On 12 February 2025, MDPI hosted an insightful and engaging Academic Publishing Essentials Workshop in collaboration with the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (NTU). The workshop aimed to equip researchers and graduate students with the essential knowledge and strategies to effectively navigate the academic publishing process.

The session brought together graduate students from the IEEE NTU Student Branch, providing them with an opportunity to enhance their understanding of academic publishing. The session began with the Vice President of the IEEE NTU Student Branch welcoming the participants and introducing the speakers from MDPI.

Introduction to MDPI and Open Access and Understanding the Editorial and Peer Review Process

Publishing manager, Dr. Colin Wee, began his session with an introduction to MDPI, followed by an in-depth explanation of the different open access publishing models and their distinctions.

Dr. Colin then provided insights into the editorial journey of a manuscript upon submission. He elaborated on the rigorous peer review process and the criteria used when selecting reviewers. Additionally, he shared valuable tips on how to address reviewer feedback professionally, tailored to the different types of feedback received.

A question was asked regarding how reviewers are selected when multiple reviewers have accepted the invitation to review the manuscript. Dr. Colin assured the participants that in that scenario, only reviewers with the highest qualifications would be selected to review the manuscript.

How to Write and Structure an Academic Paper

Mr. Kurtis Jackson, MDPI’s Head of Author Services, then took to the stage to share the key fundamentals of writing a manuscript.

He went into detail on the different sections of a manuscript—title, abstract, keywords, and main literature—and shared techniques on how to effectively write these components to bring together a clear and coherent scientific paper. Participants were also invited to identify extracts from various abstracts and main literature and give their comments on the clarity of these excerpts.

Publication Trends and Hot Topics Identification

Dr. Colin proceeded to introduce the participants to the Web of Science (WoS) search engine. During this segment, he compared Google Scholar with the Web of Science and highlighted the differences between both scholarly search engines. He then shared how to use the search data from WoS on a variety of applications to identify research trends.

Interactive Q&A Session

The session concluded with an engaging Q&A segment, where concerns regarding open access publishing were addressed. MDPI representatives clarified that while open access publishing does require an article processing charge, it provides significant benefits, including greater accessibility, higher readership, and increased citations.

Empowering the Academic Community

MDPI remains committed to supporting the academic community by providing significant insights into the publishing process and addressing common challenges faced by researchers. Positive feedback from the participants highlighted the practical benefits of the session, with many appreciating the strategies shared for enhancing manuscript quality and publication success.

Looking Ahead

MDPI extends its gratitude to the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, NTU, for its collaboration in making this event a success.

As part of its ongoing mission to empower researchers, MDPI looks forward to organising more events aimed at facilitating academic publishing success. Stay updated on upcoming Academic Publishing Essentials Workshops and other initiatives through our website and social media platforms.

For those interested in future collaborations or academic events, please reach out to us at marketing-singapore@mdpi.com or click here for more information.