Partnerships in Publishing: A Thematic Analysis of Editorial Board Reflections on a WIL Journal’s Development

Abstract

This paper reports on a thematic analysis of editorial board members’ reflections on the establishment of a new open access work-integrated learning (WIL) journal, WIL in Practice, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on reflections from four higher education staff, it examines how shared purpose, collaboration and partnership-oriented practices during a period of crisis contributed to the journal’s development. The analysis identifies two overarching themes: (1) developing and working within a cross-institutional project, and (2) challenging dominant discourses surrounding academic publishing. These themes are further elaborated through three sub-themes—1) purpose and connection, 2) collegiate ways of working, and 3) grit and entrepreneurial spirit— which illuminate the collaborative practices and resilience underpinning the journal’s foundation. The study provides insights into the journal’s 18-month developmental process, demonstrating how partnership practices, including reciprocity, shared vision, and distributed leadership, shaped the journal. The paper critically engages with the systemic challenges in academic publishing, including the inequities and pressures associated with a ‘publish or perish’ culture. The study positions the journal as an alternative developmental publishing model that seeks to advance publishing equity, particularly for underrepresented researchers.