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DOAJ Ambassador Training Course in Seoul

Article information

Sci Ed. 2018;5(1):85-86
Publication date (electronic) : 2018 February 19
doi : https://doi.org/10.6087/kcse.128
Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, Daejeon, Korea
Correspondence to Hea Lim Rhee rhee.healim@gmail.com
This paper was originally published in KCSE News Letter, 2017, issue 24, pp. 19-20, in Korean. It was rewritten in English at the request of KCSE.
Received 2018 January 22; Accepted 2018 January 29.

From October 31 to November 3, 2017, the National Library of Korea in Seoul hosted the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) Ambassador Training Course. Three DOAJ staff members from the Netherlands, China, and India conducted the event. Their main purpose was to train the participants, who were Korean journal editors or manuscript editors, on what DOAJ does and how to apply for their open access journals to be included in the directory. The instructors were also to elect three DOAJ Korean ambassadors from among the trainees. The ambassadors would promote DOAJ in Korea and help publishers apply for their journals’ inclusion in the DOAJ. The instructors would elect the ambassadors based on their performance during the training course and an individual interview conducted on the last day of the training.

On the first day of the program, I arrived at the training with excitement and expectation. After a brief introduction, the instructors explained the details of the training program. Then we all learned about and discussed DOAJ, journal publishing, open access, and trends in the Korean publishing market. After the day session, participants had an opportunity to connect with each other over dinner. Everyone seemed to be excited about the remaining sessions.

On the second day, the instructors explained the organizational and administrative structure of DOAJ. Then participants practiced filling in the Journal Application Form, item by item. In the afternoon, participants gathered into groups to practice reviewing and evaluating application forms. Then the groups presented their conclusions of the review and asked questions about the review process. It appeared that most participants had not yet applied for their journal’s inclusion in DOAJ and that the practice session had been helpful. A few participants promised to apply after the training.

On the third day, each participant used the knowledge gained from the previous day’s practice to evaluate an example application form. Compared to the group exercise from the day before, this individual evaluation was more exciting but also carried the weight of greater responsibility. After the exercise, the instructors shared DOAJ’s expectations for Korean ambassadors. They also discussed the practices of the DOAJ ambassadors in Indonesia and the recent increase in journal applications from that country. In the last session of the day, participants who wanted to become a DOAJ Korean ambassador scheduled interviews for the next day.

Finally, on the last day, the instructors conducted the ambassador interviews and announced the three new Korean ambassadors. The other participants expressed their willingness to help DOAJ as volunteers. All participants were granted a certificate of training completion. They were proud of their accomplishment, which they celebrated with a small party. Fig. 1. is a group photo of all the participants from the first day of the event, and Fig. 2. shows the instructors and the newly appointed Korean ambassadors.

Fig. 1.

Group photo of all the participants, October 31, 2017.

Fig. 2.

Instructors and Korean ambassadors, November 3, 2017. From the left, Youngim Jung, Hea Lim Rhee, Hyun Jung Yi (ambassadors), Tom Olijhoek, Xin Bi, and Leena Shah (instructors).

The instructors were happy that they achieved the goals of their visit: promoting DOAJ in Korea, teaching how to complete and review the Journal Application Form, and appointing Korean ambassadors. The participants were grateful to have learned more about DOAJ and promised to dedicate themselves to promoting DOAJ in Korea.

Personally, I felt a sense of burden from the responsibilities I will take on as a DOAJ ambassador. However, I am more than ready to work hard for my country in cooperation with my fellow ambassadors, DOAJ staff, and the many DOAJ volunteers around the world. With their help, I hope to raise Korea’s global standing in the field of open access.

Notes

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Article information Continued

Fig. 1.

Group photo of all the participants, October 31, 2017.

Fig. 2.

Instructors and Korean ambassadors, November 3, 2017. From the left, Youngim Jung, Hea Lim Rhee, Hyun Jung Yi (ambassadors), Tom Olijhoek, Xin Bi, and Leena Shah (instructors).