Developing a culture of publication: a joint enterprise writing retreat
Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education
ISSN: 2050-7003
Article publication date: 14 September 2015
Abstract
Purpose
Many students irrespective of level of study produce excellent course work which, if given support and encouragement, could clearly be of a publishable standard. Academic staff are expected to produce quality publications meeting peer-review standards although they may be relatively novice authors. All are engaged in some aspects of academic writing practices but not as frequently involved in co-production of publications emanating from student work. This activity is still at the margins of much of the student experience. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
Mindful of these issues, the authors designed and offered a writing programme including a writing retreat. This brought together undergraduate and postgraduate students from a range of applied disciplines (health and art, design and architecture) and their supervisors with the aim of co-producing publications and participating in a community of scholarly practice. The project was delivered over nine months. It involved four days “compulsory” attendance and included a preparatory workshop, a two day off-campus writing retreat and a dissemination event. Student and supervisors applied to participate as a team. Kirkpatrick’s (2006) four-stage classic model: reaction, learning, changes in behaviour and real world results was used as a framework for the educational evaluation.
Findings
Key findings organised thematically were: supervisor-supervisee relationships; space and time; building confidence enabling successful writing and publication.
Originality/value
This paper will provide an overview of the design, content and approaches used for successful delivery of this innovative project. It will draw on examples that illustrate the different types of joint enterprise that emerged, illuminate experiences of co-production and co-authorship along with recommendations for future ventures.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This initiative was funded through a University of Huddersfield Teaching and Learning Institute (TALI) grant. The original grant had the support of Dr Cath O’Halloran.
Citation
Garside, J., Bailey, R., Tyas, M., Ormrod, G., Stone, G., Topping, A. and Gillibrand, W.P. (2015), "Developing a culture of publication: a joint enterprise writing retreat", Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, Vol. 7 No. 2, pp. 429-442. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-07-2014-0065
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited