qualitative research. Participants examined practical methods for dataset preparation, exploratory data analysis, modelling, and thematic interpretation, all supported by tools such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Gemini, NotebookLM, and Litmaps. Through real academic datasets, Professor Montebello demonstrated how AI engines can instantly generate research questions, run statistical models, and create APA-style tables and visualisations, while emphasising the necessity of human oversight, methodological rigour, and ethical validation. The workshop also highlighted emerging challenges such as data fabrication risks, loss of researcher intuition, and the amplification of poor-quality data through AI systems.

Participants praised the workshops for their clarity, depth, and practical relevance. For many, the sessions offered a transformative perspective on how generative AI can augment scholarly inquiry while preserving academic integrity.

Prof. Montebello’s invitation reflects growing international recognition of Malta’s leadership in AI-enhanced education and research. His contribution supports Óbuda University’s mission to foster innovative, ethically grounded research practices in an era of rapidly evolving AI capabilities.