BEIJING: The international academic community is generally receptive to Malaysian academic publications.
Dr Siti Rahmah Awang, the director of UTM Press at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, stated that the international academic community shows particular interest in academic publications that provide valuable research and insights into their respective fields.
“UTM Press frequently collaborates with local university presses, research institutions, libraries, and other international university publishers from Indonesia, China, and Brunei to extend the reach and impact of academic publications.
“We are now striving to strengthen our partnerships and collaborations with countries such as Iran, Turkey, and India.
“These partnerships can undoubtedly aid in marketing, distribution, sales, and knowledge sharing, ultimately benefiting both publishers and the academic community,” she told the New Sarawak Tribune.
To maintain competitiveness in the academic and book publishing industry, Siti emphasized that UTM Press focuses on high-quality content, efficient production processes, and adopting digital platforms for distribution.
“I must mention that book titles must be captivating to capture the attention of the younger generation, which may have a declining interest in reading.
“It is crucial to explore various approaches to present reading materials in a manner that resonates with the younger generation, particularly academic books and publications,” she said.
Siti highlighted that one of the primary challenges of industry professionals is ensuring the quality of published books, as the content must adapt to the evolving landscape of VUCA, Generation Alpha, and artificial intelligence (AI).
“Other challenges commonly encountered by academic book publishers include escalating production costs, competition from digital platforms like e-books, and maintaining relevance in a rapidly evolving industry.
“Securing funding for scholarly works and navigating copyright and licensing issues can also be challenging,” she explained.
Considering the importance of environmental sustainability in today’s world, Siti mentioned that academic publishers offset their carbon footprint by adopting sustainable printing practices, utilizing recycled materials, and promoting digital-only options.
“Some organizations may also engage in tree-planting initiatives or partner with eco-friendly suppliers.
“I believe we must prioritize environmental sustainability, regardless of the nature of our business,” she said.
