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“Over the years, in the remarkably expert hands of its successive female directors and staff, Leuven University Press has functioned as a weaving loom for its authors. Active within an impressive range of scientific disciplines, Leuven University Press continues to be an essential stepping stone for the development of numerous successful academic careers.”
Hilde Van Gelder, Professor of Contemporary Art History, KU Leuven
“The publication of my manuscript by Leuven University Press was the crown on my work. Clear agreements, professional guidance, personal interest, careful editing, and a clever and proactive marketing plan made the process a pleasure. My greatest appreciation is that this press takes its authors serious.”
Hans Krabbendam, Catholic Documentation Centre, Radboud University
“Leuven University Press is everything what a university press should be. A mission-driven partner, providing high-quality publication solutions which fit the needs and wishes of the academic community. I am particularly impressed with the way they are handling the transition to Open Access. Leuven University Press has managed to establish itself as a trustworthy partner in Open Access publishing, sharing the same scholarly ideals as the academic community, while maintaining traditional standards of excellence, both of content and of form, and ensuring also a physical component which is still appreciated by many readers. The result is a marriage of all that was good in the past and all that is good in the present, benefitting both authors and the academic community at large.”
Demmy Verbeke, KU Leuven Libraries
"My experience with Leuven University Press has been unquestionably positive for almost thirty years now. University Press Leuven has always supported our faculty series Avisos de Flandes, never giving in to the all-in-English syndrome, so that the original focus of the series could be maintained all along. And even though Leuven University Press evolved from a few staff members and some attic rooms in the university administration building to the current professional team and office infrastructure , the personal approach in the guidance of authors and series editors has always remained."
Werner Thomas, Early Modern History Research Group, KU Leuven
“A professional, enthusiastic and flexible collaboration based on trust and respect.”
Karel Van Nieuwenhuyse, KU Leuven
"Working with Leuven University Press has been a very positive experience. The team was highly professional and accompanied every step in the development of my book project with great dedication and care. I was especially impressed by the quality of the book design and the efforts made to promote my book internationally. My experience in working with Leuven University Press convinced me that this is one of the most professional university presses in continental Europe."
Jeroen Dewulf, Queen Beatrix Professor in Dutch Studies, University of California, Berkeley
"I have worked with a number of publishers over the years but have never experienced such courtesy and efficiency. The press is a very smoothly run operation."
Simon Dell, University of East Anglia
"Leuven Univerisity Press has quickly built excellent practice and experience with open access book publishing. Combined with digital printing, your publication can have a maximal outreach and impact!"
Patrick Degryse, KU Leuven
"For 50 years Leuven University Press has been a true heir to the profound wisdom enshrined in Virgil’s Aeneid: mens agitat molem. Leuven University Press has done so by offering and supporting high quality scholarly communication and insights in a rigorous and lasting way."
Koenraad Debackere, Professor, KU Leuven
"Together with Guido De Clercq, General Manager of the KU Leuven in 1971, we took the initiative to create Leuven University Press. Guido De Clercq became its first General Manager and I its first Chairman of the Board of Trustees. When Guido left the University in 1982, I was elected General Manager (1982-1985). The Press started as a small, delicate sapling grafted onto the university's solid values, and thanks to the efforts of Guido and the dedication and competence of its staff, initially in particular Hilde Lens and Beatrice Van Eeghem, Leuven University Press grew into a sturdy and flourishing tree: a very successful Press with a high international scientific reputation. My warmest congratulations!"
Herman Van der Wee, Professor Emeritus, KU Leuven
Since the start of the CeMIS Series, Leuven University Press has always encouraged and challenged us to critically reflect upon our book projects and go beyond our initial ideas.
Lore Van Praag, Centre for Migration and Intercultural Studies (CeMIS) at the University of Antwerp
Wij zijn enorm trots dat we al vele jaren een bijdrage mogen leveren aan het maken van jullie mooie titels! Verder is het ook altijd heel fijn samenwerken met de dames van het team Universitaire Pers Leuven.
