Qatar University (QU) has launched the “QU Press” at the research complex yesterday, aimed at producing academic books, which tackle Middle Eastern topics, it was announced.
The QU Press also aims to produce books discussing other contemporary scientific matters proposed by governmental institutions, centres, academics, researchers, graduate students and other institutions in Qatar, the region and the world.
The QU Press will act as a new unit within the Office of Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies chaired by professor Mariam al-Maadeed and led by professor Talal al-Emadi, director of QU Press.
This new initiative will also assist the development of proper functioning and standardisation of QU’s existing academic journals.
In addition, the QU Press will help sustain the efforts, history and record of Qatar’s international academic conferences, through publishing conference proceedings. It will also have the capacity to support various centres in publishing academic and scientific reports and findings.
“The establishment of QU Press underlines QU’s role as an incubator of thoughts and reflects the organisation’s commitment to provide the community with quality education and research to advance knowledge and to contribute actively to the needs and aspirations of society,” al-Emadi said.
“QU Press will invest heavily in ensuring the accuracy, originality and design of scholarly manuscripts and peer-reviewed journals, as well as their readability,” he noted. “We will collaborate with international associations of university presses aimed at ensuring compliance with international publishing standards.”
Al-Maadeed said QU Press will promote dialogue on contemporary and critical issues that are of the interest of society in Qatar and the region.
“It will also offer QU students and professors the highest quality materials for teaching and learning, and will contribute to QU’s efforts to prepare a generation capable to participate in the process of national development and fulfil the national aspirations towards a knowledge-based economy,” she added.
QU Press will produce scholarly resources in a variety of digital formats, including e-books, e-journals, online aggregated collections as well as print formats including digital printing and print on-demand.
The press will also formulate affordable subscription packages to its online journals and resources for institutions as well as individuals. It will set-up and easy-to-purchase
online books selling point.
QU Press will feature a complete organisational structure, ranging from acquisitions and editorial, information technology, production design and printing, business support and sales and marketing and distribution.
In addition, QU Press has an international advisory board, which will provide non-binding strategic advice and could help the Press to identify projects.
Furthermore, QU Press has an internal editorial committee, which will study submitted proposals, as well as identify projects, among other related matters, as they arise.
Professor Mariam al-Maadeed, Right: Professor Talal al-Emadi
