St. Mary’s University, through its Research and Knowledge Management Office (RaKMO), organized a high-level training on January 21, 2026, under the theme “Academic Publication.” The program was opened by Misganaw Solomon (PhD), Vice President for Research and International Relations, who extended a warm welcome and introduced the session.
The training was led by Prof. Damtew Teferra, Professor of Higher Education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and Founding Director of the International Network for Higher Education in Africa. His renowned expertise and deep insights gave the program exceptional depth, making it a highly valuable experience for the academic staff in attendance.
Prof. Damtew underscored that academic publication is the cornerstone of scholarship, as research achieves its true significance only when it is disseminated, preserved, and made accessible to the wider academic community. He guided participants through the publishing process, from creating and evaluating scholarly work to disseminating it through journals, books, and proceedings, both in print and electronic formats. He explained the different types of journals—traditional or online, accredited or non-accredited, local or international, open-access or subscription-based—and emphasized the importance of choosing the right platform.
A major focus was on predatory publishing, with clear advice on how to spot misleading metrics, hijacked journals, and unethical practices. He offered practical tools for journal selection, strategies for handling rejection and reviewer comments, and insights into the post-acceptance stage, including copy editing, proofreading, and editorial workflows. Beyond the technical aspects, he reminded participants of the importance of ethics, originality, proper authorship, and global visibility in scholarly work, while also pointing to future trends such as digital scholarship and alternative metrics.
The training concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where participants asked thoughtful questions and received clear explanations. It was an inspiring exchange that reinforced the university’s commitment to research excellence while equipping its academic staff with practical guidance to navigate the world of scholarly publishing more effectively.
Finally, Wondwosen Tamrat (PhD, Assoc. Prof.) President and Founder of the university concluded the session by warmly complimenting Prof. Damtew on his insightful presentation. In his closing remarks, he underscored the vital importance of such trainings, noting that they not only inspire but also equip academic staff to actively engage in research and publication.
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