Blended learning online workshop will help train new entrants to scholarly publishing, wherever they are based.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

London, UK – 1 August 2016

The Association of Learned & Professional Society Publishers (ALPSP) has launched a new blended learning online workshop to help those new to international scholarly publishing. The course has been developed out of the existing Introduction to Journals Publishing course following feedback from ALPSP members.

Suzanne Kavanagh, Director of Marketing & Membership Services explained: “We recently conducted a survey with the membership to find out what their training and development priorities are. Respondents identified specialist publishing skills, including editorial and digital, and general business skills as key areas for development. Managers in particular recognised the importance of training new starters in the basics of publishing.”

She continued: “There is a clear commitment to developing staff: the mean average time spent away from the office for training and development is three to four days per year. Face to face training and seminars are the preferred method of delivery. However, there was a recognition that webinars have a role to play as a method of delivery as face to face courses, while highly valued, are not always possible due to location, cost and time.”  

Based on these results, and drawing on existing experience supporting members’ training needs, ALPSP is launching a new online workshop - Introduction to Journals Publishing 1: An International Primer. This blended learning course will provide those new to publishing, regardless of location, with an interactive and essential introduction to the basics of journals publishing.

ALPSP’s Training Manager, Amanda Whiting, outlined how it works: “We’ve drawn on our experience of running open and in-company training courses to develop a blended online workshop format. Delegates will complete pre-course preparation. They will have contact time and guidance from the expert tutor during the interactive webinar. It will include tests, polls and a Q&A session. There will also be follow-up work and contact time with the tutor afterwards.”

She concludes: "The best part is knowing we are helping publishers around the world to access training at their desk when they might not be able to travel to an open course!”

ENDS

Contact
Suzanne Kavanagh, ALPSP
T. +44 1622 831131
E. suzanne.kavanagh@alpsp.org

About the online workshop

An Introduction to Journals Publishing 1: An International Primer is a new online training workshop providing delegates, regardless of location, with an interactive and essential introduction to the basics of journals publishing, for those at the beginning of their careers.

Delegates will complete a pre-course questionnaire and reading. This is followed by a live one and a half hour interactive webinar hosted by a tutor and including exercises, polls and the opportunity to ask questions. There is a comprehensive quiz that follows the webinar and 48 hours course follow up with the tutor via email.

The workshop will prepare delegates with an overview and understanding of this fast moving area and help them understand how all the different functions fit together. They will come away with an understanding of: the role of the editor and editorial office; know what happens to a paper after acceptance; understand how journal finances work; and appreciate what goes into a journal marketing plan.

The workshop will take place on Thursday 17 November 2016

7:00 – 8:30 am Western US
10:00 – 11:30 am Eastern US
3:00 – 4:30 pm UK
4:00 – 5:30 pm Europe
7:00 – 8:30 pm Gulf

Further information and booking available online.

About the survey

The survey into ALPSP members’ professional development needs was conducted in spring 2016. There were 190 respondents from 124 member organizations in 12 countries.

Key findings include:

• Publishing strategy, editorial and general business skills are key areas for development.
• Managers identified digital publishing, business models, future trends, interpersonal and influencing skills and publishing for new starters as other priority areas.
• Mean average time spent away from the office for development is three to four days per year.
• Face to face training is the preferred method of delivery, closely followed by seminars.
• Webinars are also recognised as a method of delivery.
• Face to face, while highly valued, is not always possible due to location, cost and time.

About ALPSP

ALPSP is an international membership trade body that supports and represents not-for-profit organizations and institutions that publish scholarly and professional content.  With over 330 members in 40 countries, membership also includes those that work with these publishers.

Founded in 1972 by 24 societies, ALPSP has grown to become the largest trade association helping scholarly and professional publishers around the world. Members continue to be at the heart of our work. They drive and shape what we do to make sure it is relevant to their needs.

ALPSP’s mission is to connect, inform, develop and represent the international scholarly and professional publishing community.
www.alpsp.org 

Categories: Association, UK, training, Society, research, journal, Europe, Editorial, China, US