Ilse Bruyndoncx, Account Manager – Wilco boeken en tijdschriften
Project MUSE extends heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of this milestone anniversary! Leuven University Press has been a longtime publishing partner, and recently added their rich Open Access titles to MUSE Open. Annemie and her team are wonderful to work with and we look forward to continuing to grow our relationship.
Kelley Squazzo, Director of Publisher Relations, Project MUSE
Work with Leuven UP to distribute their books in North America has been a very satisfying experience. I am consistently impressed with the intellectual qualities and book production values of their list. More impressively, Leuven UP is an innovative publisher that identifies needs within the academy and addresses them by establishing new series like its Studies in European Comics and Graphic Novels. It has also been a leader in Open Access publishing. I wish Leuven University Press a very happy 50th anniversary and am looking forward to seeing where they go over the next 50 years – and beyond!
Mahinder Kingra, Editorial Director, Cornell University Press
The highlight of the several projects I did with and for LUP as a freelance editor and project manager, was the publication of the six-volume series ‘Writings on Contemporary Art and Artist’ by Jean-François Lyotard. They are a prime example of LUP’s high standards with regard to both the content and the form of their publications. It was a privilege to help realise this ambitious project. It is one of the achievements in my professional life of which I’m most proud. And I’m still grateful to Marike Schipper, the then director of LUP, to have asked me to come on board. I wish Veerle and her team all the best for the future – here’s to the next 50 years!
Wardy Poelstra, Freelance Editor/Project Manager
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“The monograph will be considered a warm haven, a tool for resistance and reflection. I expect that it will even regain a certain importance compared to publishing in journals.”
Hilde Van Gelder, Professor of Contemporary Art History, KU Leuven
Academic publishing underwent significant changes over the last 50 years. Which ones do you find most striking or significant?
That English is now the established lingua franca.
What is your experience with academic publishing? Is there anything in particular that you look for or value in the collaboration with publishers
Very positive. I especially value the peer review process and the not-for-profit publishing, which adds to the quality of the publications.
Peer review is central to the value of academic publishing. What characterises, in your view, successful peer review that empowers and respects authors and readers? Do you see ways in which peer review could be re-thought, for instance with respect to the inclusion of a broader set of voices that need to be heard?
The standard of two peer reviewers is a minimum. Ideally, an author should have at least ca. 10 persons with complementary backgrounds and of different age ranges (and expertise) read her manuscript before completing it.
What is your experience with Open Access publishing, either as an author or as a reader? Do you identify obvious benefits or perhaps also opportunities for future development?
I am pro Open Access whenever possible.
What do you prefer: print or digital books? Is there a difference between what you read online and what you read on paper?
Ideally, the two go hand in hand. Yes, online formats have other requirements than a printed book and this should be considered when conceiving a project.
How important is the book cover design to you?
Extremely important, essential and vital.
Which are some emerging topics in your field of research and/or academic publishing?
More personal approaches/methodologies and style of writing/tone of voice, which allows my field to further bridge the gap with artistic research.
What would be your advice for junior researchers on the verge of publishing their first monograph?
Take the time you need, even if there is much external pressure.
How do you expect academic publishing to evolve over the next 50 years? Will the monograph stand the test of time?
In my field, definitely yes, the monograph will be considered as a warm haven, as a tool for resistance and reflection. I expect that it will even regain a certain importance compared to publishing in journals.
