Wittenborg Hosts Workshop on Academic Publishing with Professor Ajay Manrai

26.02.2025

Staff and Students Gain Insights on Publishing in High-Impact Journals

On 7 February, Wittenborg hosted Professor Ajay Manrai, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Global Marketing, for an insightful workshop aimed at helping students and staff navigate the world of academic publishing. The event, held at Brinklaan and streamed online, offered valuable strategies for successfully publishing research in high-impact academic journals.

Introduction to the Journal of Global Marketing

Manrai started the workshop by sharing key insights into the Journal of Global Marketing, which has been at the forefront of advancing marketing theory and practice for over 35 years.

The journal publishes 20 to 30 articles annually across five issues and has seen a significant rise in international submissions, with a 40% increase between 2023 and 2024. The top contributing countries are India, followed by the United States China, and Australia. Manrai also shared that over half of their submissions now come from India, followed by the United States.

He explained that the journal is committed to promoting cutting-edge research on global marketing, with a broad scope that invites diverse contributions. "This is a platform where scholars around the world can publish innovative research and engage in dialogue. That’s what the journal is about," Manrai said. He also highlighted the journal’s high standards, with a 9% acceptance rate and a zero-day average from submission to the first decision.

Five P’s for success

Manrai’s 'Five P’s for Success' became a key focus of the workshop. These principles — Purpose, Passion, Positivity, Perseverance, and Patience — are central to academic publishing.

He emphasised the importance of having a clear purpose for your research and being passionate about contributing to the field. He also discussed the need for positivity and perseverance in the face of challenges, particularly rejection.

Eight steps to publication success

Manrai further shared valuable publication tips based on the journal's editors' guidelines, outlining eight essential steps for increasing the chances of getting published in a prestigious journal like The Journal of Global Marketing. These steps, available on the journal’s website and in podcast format, were presented as a structured approach to help researchers succeed:

Sensitise yourself – Understand the journal’s aims, scope, and expectations.
Know the value – Ensure your research makes a meaningful contribution.
Establish credibility – Use rigorous and relevant research methods.
Create impact – Repeat your contribution at least three times in the paper.
Show professionalism – Write clearly and structure your paper properly.
Demonstrate meticulousness – Follow formatting and citation guidelines.
Seek feedback – Get input from peers before submitting.
Respond diligently – Address reviewer and editorial feedback carefully.

Feedback from Wittenborg students and staff

The workshop was well received by both students and staff, who found the insights practical and motivational. Wittenborg student and Quality Assistant intern Bentolhoda Omidmoazzam said, “The most important lesson I took away was understanding that rejection is a normal part of academic publishing. Many papers get rejected, sometimes without feedback, but this does not mean failure. Instead, it’s an opportunity to improve the research and resubmit. The key is to have perseverance and patience.”

Rauf Abdul, Head of Business Schools at Wittenborg, reflected on the session's impact: “Manrai’s insights into the publishing process, especially the importance of resilience, were incredibly helpful. I hadn’t realised how often rejection occurs in this field, but now I see it as part of the learning curve.”

Jian Lui, Erasmus+ Project Administrator & Researcher at Wittenborg, also appreciated the session: “The eight steps Manrai shared gave me a clearer understanding of the process. It was especially useful to know the emphasis on selecting the right journal and focusing on clear, meaningful research questions. It’s something I’ll keep in mind when preparing my own work.”