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Writing for publication

Professor David LawPrincipal Editor of Perspectives

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What would you like to get out of this session?

Please introduce yourself briefly and tell us why you are here.

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My objectives …

• To encourage you to write and to submit your work to Perspectives

• To discuss with youo what makes a good articleo seeking supporto what kinds of articles we are interested in

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Q and A with Tony Parsons (columnist, essayist, novelist)You once said that writers have just three tools in their tool box?

Yes.

Experience, research, imagination.

You live it, you find out about it, you make it up.

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What is Perspectives?• A quarterly journal that is sent to all AUA

members (as part of the subscription) and is available on-line

• we aim “to provide HE managers and administrators” with innovative analytic material which informs their practice of management

• we promote a perspective that is both multidisciplinary and global

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What is Perspectives?• A quarterly journal that is

o peer reviewedo published by Routledge Journals, Taylor and

Francis Ltdo professional (and with a reputation to

protect)o papers should normally be around 3,500

words (but we consider longer and shorter pieces)

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What is Perspectives?

Our sub-title:

Policy and Practice in Higher Education

Aims to be of use to

practitioners.

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What is Perspectives?“Our practicality is, to a large extent, what distinguishes us from other journals in the higher education field. We are looking for a critical analysis of case material that will help to draw out lessons for readers, and therefore recommend that authors use their own experience to provide illustrations of the general points they are making, whilst setting this in the context of the literature.”

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Objectives of the journal• To disseminate ideas which enhance the practical

aspects of HE management/admin• To develop knowledge and understanding of

“developments within the current HE environment”• To foster professional debate about “the

implications of major external influences”• To provide for the “exchange and

internationalisation of ideas”

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Examples of themes• The impact of marketisation• Changing student expectations• Effective deployment of resources• Alternative styles of management• Change management and review processes• Creative use of ICT• Professional development

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There is no ‘party line’ but we would expect all authors to reflect AUA’s standards and values “The AUA is recognised as an organisation that demonstrates the highest standards of fair, ethical and transparent professional behaviour.”

Writing must avoid bias – gender, racial etc

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Beginner’s guide – Dr Adrian Bromage (Centre for Academic Writing @ Coventry University)• Personal benefits of writing• Worthwhile new contribution …• Get a feel for what is acceptable and appropriate• Clear logical structure• Be prepared to accept judgement

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Make sure that you have something interesting to say!• Come up with an idea that adds to the

conversation – you won’t be the first person to have considered the issue unless you’re a genius!

• Make your voice heard by doing something new (don’t just ‘exist’ alongside the debate)

• Pay attention to style, structure and voice• Edit and re-edit (and let your ‘significant others’

have a look and offer advice)

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Advice to would-be academics (PhD candidates) – Dr Paul Frazer (formerly at PG Student Centre at Queen’s Belfast)

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Structure – AIM RIC• Abstract• Introduction (possibly with ref to other

articles)• Methods (how you researched the issue)• Results (what you found)• Interpretation• Conclusion

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OUTCOMES •Unconditional acceptance

(rare)•Minor revisions•Major revisions•Reject (with reasons)