Supporting the OAPA mission, our focus is strengthening academic editing and peer review capabilities, which are essential to underpin confidence that research-based knowledge submitted to for dissemination is high quality.
Our learning and development program is designed to provide education opportunities to develop editor and peer reviewer skills: to assess the extent to which a manuscript is original, significant, theoretically and methodologically sound, grounded in relevant literature, relevant to a discipline or other considerations. Also, developing editors and peer reviewers’ skills in giving feedback that is sound, constructive and actionable.
The Learning and Development Committee is led by Co-Chairs, Associate Professor Gail Wilson (Southern Cross University, Australia) and Dr Jo-Anne Kelder (University of Tasmania, Australia). The Committee’s core activities are:
- Identify and oversee development of OAPA learning and development education courses, seminars, webinars and other educational products
- Communicate and ensure awareness of OAPA learning and development program
- Monitor the OAPA learning and development program, and individual products, for quality and viability.
Our courses
We have two short (three-month) online (synchronous and asynchronous delivery) courses that provide a solid introduction to the editing and peer review roles.
Foundations of Academic Journal Editing is designed for editors, associate editors who are new to the role, and for academics wanting to strengthen their CV in preparation to apply for an editor role (for example PhD candidates and early career researchers).
Foundations of Academic Peer Review is designed for academics wishing to develop or hone their skills in evaluating the quality of a manuscript submitted for publication, and skills in translating that evaluation into critical and meaningful feedback to an author.
Our full course listing is available on the course page.
Our Seminar series
Members receive the benefit of being able to engage with contemporary seminars that enhance academic practice. The Seminar Series is led by Dr Rebekkah Middleton (University of Wollongong, Australia) and Dr Alison Purvis (Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom). The series is being designed to include high-interest topics presented by international authors with high credibility. Topic discussions will have a strong focus on implications for and applications to academic practice.
The Seminar Series are listed on the dedicated Seminars page.
Learning and Development Committee
The Learning and Development Committee members are listed on the Team page.