The function and organisation of the Publication Committee

The annual budget of the Publication Committee is currently DKK 4.5 million, as specified in the budget of the Aarhus University Research Foundation. A committee of four to five members chaired by former dean Carsten Riis considers grant applications. At the present time, the other members of the committee are Hans Fink (Arts), Helge Kragh (Science and Technology) and Helle Bødker Madsen (Business and Social Science). Committee members are selected on the basis of personal qualifications.

The function of the Publication Committee

Researchers can apply for support for publication from AUFF’s publication fund or for grants to support the preparation of material for subsequent publication, support for which may in some cases be provided by other external sources of financing. The committee’s task is thus to help ensure that significant academic works produced at the university receive the funding necessary to support publication and dissemination of an equally high standard, in order to strengthen the university’s communication of its scholarly and scientific achievements. Approximately 25% of the committee’s budget is earmarked for publications and other initiatives aimed at disseminating scholarly and scientific research. The committee is both informed of and consulted in connection with other Aarhus University publications which receive support from AUFF. The committee also advises the Rector on issues related to publication. Ideally, it should be possible for the committee to evaluate applications independent of any supplementary material; however, in some cases the committee may request the submission of manuscripts. Applications for publication grants for departmental or faculty-based academic journals will no longer be recommended for consideration; however, applications for publication grants for special or themed editions and for support for the establishment of new journals will be considered. Applications for grants to support the publication of PhD theses will not be recommended for consideration.

Recommendations

The Rector recommends applications for approval by the AUFF Board. The committee’s role this process is to recommend which applications the Rector should submit to the AUFF Board for consideration; the final allocation of grants takes place at meetings of the AUFF Board, of which the Rector is a member. When evaluating grant applications, the committee considers such issues as the chosen language of publication and publisher in order to ensure the broadest possible dissemination of the work in relation to its target readership. The recommendations are prepared by the committee’s members after AUFF’s semi-annual application deadlines. The committee's recommendations are confidential, and committee members may not disclose information regarding them.

Organisation

The committee’s work is supported by the administrative staff of AUFF, which coordinates applications and the processing of the committee’s recommendations. The Publication Committee Chair and the committee secretariat (currently the secretariat of the Faculty of Theology) are also involved in preparing recommendations. The committee may consult expert referees in connection with applications, and may consult the Managing Director of the Aarhus University Press in connection with publication issues.