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Online UAS Journal promoting networking in research
The document summarizes research on the UAS Journal, an online publication promoting networking in research. Interventions to strengthen networking included supporting co-writing, utilizing theme editors and their networks, and providing online workspaces. Quantitative results showed increases in writers, articles, and co-written articles. Interviews found new information, viewpoints, partners, and cooperation. A user survey found the renewed site had relevant, expert, and current contents that met most readers' expectations. The role of the journal is concluded to be a national media to spread themed information and raise discussion around topics in applied fields.
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Online UAS Journal promoting networking in research
- 1. EAIR Forum 2016,Birmingham Online journal promoting networking in research Case study: www.uasjournal.fi Lotta Linko (Twitter @viestintalotta), Mauri Kantola, Mervi Friman
- 2. EAIR Forum 2016,Birmingham Agenda • UAS Journal • Action research, methods, and data • Interventions and results • Conclusions
- 3. EAIR Forum 2016,Birmingham UAS Journal in a nutshell • Online journal on education, research and development activities in practice-oriented higher education • Published by the UAS Rectors’ Conference • Financed by the universities of applied sciences • Open-access, free-of-charge, four issues a year since 2011 • Mission of the journal: – Provide information (‘general’ public) – Provide a network (applied universities & world of work)
- 4. EAIR Forum 2016,Birmingham www.uasjournal.fi as publication
- 5. EAIR Forum 2016,Birmingham UAS Journal as network • Rectors’ Conference & board • Field-specific groups • R&D directors • R&D projects • UAS’ publications • Online presence and social networks • International collaboration
- 6. EAIR Forum 2016,Birmingham 4. Editing and publishing The UAS Journal network: promotes networking, creates synergies, aids cooperation and spreads information between interest groups Business & Industry Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences Rectors’ Conference Board of Editors Authors Visiting Editors Chief Editor Subeditor The UAS Journal publication: documents actions, gathers themes, informs on activities & results, and offers a forum for discussion 2. Building and strengthening the author network 3. Widening the scope of topics and articles 1. Supporting the activities and cooperation of interest groups 6. Widening and engaging the audience 5. Evaluating and developing the publication and the activities around it Public Sector Non-Governmental Organisations Municipal and Governmental Organisations
- 7. EAIR Forum 2016,Birmingham Methods and data • Has the UAS Journal had an effect on the networking activities in research? • Action research as framework • Three processes: production, marketing, networking • Qualitative interviews • User survey • User statistics
- 8. EAIR Forum 2016,Birmingham Action research • Planned and documented self-evaluation • Researchers are part of the research process • Helps in focusing the interventions • Strips the processes • Forces to make planned interventions • Enables measurable results
- 9. EAIR Forum 2016,Birmingham Networking interventions • Supporting co-writing (template, guide) • Utilising theme editors and their networks • Integrating the board of editors and advisors • Providing online working & meeting • Links to online peers • Social media presence • Changing the journal platform (OJS to WP) • Seminar promotion • Discontinuing peer reviews
- 10. EAIR Forum 2016,Birmingham Quantitative results • Number of writers, articles, and co-written articles increased (Producers) • Every issue now has a one or more theme editors (5-7 yearly) • Internal workspace open to board of editors but not yet widely used, online meetings facilitate participation from all over the country (2-4 meetings yearly) • All UAS’ online publications are found at our site (the first list ever) • Account, profile or group in Facebook (700 f.), Twitter and LinkedIn (inactive) • New publication platform enables social activities • Research of UAS Journal presented in international EAIR, ECER, EARLI/EAPRIL forums and national seminars • Three other Finnish peer-reviewed journals: focus on those and utilise resources otherwise • Growth in user statistics (Consumers)
- 11. EAIR Forum 2016,Birmingham Producers
- 12. EAIR Forum 2016,Birmingham Consumers
- 13. EAIR Forum 2016,Birmingham • Interviews with eight board members/theme editors: • New information, new viewpoints, new practices, new partners, new colleagues and cooperation • Increased public visibility of UAS research activities • Better networking with other UAS and unis • Publishing research results, improved reviewing and writing skills Theme editors’ interviews
- 14. EAIR Forum 2016,Birmingham User survey • User survey on the renewed site for three weeks 23 May - 10 June 2016 • 296 answers, 85% (or 260) of respondents UAS staff/students • On a scale of “agree - agree somewhat - disagree”, 67% agreed on ease of use , 63% appealing visuals, and 66% fast response time; 52% relevant contents, 73% expert contents, 76% current contents, 62% shareable contents • The expectations of 91% of readers were met
- 15. EAIR Forum 2016,Birmingham Conclusions 1. Changes in the environment will continue 2. Networking and networks have changed 3. The role of the UAS Journal has changed a. National, shared media to spread themed information from UAS’ to the world of work b. A platform to raise discussion around current topics in different fields
Editor's Notes
- #4 Global changes in the economy, world of work, technologies (particularly the D word or digitalization); national changes in education funding, institution profiles and cooperation, degree programme structures and the role of R&D. UAS’ task of regional development The main target groups of the UAS Journal are the staff members of Finnish higher education institutions and their interest groups in the related world of work
- #6 By the decision of the rectors’ conference: jointly funded as per student headcount Board of editors represent all fields of study, all UASes represented in the field specific action groups R&D directors function as a group, collaborating with the universities, the world of work, different interest groups Joint projects among several universities of applied sciences and the business and industry, focus on applied research and practical implications UAS own publications have a slightly different role and tone of voice as opposed to the jointly edited, theme-based and current UAS Journal Researchers’ personal involvement will be more important in the social and online world Carpe Within UAS Journal: Board of editors, lead by the chief editor, raises themes from the world of work and decides the rolling year plan. Theme editors gather experts around issues. Writers bring out their experience. The subeditor formats and publishes the pieces and builds the issues. Readers apply ideas in practise to the benefit of the world of work and their region.
- #12 Number of articles held constant, 15-20 per issue. 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 writers 72 103 118 146 180 articles 61 61 86 89 75 co-written 17 22 37 41 52 organizations 38 37 54 41 39
- #13 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Page views 21344 33878 59282 69979 76470 Visits 6474 10135 18133 25397 31089 Unique visitors 4854 8594 13636 19959 23962
- #14 Question in a nutshell: Has the UAS Journal had any effect on your networking activities or your research work?
- #15 Questions included opinions on the user interface and the platform (user experience, visuals, response time) and the contents (Are the contents relevant, do they show expertise, are they up to date, would you share the pieces?). There was also a free text field, and some useful ideas for development came up.
- #16 Less money, more national governance and steering (=less independence or going solo, collaboration written in the financing) The biggest change took place when the UAS Journal was founded: compared to the field- or theme-specific interest groups with members from universities and universities of applied sciences the focus has shifted away from pure research groups into more loose networks or groups of both researchers, teachers, project workers, and other staff in unis. Also new tech, social media and new ways of working play an important role in changing the world of education/research. The interesting question is whether there’s will to work together or compete one another in a very small country