Registration is now open for the Open Publishing Series — three online courses from SFU’s MPub program, with start dates in January and May, 2026. Join us for a webinar on October 30 to meet the instructors and learn more.
In an era of disinformation, polarization, and growing mistrust of academic institutions, scholarly publishing is more important now than ever. Last month we shared a Sneak Peek at the Open Publishing Series, a collection of three online courses developed in collaboration with the Master of Publishing (MPub) program at Simon Fraser University (SFU) as part of SFU’s new scholarly communications stream – designed to help students and practitioners navigate this rapidly changing landscape with confidence.
We’re excited to announce that registration is now open to learners from around the world through SFU LifeLong Learning! Keep reading for information about what you’ll learn and how to register.
Open Publishing Courses: Register Now
Whether you’re interested in enhancing your skills and knowledge in journal management and editing, exploring technologies and infrastructures for scholarly publishing, or investigating the principles of knowledge as a global public good, the Open Publishing series has you covered.
Taught by expert instructors from SFU, these courses will be of particular interest to scholarly publishing professionals, including current and aspiring librarians, journal managers, and journal editors.
Register for courses
Registration is open for continuing education (non-credit) students through SFU LifeLong Learning.
- PUB 604: Technologies and Infrastructure for Academic Publishing (starts January 2026): Register here (course details).
- PUB 611: Making Knowledge Public (starts January 2026): Register here (course details).
- PUB 603: Journal Management and Editing (starts May 2026): Register here (course details).
Apply for a course discount
We are committed to keeping these courses accessible. Discounts and fee waivers are available for a limited number of participants with financial constraints, especially those without institutional support or from underrepresented regions.
Please contact commpkp@sfu.ca with the nature of your need, including your role, institutional affiliation, and country of residence. Requests will be reviewed confidentially and fairly, with priority given to those who would otherwise be unable to participate.
Meet the instructors and discover what you’ll learn
Technologies and Infrastructure for Academic Publishing (PUB 604)
Course dates: January – April, 2026 | Course details | Register here | Cost approx. $670 USD ($930 CAD)
What technologies and infrastructures support the publishing, discovery, preservation, and linking of scholarship? What tools and services create the “scholarly record”?
This course equips students with the expertise to navigate the growing landscape of academic publishing technologies — covering systems, standards, techniques, and platforms for sustainable academic publishing.
Alison Moore is a Digital Scholarship Librarian at Simon Fraser University Library. Since joining SFU Library in 2015, Ali has focused on supporting student and faculty researchers with scholarly communications, research impact, and online presence.
Ali has held a number of roles at SFU Library, most recently as the Acting Head, Learning & Engagement, the Digital Scholarship Librarian in the Digital Humanities Innovation Lab, and Manager, Knowledge Mobilization. Ali has an MLIS from McGill University and a BA from UBC in Political Science and English Literature. Prior to joining SFU Library, Ali worked at the Vancouver Public Library, Concordia Libraries, and the Vancouver Pacific Swim Club.
Making Knowledge Public (PUB 611)
Course dates: January – April, 2026 | Course details | Register here | Cost approx. $670 USD ($930 CAD)
How does research shape public policy? How is the public involved in science? And how is knowledge that is produced at universities taken up by society?
This course examines the changing role of research, knowledge-making, and truth in the public sphere — exploring the public value of scholarship, the pressures that diminish this mission, and the need for universities and researchers to engage more purposefully with society.
Dr. Juan Pablo Alperin is an Associate Professor in Publishing, Co-Director of the ScholCommLab, and Scientific Director of the Public Knowledge Project (PKP) at Simon Fraser University, Canada.
Dr. Alperin is an established researcher of scholarly communications, known for bringing evidence-based perspectives to pragmatic solutions in support of open access and open science. He has published dozens of peer-reviewed publications and delivered countless presentations on related topics and serves on the boards and steering committees of various organizations, including the Open Access Scholarly Publishing Association (OASPA) and OpenAlex. His work focuses on making scholarly communication more equitable, inclusive, and publicly engaged, particularly across Latin America and the Global South.
Journal Management and Editing (PUB 603)
Course dates: May – August, 2026 | Course details | Register here | Cost approx. $670 USD ($930 CAD)
This course equips students with the knowledge and skills to navigate the growing landscape of academic journal publishing — covering content curation, peer review, editorial strategies, copyright, publication ethics, and the practical workflows needed to operate a journal, with an emphasis on open access.
Jennifer Zerkee is a Copyright Specialist in the Simon Fraser University Copyright Office, based in the SFU Library. She joined SFU Library in 2011 and has been the Copyright Specialist since 2013.
Jennifer develops and delivers copyright education and information to instructors, researchers, students, and staff. She helps academic authors understand their rights when publishing, and provides assistance with understanding and applying Creative Commons licences to open access publications and open educational materials. Her areas of research include copyright advocacy, legislation reform, and copyright administration in post-secondary institutions. Jennifer holds a Certificate in Law from Queen’s University and a Creative Commons Certificate for Librarians, in addition to an MAS from the University of British Columbia and a BA from SFU.
Want to learn more? Attend an upcoming webinar with the course instructors
Join us for a 90-minute webinar with all three course instructors for a behind-the-scenes look at what you’ll learn in each course. Get an overview of key concepts, hear course highlights, and bring your questions for the instructors.
Time and date: Thursday, October 30th, 2025, 9 – 10:30 AM PDT
Venue: Free, online via Zoom
Stay informed!
Sign up to stay informed about program updates and be notified about future course offerings in the Open Publishing Series.
