Dr Lucas Kohnke, EdD Programme Coordinator and Senior Lecturer from the Department of English Language Education, delivered a workshop titled “From Manuscript to Publication: Navigating the Journal Publishing Process” on March 12.

As the fifth workshop in a series of six aimed at enhancing students’ academic communication skills, students were guided step-by-step through the publishing process, covering topics such as journal selection, manuscript preparation, peer review, and post-publication strategies.

Dr Kohnke introduced tools such as the Elsevier Journal Finder and Taylor & Francis Journal Suggester for journal selection, stressing criteria including impact factor, scope, and audience alignment. Participants also learned to structure manuscripts effectively, including clear introductions, detailed methodologies, key results, and discussions linking findings to existing literature.

The workshop detailed the peer review process, from initial screening to reviewer evaluation and potential outcomes (acceptance, revision, or rejection). Dr Kohnke explained different review types, such as single-blind and double-blind reviews, and advised on responding to feedback professionally. Attendees were encouraged to register as peer reviewers to further understand the criteria for the targeted journal.

Strategies for maximising research impact, such as sharing work on academic platforms and pursuing collaborations, were discussed. Ethical considerations, including avoiding duplicate submissions and ensuring proper citations, were also highlighted.

In the Q and A session, participants raised questions about journal selection and open-access publishing. Dr Kohnke offered practical advice, emphasising the importance of politeness and patience in navigating the publishing process.