Increasing publication output in a multi campus/multi diverse university environment

1. Increasing publication output in a multi campus/multi diverse university environment INORMS April 2014 – Performance Track Washington MarietjieHalgryn Snr. Research Support It all starts here

2. Content of presentation Introduction and background Research Entities Research Outcome and Incentives National Research Foundation Rating System Research Capacity Workshops Postgraduate Student Support and Post-Doctoral Fellows It all starts here

3. To become a balanced teaching-learning and research institution and to implement its expertise in an innovative way – Planned balanced state according to NWU Institutional Plan, 2007 Where we are The NWU is a multi-campus university with a footprint across two provinces. The Mafikeng and Potchefstroom Campuses are situated in the North-West Province and the Vaal Triangle Campus is in Gauteng. The head office, known as the Institutional Office, is in Potchefstroom, situated near the Potchefstroom Campus. Who we are “It all starts here” is the NWU’s pay-off line. The NWU was established on 1 January 2004 through the merger of two universities with very different histories, personalities and cultures: the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education and the University of the North-West. The staff and students of the Sebokeng Campus of Vista University were also incorporated, adding further to the richness of our heritage. Today, the NWU is recognised as one of the best-managed and most innovative universities in South Africa. We continue to celebrate and encourage multiculturalism, multilingualism and multinationalism. Introduction and Background It all starts here

4. Introduction and background – cont.

5. Introduction and background – cont. • Department of Higher Education South Africa • Policy - “to sustain current research strengths and to promote • research and other knowledge outputs required to meet national development needs.” • The purpose of the policy is to encourage research productivity by rewarding quality • research output at public higher education institutions. • However, the policy is not intended to measure all output, but to • enhance productivity by recognising the major types of research output • produced by higher education institutions. • Subsidy must be claimed by Institutions – annually • Recognized research outputs –DHET • Journals – list of accredited DHET journals, and other – ISI and IBSS. • Books – certain criteria • Conference proceedings – certain criteria • Masters and Doctoral degrees.

6. NWU situation – few years later VTC: 95 (27 in 2007) PC: 644(338 in 2007) MC: 193 (11 in 2007)

7. Campus level increase

8. NWU Research Entity model • To speed up the move towards becoming a balanced teaching-learning and research university, the NWU has introduced a new Research Entities Model.  This model is designed to put research output on a high-growth, high-performance path by encouraging the establishment of more research start-up groups and creating more scope for growth for existing research teams. • There are four levels of research entities, starting with the “entry level” entity, that of a niche area, followed by a focus area, then a unit and ultimately a centre of excellence. • There is a application process for the different entity levels, and a entity can loose his status if not performing accordingly – no 2 entities may be the same

9. NWU Research drivers • Active research management: The story of research entities Developmental approach: niche, focus area, unit, CoE 74% of the overall output – Vice-Rectors for Research on each campus • Setting a research-related mission and targets • Investing in research equipment • Establishing a research culture: cool to publish • Healthy interfaculty and intercampus competition • Incentivize research output: financially and morally • Programme for present staff to acquire PhD's, requirement for appointment and promotion • Collaboration between 3 campuses

10. NWU Research drivers NWU Incentive Model

11. National Research Foundation(NRF) SA The rating of individuals is based primarily on the quality and impact of their research outputs over the past eight years, taking into consideration the evaluation made by local and international peers. Different Categories of rating the researchers that applied for rating. This differ from Leaders internationally, to established researchers and even a young researcher category. (6) Key driver for all Researchers in South Africa – encouragement and focused research

12. Questions and discussion

13. Research Capacity Workshops • Different workshops for different needs • Workshops for different levels and skills • SPSS • Science Communication • Research Supervision • Sampling and Research Methodology • Questionnaire design • Publication Writing • Grant management • Grant application • Research Ethics/compliance

14. Publication Writing Workshops • Aim of these workshops • Students and Researchers must learn to do article writing so well • that they cannot stop when they mastered the art of publication writing. • We want our Researchers to love article writing ! • NWU with Kerlick Editorial developed these different level of • workshop over the last 3-4 years • It was developed straight from the different needs that the • NWU Researchers revealed to the NWU Research Support Department. • Different levels of Workshops • Introduction level • Intermediate level • Intensive writing level • High Impact level • Resubmission level

15. Publication Writing Workshops - continue • Introduction level • Introduction to publication writing – where, why, what – how to choose the correct journal • No preparations • Graduate and Masters students – Young academic staff • Usually 1 day sessions • Afternoon – preparation for 2nd intermediate level workshops • Accommodate bigger groups • Intermediate level • More intermediate – turning your results into a structure for an article • Academic writing • More information/theory about publication writing with examples • One page draft preparation with individual consultations • Students/supervisors/researchers with results and wanting to publish • Usually 1-2 days • Accommodate up to 15 participants with each workshop

16. Publication Writing Workshops - continue • Intensive writing level • Writing publications – polishing the final draft for preparation for final submission to journal • Preparations – letter to the editor, journal guidelines, sample article of chosen journal & draft publication • For Researchers/M and PHD students that already attended a level 2 intermediate level workshop • Usually 3-4 day sessions with theory, individual consultations, editing and more consultations • Accommodate up to 14 people with each workshop High impact level For Researchers that are publishing a while Want to target high impact journals for more siting and exposure Usually 1-2 day sessions with round table discussions and individual consultations Accommodate up to 12 people with each workshop

17. Publication Writing Workshops - continue • Resubmission and editing writing level • Writing publications – what happen with publications that are rejected/not accepted? • Preparations – letter to the editor, journal guidelines, sample article of chosen journal & draft publication as well as reject letter • For Researchers/M and PHD students that already submitted a article • Usually 1 day sessions with individual consultations, editing and more consultations • Attendees are usually advised to attend the intensive level too with revised article • Accommodate few people with each workshop • Editing is done during workshops – for previous attendees Break away – Writer's retreat – still to be introduced !!!!

18. Publication Writing Workshops - continue Approx. 3-4 per year of each level – approx. 20 publications p.a Ongoing success story = ongoing publication writing! Reached our goal! Believe that publications will keep on increasing! Researchers will love it !

19. Postgraduate Student Support and Post-Doctoral fellows Try to increase NWU's Masters and Doctoral intake and completion constantly NWU increased the Post-Doctoral Fellows with about 30% over the last 4 years Increased the Post-doctoral Fellowship awards NRF and NWU increased funding mechanisms for Masters and Doctoral students NRF expanded the student funding and added Student Travel grants

20. NWU's growth ! This all ads up to our current success story!

21. Questions and discussion

22. Thank you E-mail: marietjie.halgryn@nwu.ac.za Acknowledgments: C Nienaber and W Pheiffer North-West University National Research Foundation - NRF Department of Higher Education SA Dr. TheunsEloff Kerlick Editorial (Dr. E Lickendorf and Dr. G Baker) It all starts here!