Established in 1971 by KU Leuven
More than 900 monographs, 650 edited volumes, 300 ebooks, 49 series, 63 textbooks and 6 periodicals
Output in 1972: 7 books published
Output in 2020: 47 books published + 17 journal issues + 15 books on behalf of third parties
Total number of Open Access downloads in 2020: 148.285
Recognised as Compliant Open Access Publisher since 2015
More than 160 free available backlist titles
20 Published titles with support of the KU Leuven Fund for Fair Open Access since 2018
Fast-growing Open Access collection in all disciplines
4 Physical warehouses
7 Ebook distribution platforms
Authors and editors (at book level) with KU Leuven affiliation in 2020: 35%
International authors and editors (at book level) in 2020: 65%
Visitors at lup.be in 2020: 36% Belgium, 64% international
Most awarded series: Jean-François Lyotard. Writings on Contemporary Art and Artists
Longest selling text book (8th edition since 1977): Economie. Een inleiding - Economy. An Introduction
First born Open Access title: Glass Making in the Greco-Roman World (2015)
Oldest active book series since the 1970s: Medievalia Lovaniensia & Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
Heaviest title, De territoriale indeling van België (1795-1963) - The Territorial Division of Belgium (1795-1963), weighs 7,5 kilo
Book cover with the most colour varieties (28 versions since 1996): Lessen voor de 21ste eeuw - Lectures for the 21st century
Gender balance of the Leuven University Press team since 1971: 99% female
25 Years of uninterrupted presence at the Frankfurt Book Fair
Third director
“It is essential that mission-driven publishers which share the same scholarly values as the academic community remain a preferred partner in the publication and dissemination of scholarly work.”
Demmy Verbeke, KU Leuven Libraries
Academic publishing underwent significant changes over the last 50 years. Which ones do you find most striking or significant?
Electronic publication and dissemination have brought major challenges and opportunities. The possibilities seem limitless, albeit that they have certainly not brought the democratisation that was originally envisaged.
Another major change, made possible by the digital turn, is the ever-growing importance of Open Access. It is essential that publishers such as Leuven University Press, which are mission-driven and share the same scholarly values as the academic community, remain a preferred partner in the publication and dissemination of scholarly work.
What is your experience with academic publishing? Is there anything in particular that you look for or value in the collaboration with publishers?
What I, as an author, look for in a publisher is a shared set of values which make me entrust the publisher with the final stage (namely the dissemination) of the scholarly work in which I have invested so much time and energy.
Peer review is central to the value of academic publishing. What characterises, in your view, successful peer review that empowers and respects authors and readers? Do you see ways in which peer review could be re-thought, for instance with respect to the inclusion of a broader set of voices that need to be heard?
I am not convinced that peer review is the only and/or best mechanism for quality control. I also worry that too much reliance on peer review, especially if we are talking about pre-publication and blind peer review, stands in the way of innovating scholarly communication. So I would like to see more experimentation with post-publication peer review, with open peer review, and with other forms of quality control.
What is your experience with Open Access publishing, either as an author or as a reader? Do you identify obvious benefits or perhaps also opportunities for future development?
There are at least three reasons to pursue full Open Access in all scholarly communication. The first is an ethical reason, namely the conviction that knowledge should be shared and that the results of scholarly research should therefore also be available to the general public worldwide. The second is an internal motivation: transparency ensures that scholarly research can be conducted more reliably and efficiently. Moreover, Open Access promotes broader scholarly and societal impact in a shorter time frame. The third reason is of an economic nature, in the sense that Open Access publications can help reduce pressure on the budgets of scholarly institutions and their libraries, which has been a growing problem for decades.
However, the latter will only happen if Open Access publishers are focused on scholarly values rather than on profit margins, working in a cost-effective rather than profit-driven manner. It is therefore essential that mission-driven academic presses such as Leuven University Press are treasured as professional partners in Open Access publishing.
What do you prefer: print or digital books? Is there a difference between what you read online and what you read on paper?
I prefer the combination. An Open Access ebook ensures maximal scholarly and societal impact. It thus benefits the author but also the reader, who has quick and free access wherever and whenever s/he wants and can efficiently trace a particular argument. A (preferably reasonably priced) physical version of the same book is a very welcome addition for the author, who typically enjoys holding the tangible result of his or her hard work, and for the reader who wants to delve deeper into a particular book and spend a more prolonged period of time with it.
How important is the book cover design to you?
I do think there is truth in the phrase “judging a book by its cover”, as it is frequently considered to be a first sign of the standards maintained in producing the book in question. It can help to establish the book as a professional publication and can help to attract readers.
