1. Writing for publication
Professor David Law
Principal Editor of Perspectives
edgehill.ac.uk

2. What would you like to get out
of this session?
Please introduce yourself briefly
and tell us why you are here.
edgehill.ac.uk

3. My objectives …
• To encourage you to write and to submit
your work to Perspectives
• To discuss with you
o what makes a good article
o seeking support
o what kinds of articles we are interested in
edgehill.ac.uk

4. 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.
edgehill.ac.uk

5. 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
edgehill.ac.uk

6. What is Perspectives?
• A quarterly journal that is
o peer reviewed
o published by Routledge Journals, Taylor and
Francis Ltd
o professional (and with a reputation to
protect)
o papers should normally be around 3,500
words (but we consider longer and shorter
pieces)
edgehill.ac.uk

7. What is Perspectives?
Our sub-title:
Policy and Practice in Higher Education
Aims to be of use to
practitioners.
edgehill.ac.uk

8. 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.”
edgehill.ac.uk

9. 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”
edgehill.ac.uk

10. 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
edgehill.ac.uk

11. 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
edgehill.ac.uk

12. 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
edgehill.ac.uk

13. 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)
edgehill.ac.uk

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

15. Structure – AIM RIC
• Abstract
• Introduction (possibly with ref to other
articles)
• Methods (how you researched the issue)
• Results (what you found)
• Interpretation
• Conclusion
edgehill.ac.uk

16. OUTCOMES
• Unconditional acceptance
(rare)
• Minor revisions
• Major revisions
• Reject (with reasons)
edgehill.ac.uk