As part of its commitment to advancing Open Access publishing, MDPI offers Academic Publishing Workshops (APWs). These workshops are a way for MDPI’s journals to connect with the academic community and support researchers through the publication process.

In this article, members of MDPI’s Editorial Engagement Team give their insights on the work that goes into delivering APWs and answer frequently asked questions surrounding the workshops.

What are Academic Publishing Workshops?

APWs are expert-led sessions that aim to demystify the OA publishing process and equip academic authors with the skills and knowledge needed to successfully publish their work.

APWs are free to attend and can be conducted both online and in-person. In-person sessions are delivered at universities and research institutions, scientific academic centres, academic conferences and PhD workshops.

What is the role of the Editorial Engagement Team and how do APWs fit into its overall mission?

“The Editorial Engagement Team is made of Deputy Managing Editors from across journal disciplines covering Biomedical Science, Chemistry, Biology and Social Sciences. Each of us work closely with Journal Managing Editors to support them with managing journal Editorial Boards, and we do this through regular meetings and outreach activities.

“In our work through engaging editors, we often find that many UK academics are involved with postgraduate research groups and have heard that a lot of Early Career Researchers (ECRs) find the publication process to be daunting.”  – Isabel Nelson, Associate Editorial Engagement Manager

Who are APWs aimed at?

APWs are offered to researchers at all stages of their careers, and MDPI particularly encourages ECRs to participate in the events. The workshops provide structured support for the publication process, with sessions being tailored to the attendees’ needs.

Experts and stakeholders across the publishing industry are also welcome to utilise MDPI’s workshops for collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Why is it important for ECRs to get structured support when going through the publishing process?

“Young researchers often feel intimidated to submit their first papers for publication. Running APWs gives ECRs more confidence and allows them to have a more enjoyable submission process as they are aware of the requirements and what will happen during peer review.” – Rebekah Paget, Senior Deputy Managing Editor

“It also gives students insight from a publisher’s perspective of what we check during the submission process so that in the future they can hopefully avoid common pitfalls that can lead to manuscript rejection.” – Mary O’Sullivan, Senior Deputy Managing Editor

How can attendees get the most out of an APW?

The Editorial Engagement Team encourages attendees to ask plenty of questions and get involved in any opportunities that come up through the workshop.

“We are happy to answer any questions on any aspect of academic publishing not necessarily just those that are covered in our presentations.” – Rebekah Paget

“It is an opportunity for them to get involved with things like Junior Reviewer Boards.” – Anya Osborn, Journal Relations Project Manager

APWs will inform attendees of opportunities that they may not have previously been aware of, such as MDPI’s established awards program which has opportunities available all year round, and the Mini Grants initiative in the UK, which refreshes quarterly.

What goes into the planning and organisation of APWs?

Scholars and institutions looking to host an APW, either as a standalone event or as part of a conference or workshop, can reach out to MDPI’s Editorial Engagement Team to make arrangements at least one month in advance. The team at MDPI work alongside the institution to ensure the event runs smoothly, including assisting with what content will be presented.

The venue, time and date, and attendees are all decided by the hosting institution.

What topics are covered by APWs?

The workshops cover a wide range of topics that are designed to prepare attendees for their career in a highly competitive industry. MDPI will also tailor the sessions to the needs of the institution.

The main topics covered include:

• Manuscript preparation – incorporating how to structure research articles, finding the right journal, and navigating academic databases.
• MDPI and Open Access – looking into different publishing models and the benefits of Open Access.
• MDPI’s editorial process – including how to peer review, evaluation criteria for and from reviewers, and reasons for manuscript rejections.
• Research and publication ethics – exploring ethical issues such as plagiarism, data falsification and conflict of interest.

Institutions interested in hosting an APW can email workshops@MDPI.com to request a copy of the APW flyer which contains more information on the topics available to choose from.

What are the most requested APWs?

The APWs cover a range of important topics, from manuscript preparation to the benefits of Open Access. The most highly requested topics for workshops are:

• The use of AI in academic publishing – as AI becomes increasingly integrated into research and academic writing, researchers need to understand its benefits, limitations, and the ethical considerations around its use.
• Reasons for manuscript rejection, and how to handle publication rejection – understanding the reasons behind manuscript rejection can help researchers to identify potential issues prior to submission.
• Publication ethics – it is important for ECRs to have a thorough understanding of publication ethics to ensure they do not fall into common pitfalls, and can avoid mistakes that may affect their chances of publication.

What can attendees learn in an APW that they might not have otherwise known?

MDPI’s workshops offer researchers insights into the academic publishing industry that otherwise may be difficult to gain. The events outline the expectations of publishers, including:

• What to submit and where – further details on how to prepare high-quality manuscripts and select an appropriate journal.
• How papers are evaluated – a closer look at the editorial and peer review processes.
• Common reasons for manuscript rejection – helping researchers to identify potential issues with manuscripts before submission.

APWs also cover the peer review and editorial process, granting researchers a detailed overview of the publication journey from manuscript submission through to publication.

How can you get involved?

MDPI ensures that its APWs provide crucial support to researchers, particularly ECRs, during the publication process.

Keep an eye on MDPI’s news and announcements page for upcoming APWs and their important registration details, alongside the tailored program and guest speakers. You can also click here for a closer look at MDPI’s past APWs.

If you are interested in organising an APW at your institution, contact your local MDPI office.

Click here to learn more about How MDPI’s Academic Publishing Workshops Can Empower Researchers.