Which are some emerging topics in your field of research and/or academic publishing?
Awareness that not all approaches and business models for Open Access imply progress. We might achieve more Open Access, but at a price which is too high and in a way that continues the inequality and unsustainability that currently mar scholarly communication. I therefore see a growing attention to mission-driven, non-profit solutions and a growing willingness to support community-driven, consortial funding approaches.
What would be your advice for junior researchers on the verge of publishing their first monograph?
Make sure to work with a publishing partner who shares the same values as you and allows you to stay in control of the publication and dissemination part of your research. You have worked too long and hard on getting to the stage where you are ready to publish the results of your research to then not think about whom you trust to support you with this and to run the risk of losing control over your own work. Also make sure that you add an Open Access component to the way you publish, as this will increase your scholarly and societal impact.
How do you expect academic publishing to evolve over the next 50 years? Will the monograph stand the test of time?
I think a place for the long form of scholarly argument as offered by the monograph will remain, but I am uncertain to what extent it will still be physically expressed and am doubtful whether it will still be considered the most dominant form of scholarly communication in the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS).
"A university press is the best guarantee to find the right balance between academic rigor and the desire to reach a broad reading public."
Jeroen Dewulf, Queen Beatrix Professor in Dutch Studies, University of California, Berkeley
Academic publishing underwent significant changes over the last 50 years. Which ones do you find most striking or significant?
The professionalisation of academic publishing, especially in Europe.
What is your experience with academic publishing? Is there anything in particular that you look for or value in the collaboration with publishers?
A university press is the best guarantee to find the right balance between academic rigour and the desire to reach a broad reading public.
Peer review is central to the value of academic publishing. What characterises, in your view, successful peer review that empowers and respects authors and readers? Do you see ways in which peer review could be re-thought, for instance with respect to the inclusion of a broader set of voices that need to be heard?
I think it is especially important to find a good balance of established scholars and junior academics in the peer-reviewing teams. Too often, such teams are dominated by established scholars.
What is your experience with Open Access publishing, either as an author or as a reader? Do you identify obvious benefits or perhaps also opportunities for future development?
It is often the only way for scholars in developing countries to access your work.
What do you prefer: print or digital books? Is there a difference between what you read online and what you read on paper?
The ideal is to have both; I read a book on paper when the entire book interests me, I read it online when only a certain passage or chapter is of interest.
How important is the book cover design to you?
As an author, I value cover design, as a reader, I value this much less.
Which are some emerging topics in your field of research and/or academic publishing?
Disability Studies, the attentions for “disability”, in the broadest sense, is booming.
What would be your advice for junior researchers on the verge of publishing their first monograph?
Always look for a balance between academic rigour and a pleasant writing style.
How do you expect academic publishing to evolve over the next 50 years? Will the monograph stand the test of time?
I am dreaming of a publication form that would allow authors to keep expanding and/or improving a book over the years.
“The old world of traditional academic publishing and the new world of Open Access will eventually amalgamate into a transformative business model where market and community meet.”
Koenraad Debackere, Professor, KU Leuven
Academic publishing underwent significant changes over the last 50 years. Which ones do you find most striking or significant?
Changes have been multifold and multifaceted. Scale intensity, internationalisation and digitisation are the obvious ones. However, even more relevant is what has not changed, and thus has remained the perpetual mission of academic publishing. Academic publishing is a crucial and critical support of academic communities as learning societies. It diffuses their learning into the broader world, reaching out to a variety of audiences. Making it accessible and findable. Doing so, academic publishing is and stays at the heart of scholarly communication. Open Access will enhance this lasting mission. Such fundamentals create solid opportunities, rooted in the concepts of openness and quality. They enable strong niche players to develop and thrive. Just like “Universitaire Pers Leuven” has done and is doing: Leuven University Press is international, open, specialised, and always high-quality-minded.
What is your experience with academic publishing? Is there anything in particular that you look for or value in the collaboration with publishers?
