INASP’s AuthorAID MOOCs shortlisted for ALPSP Awards for Innovation in Publishing

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INASP’s AuthorAID MOOCs has been shortlisted for the ALPSP Awards for Innovation in Publishing. As part of this, INASP will present a ‘flash session’ about AuthorAID MOOCs at the ALPSP international conference in Noordwijk, The Netherlands on 13-15 September 2017, where the winner of the award will also be announced.

The ALPSP Awards recognize new developments, products, services, launches or projects that demonstrate excellence in terms of originality and innovation, significance and value to its community, utility and long-term viability.

The AuthorAID MOOCs was one of six projects chosen from over 40 submissions. According to ALPSP, “Judging has been particularly tricky this year. After careful consideration, our panel of judges representing many aspects of scholarly publishing has selected finalists that are not only transformative but truly innovative for scholarly publishing in what they offer.”

“We are delighted to be shortlisted for the ALPSP awards this year. It is great to know that all of the hard work that goes into AuthorAID’s online courses is being recognized, and it always great to showcase the support we provide to Southern researchers – particularly in the year of our 10th anniversary,” says Jennifer Chapin, Programme Manager, Research and Communication, AuthorAID.

Most research is published in the global North but many of the world’s most urgent problems are found in the global South. However, researchers in developing countries face many challenges in communicating their work. This is a challenge that INASP has been addressing through its AuthorAID project for 10 years.

In recognition of the scale of the need, and building on the experiences and connections made through face-to-face courses and AuthorAID’s online mentoring programme, AuthorAID launched a series of free research-writing MOOCs in 2015.

Thousands of early-researchers in the developing world have already benefitted from support in writing up their research and sharing it with a local and global audience. AuthorAID’s current MOOC has attracted over 4,000 participants with a high completion rate (over 50%).

As an academic in Ghana explains: “The online course has positively affected almost every aspect of my academic life. The effect is particularly visible in my research writing, information sharing, networking and supervision of students’ projects.”

“These courses are particularly good at supporting harder-to reach groups, including female academics and those in fragile and conflict states. Such support is essential for ensuring equity in global research,” says Jennifer.

About AuthorAID MOOCs

In November 2015, in response to the scale of the need identified for research-writing support and positive feedback from pilot online courses, AuthorAID MOOCs were launched using the open-source Moodle platform. AuthorAID runs two English-language MOOCs annually, as well as MOOCs in Spanish for Latin American researchers in partnership with Latindex. Each MOOC has attracted several thousand participants and benefitted from a worldwide network of dedicated volunteer facilitators drawn from AuthorAID’s pool of mentors and institutional partners.

About the ALPSP International Conference and awards

With expert speakers and a wide ranging programme, the annual ALPSP International Conference is a key event in the scholarly publishing calendar.

The ALPSP awards recognize new development, product, service, launch or project which is both innovative and of significant value to scholarly communication

About INASP and AuthorAID project

Founded in 1992, INASP is an international development organization working with a global network of partners in Africa, Latin America and Asia. In line with the vision of research and knowledge at the heart of development, INASP works to support individuals and institutions to produce, share and use research and knowledge, which can transform lives.

AuthorAID is INASP’s free, pioneering, global network that provides support, mentoring, resources and training for researchers in low and middle income countries.

www.inasp.info

www.authoraid.info

INASP’s work is funded by DFID and Sida.

For further information

Dr Siân Harris, Publications and Engagement Manager, INASP

Email: sharris@inasp.info

INASP

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