Framework Programme Humanities and Social Sciences (2024): First publication workshop at the Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM), Tunis, Tunisia
First publication workshop at the Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM), Tunis, Tunisia
MECAM’s mission is to enable and conduct international research in the humanities and social sciences and to disseminate the emerging findings in three key fields: namely, the academic, policy, and public arenas. The Centre aims to produce international, highly visible publications based on the original research conducted by its fellows, members, and collaborators. MECAM’s publications offer well-founded and concise analyses and allow authors to engage in dialogue with a broader audience beyond restricted specialised circles. Accordingly, they address an interested public including the media, political foundations, NGOs, academia, and policymakers. Wherever possible, publications will be made available through Open Access. Overall, MECAM’s publication strategy is oriented towards translation, transfer, collaboration, and outreach, and addresses multiple audiences in Tunisia, Germany, the Middle East and North Africa, and worldwide.
MECAM’s Publication Workshop Series seeks to train the next generation of authors, reviewers, and editors among MECAM fellows, partners, and collaborators. Under the responsibility of the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) in Hamburg, one of the main consortium partners of the MECAM, publishing workshops will be held every two years: i.e., two in Tunis (2024, 2028) and one in Hamburg (2026). These workshops will focus on how to write and publish academic texts, policy papers, and blog entries. Through the participation of members of the wider MECAM network and other leading international experts, in-depth practical insights into the drafting and writing of these different formats, the peer-review process with academic journals and publishers, as well as the targeting of specific policy communities will be provided. The workshops will address current publishing processes and encourage participants to discuss and rethink imbalances in academic knowledge production. Eventually, participants will be better equipped to succeed in finding an adequate “home” for their research in internationally visible academic outlets.
The first workshop in this series will focus on “academic publishing” rather than “academic writing” and will be aimed primarily at current MECAM short-term and long-term fellows, as well as some other alumni currently in Tunisia. The main language of the workshop will be English, but contributions can also be made in French; especially discussions may be held in both languages.