Scholarly Publishing
The Scholarly Publishing Programme of the Academy is overseen by the Academy’s Committee on Scholarly Publishing in South Africa, chaired by Prof Wieland Gevers. The Committee’s work is supported by the ASSAf Scholarly Publishing Unit (SPU) comprising Susan Veldsman, Director as from 1 January, as well as Thabo Radebe, Tawanda December, Louise van Heerden and Zweli Ndayi.
The ASSAf Scholarly Publishing Programme is conceptualised as a targeted intervention into the country’s national system of Innovation (NSI), focused on the enhancement of the quality, quantity and worldwide visibility of original, peer-reviewed publications produced by researchers in the public sector, and the fostering of a new generation of highly competent and productive scientists and scholars. It is aligned directly with the Ten Year Plan for Innovation of the DST as adopted by the Cabinet.
The following sub-programmes can be identified:
Quality Assurance
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Peer Review Panels
The SPP carries out external peer review and associated quality audit of all South African research journals in 5-year cycles, probably best done in relation to groups of titles sharing a particular broad disciplinary focus, in order to make recommendations for improved functioning of each journal in the national and international system.
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Incentives to editors
The Shuttleworth Foundation commissioned ASSAf to investigate the question: What incentives can be used to improve the quality and accountability of scholarly editorial work in South Africa, and how can they best be provided?
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Book study
The Department of Higher Education and Training (DoHET) commissioned the Academy to conduct a second study on a strategic approach to scholarly publishing in books and book chapters.
Open Access: SciELO SA
The Scholarly Publishing Unit takes responsibility for ensuring that Open Access initiatives are promoted to enhance the visibility of all South African research articles and to make them accessible to the entire international research community.
For the latest updates on SciELO SA, read more.
National Scholars Editors Forum
The establishment of a forum of editors of national scholarly journals has been accomplished.
Online Scientific Writing
ASSAf is negotiating to ensure the incorporation of the best-practice guidelines for research training and practice into the systems of quality assurance being set up for research operations and especially for training of post-doctoral fellows and masters and doctoral students.
Project Director: Susan Veldsman (susan@assaf.org.za)
Project Officer: Thabo Radebe (thabo@assaf.org.za)
