SIT's going global

Author: Matt Maley - Southland Express
Date posted: 18/06/09

An innovative, interactive resource is set to beam the Southern Institute of Technology globally and, in doing so, give international recognition to the hard work of its academics.

The Southern Institute of Technology Journal of Applied Research (SITJAR) was launched at a gathering of SIT staff on Friday and its aim is to break some new ground in how research is published in this technological age.

The journal has an international panel of editors who will review papers before they are published, and ensure the journal reports research only of the highest quality, research manager Stewart Hase said.

They are then published online via the SIT website and are accessible by anyone across the globe for free, with the papers published as soon as they are reviewed and accepted rather than having to wait for a place in an edition.

Mr Hase said management had been only too happy to assist in making the journal a reality, with one of the major benefits being its ability to galvanise government interest when it comes to research funding. "You can only do that if you've got the research," he said. "It's a small beginning, but it's online and it's global."

He said SITJAR was the continuation of a broader research agenda, with most of this research being done in Southland and benefiting the local community. It also helped SIT students get the most up-to-date information and training in research themselves from researchers in the field.

SITJAR editor Jerry Hoffman said now the journal had been launched it will be marketed across the globe and looked forward to receiving research papers from national and international researchers. Already the journal has had interest from conference organisers to publish their conference proceedings for special editions.

SIT chief executive Penny Simmonds said "we are interested in ensuring that research findings are available to practitioners to use as soon as possible rather than being delayed in complex publishing processes as is the norm in research journals".

"Not only that but, consistent with SIT policy, we believe that education needs to be available to everyone. We are now increasing our efforts to seek funding opportunities to undertake research here in the region. This will benefit the community and also the research capacity of SIT at the same time. We now also have a vehicle for disseminating that research in SITJAR."

The website for SITJAR can be viewed at sitjar.sit.ac.nz