MDPI Open Access: Academic Publishing Workshop with Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak, 15–16 January 2026

MDPI Singapore is pleased to announce our upcoming Academic Publishing Workshop, hosted in collaboration with Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak. This workshop aims to support postgraduate students, early career researchers, and academic staff in strengthening their knowledge of scholarly publishing, research visibility, and best practices for successful manuscript submission.

What participants can expect:

Across two interactive sessions, the workshop will cover the following:

Understanding the scholarly publishing landscape;
Choosing the right journal for your research;
Preparing a high-quality manuscript;
Navigating ethical considerations in academic publishing;
Enhancing research visibility and impact;
Insights into MDPI’s editorial and peer-review processes.

Participants will gain practical guidance, real-world examples, and actionable strategies to support successful publication in reputable journals.

Event Details:
Session 1
Date: 15 January 2026
Time: 2:00–4:00 p.m.

Program and Content	Time
Registration	1:30–2:00 p.m.
Opening Remarks by SUTS Faculty	2:00–2:05 p.m.
Speaker: Dr. Nicholas Cho MDPI, Open Access and Journal Introduction How to Write and Structure a Manuscript A step-by-step guide to writing a compelling and well-organized manuscript. Focus on mastering the IMRaD structure, crafting a powerful abstract, and tailoring your language and significance for your target journal.	2:05–2:50 p.m.
Speaker: Dr. Steven Moay How to Respond to Peer Reviews Learn to craft professional, constructive responses to reviewers. We will cover strategies for structuring your rebuttal, respectfully addressing critical feedback, and effectively revising your manuscript to ensure a smooth path to acceptance.	2:50–3:40 p.m.
Sharing by Prof. Viknesh	3:40–3:55 p.m.
Closing	3:55–4:00 p.m.

Session 2
Date: 16 January 2026
Time: 9:30–11:30 a.m.

Program and Content	Time
Registration	9:00–9:30 a.m.
Opening Remarks by SUTS Faculty	9:30–9:35 a.m.
Speaker: Dr. Steven Moay MDPI, Open Access and Journal Introduction Reasons for Rejection at Pre-Check Identify the top reasons manuscripts are desk-rejected (e.g., poor fit, ethical breaches, formatting errors). Obtain actionable tips on preparing compliant submissions to maximize your chance of making it to peer review.	9:35–10:20 a.m.
Speaker: Dr. Nicholas Cho Publishing Ethics for Authors Delve into the non-negotiable standards of research integrity. This module covers key ethical issues, including proper authorship declaration, managing plagiarism (including self-plagiarism), data fabrication, and conflicts of interest. We will provide best practices for upholding integrity and avoiding the career-damaging consequences of misconduct.	10:20–11:10 a.m.
Sharing by Prof. Viknesh	11:10–11:25 a.m.
Closing Remarks	11:25–11:30 a.m.

MDPI Speakers:

Dr. Steven Moay completed his PhD in materials science at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, in August 2024. His research focused on the valorization of human-hair keratin for burn-wound treatments. Since joining MDPI in May 2023, Dr. Moay has served as both an Assistant Editor and a Section Managing Editor for the journal Bioengineering under the engineering section. He also serves as the group leader for the sections pharmaceutical sciences, engineering, biodiversity, physics, polymer science, and technology. He has actively participated in numerous scholar visits, showcasing outstanding communication skills in his interactions with scholars and local colleagues.

Dr. Nicholas Cho Rui Wen graduated from Nanyang Technological University with a PhD from the School of Biological Sciences, studying the Gentianaceae species using bioinformatics tools, such as statistical modeling, R, and Linux, to apply the results to conservation efforts. He joined MDPI in March 2023 as an Assistant Editor, becoming a Section Managing Editor in January 2024 and Journal Relations Specialist in August 2024. Part of his work involves engaging scholars and researchers to work with MDPI and conducting outreach programs to guide young budding researchers.