The Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies (RIIFS) in partnership with the Council for British Research in the Levant (CBRL) successfully launched the Bridging Research to Publication Writing Workshops programme with its first three-day workshop, held on 25–27 August 2025 at the CBRL Amman Institute. The programme is funded by the British Academy’s International Writing Workshops initiative.
The workshop brought together thirteen early-career researchers from Jordan, Iraq and Syria to further develop their academic writing skills, deepen their understanding of the publication process, and build professional networks with peers, mentors, and established scholars.
Over three days, participants explored the process of publishing in international peer-reviewed journals, including Levant and Contemporary Levant, and examined strategies to overcome common challenges in academic writing. They also worked on enhancing their writing techniques, focusing on structure, clarity, and style, and engaged in discussions around ethical publishing, authorship rights, and gender equity in academia.
Participants presented their projects, papers, and research ideas to the workshop facilitators: Dr. Jane Humphris (CBRL Director), Dr. Renée Hattar (Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies Director), Dr. Sarah Irving (Editor-in-Chief of Contemporary Levant) and Dr. Caroline Middleton (Editor-in-Chief of Levant), and received constructive feedback through presentations, group discussions, and one-to-one mentoring.
The workshop also featured a public lecture by Dr. Wafaa Al-Khadra, “From Observation to Co-existence: Pathways to Indigenous Knowledge and Research Activism”, which took place on Monday 25 August at the CBRL Amman Institute.
Participants will meet their mentors again in March 2026 during an online workshop. This follow-up session will provide an opportunity to track their progress, refine their research papers, and prepare for the next stages of the publication process.
The Bridging Research to Publication programme runs from 2025 to 2027, offering workshops and mentoring to support early-career researchers in Jordan to publish in international journals. Participants will continue to receive mentoring and feedback throughout 2026, with further workshops planned both in-person and online.
Through this initiative, CBRL and RIIFS aim to equip Jordan’s next generation of scholars with the tools, networks, and confidence to bring their research to international audiences. This research project is funded by the British Academy’s International Writing Workshops 2024 Programme, which is supported by the UK Government’s International Science Partnerships Fund.
This report was originally posted on CBRL website.