4 December 2025, 11:00 – 13:30 GMT (please note time zone!)

Dear colleagues in the Next Generation Scholars Community,We are pleased to invite you to the next online Tools of the Trade workshop for the global VREF Next Generation (NextGen) research community:

Strategies for Navigating Academic Writing and Publishing

Writing for publication is essential for building an academic career, yet it can be challenging for emerging scholars aiming to communicate their work effectively. This workshop, led by Dr. Margot Rubin (Cardiff University, Wales), will explore the stages of academic writing for peer-review publication. 

The online session will offer practical guidance to strengthen your writing practice and help you navigate academic publishing with confidence, including: 

• developing a clear argument and writing an engaging abstract
• selecting appropriate journals
• responding to reviewers
• addressing ethical considerations
• strategizing for greater research impact 

After an initial introduction, participants will work interactively to refine paper ideas, shape arguments, identify potential journals, and share practical writing strategies. 

The workshop will also cover the ethics of publishing, the submission- and peer-review process, and approaches for responding to reviewers’ comments. Whether you are preparing your first article or advancing an ongoing manuscript, this Forum is designed to support you in developing the clarity and skills needed for successful publication. 

This is the first virtual Tools of the Trade workshop offered for the global NextGen community within the VREF series. Welcome to register and join us!

Sincerely, 
The VREF NextGen Team

Program

Welcome and introduction: NextGen facilitators and Karin Henriksson, VREF
Workshop Lead: Dr. Margot Rubin, Cardiff University (Wales)
Moderators: Nisha Nair, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and MariaJosé Nieto-Combariza, University College London

Introduction and interactive sessions: Margot Rubin and Forum participants

• Developing your argument (11:10–11:35)
• Short input, individual sketch, paired feedback.
• Choosing a journal (11:35–11:50)
• Why journal choice matters, Menti poll, quick individual review and discussion.
• Writing strategies (11:50–12:05)
• Linking to debates, planning the paper, writing routines, shared tips.
• Questions (12:05–12:15)

Break (15 min)

Developing writing skills: Margot Rubin

• Ethics of writing and publishing (12:30–12:45)
• Ethics clearance, use of AI, authorship, citation choices, short video.
• Submission process (12:45–12:55)
• Polish, abstract writing, understanding internal editorial steps.
• Responding to reviewers (12:55–13:10)
• Decision categories and short matching exercise.
• Q&A

Background

In 2021, VREF’s Mobility and Access in African Cities (MAC) program launched the Research Forum webinar series to explore issues of sustainable mobility and equitable access in Sub-Saharan African cities. The series later expanded into the MAC NextGen Research Forums, showcasing the work of advanced master’s students, PhD candidates, and early-career scholars across the region. Since 2024, the NextGen Research Forums have brought together emerging researchers to exchange knowledge and perspectives from all ongoing VREF programs (i.e. MAC, Walking as a Mode of Transport Program, Program on Informal and Sharing Mobility in Low- and Middle-Income Countries/ISM).

The Tools of the Trade series emerged in response to NextGen scholars’ requests for sessions focused on practical academic skills. Several of these sessions have since evolved into full online short courses funded by VREF and developed with partner universities.

The workshop on 4 December is the fourth installment in the Tools of the Trade for Next Generation Scholars series..

For questions or ideas related to the NextGen Scholars community, please contact: secretariat@vref.se.

Sincerely,
The VREF NextGen Team