Academic publishing is a linking pin in the research process. Solid and strong peer review processes are an integral part of the publishing process. They help researchers improve their research, refine their insights, contribute to the knowledge frontier, and disseminate this knowledge. Academic publishing thus allows us all to stand on the shoulders of giants.
Peer review is central to the value of academic publishing. What characterises, in your view, successful peer review that empowers and respects authors and readers? Do you see ways in which peer review could be re-thought, for instance with respect to the inclusion of a broader set of voices that need to be heard?
Peer review is at the heart of the scientific reward and recognition cycle. It embodies and enacts the Mertonian values driving the unprecedented growth in knowledge that science has brought us. Leading us away from the flight from science and reason. And it does this in an absolutely innovative organisational manner building on the solid values of communalism, universalism, disinterestedness and organised skepticism.
What is your experience with Open Access publishing, either as an author or as a reader? Do you identify obvious benefits or perhaps also opportunities for future development?
Open Access will offer a boost to scholarly communication and thereby scientific progress. However, in order for Open Access to thrive we need to have the right organisational models in place. Those are developing and Leuven University Press is definitely contributing to this evolution. The old world of traditional academic publishing and the new world of Open Access will eventually amalgamate into a transformative business model where market and community meet. This emerging nexus will be in line with the shared value approach described by Porter and Kramer in 2011 (Harvard Business Review, January-February).
What do you prefer: print or digital books? Is there a difference between what you read online and what you read on paper?
Both print and digital have their place. They complement one another. Digital books will increase the velocity of knowledge creation, diffusion, dispersion, and revision. However, the printed book will never disappear. It will always be there to cherish the smell of the book, the soul of the cover, the shade of the paper, the elegance of the font, the look and feel of the whole, the joy of the physical touch.
How important is the book cover design to you?
The book cover reflects the soul of the book. It defines the book in the blink of an eye.
Which are some emerging topics in your field of research and/or academic publishing?
The central role of experimentation has been shown to be a powerful instrument in innovation processes. Organisations have to provide the right tools to their employees to engage in experimentation. However, building, buying, and using toolboxes is “the easy part” of the equation. The hard part is making experimentation a way of life throughout the organisation. To this end principles are studied that guide the design and development of a culture of experimentation (e.g. Thomke, 2020). First, curiosity should be cultivated. Everyone in the organization should embrace surprise and constructive failure. Both offer opportunities for learning and rethinking. Second, opinions are omnipresent in design processes. Empirical data and insight, though, stimulate real debate and challenge opinions. The former should thus prevail over the latter. Third, experimentation is part of daily life throughout the organisation. Make it accessible to everyone. Just as Eric von Hippel pleaded for the democratisation of innovation (2005), leadership in experimentation calls for the democratisation of experimentation. Fourth, in order to enact a culture of experimentation, companies and their employees should be ethically sensitive. They should think carefully whether users will or will not consider the tests to be unethical. It is obvious that answers to this question will not always be clear. However, whenever an organisation neglects this, it may face scrutiny and criticism.
What would be your advice for junior researchers on the verge of publishing their first monograph?
Enjoy every moment of it. Reward yourself with a treat. Then embark upon the next journey.
How do you expect academic publishing to evolve over the next 50 years? Will the monograph stand the test of time?
The monograph has been standing the test of centuries and will stand the test of centuries to come. As it embodies the finest abilities and capabilities of mankind: disseminating the knowledge we create through thinking, experimenting, reflecting, challenging, reviewing, reconsidering, improving, enacting, and re-enacting … but always accruing and accumulating to better understand life, nature, man and society. This mission is eternal. It will become more virtual, digital, integrating words and images, more animated, more interactive, more 3-dimensional. But its essence will remain and will prove immutable.
Leuven University Press and KU Leuven operate in a world subject to the same forces. We share the same challenges. Whether it concerns internationalisation, digitalisation, sustainability, interdisciplinarity, or the future of education. In a rapidly changing world, it is important to be ready and to change course in time.
Luc Sels, Rector of KU Leuven since August 2017
Academic publishing underwent significant changes over the last 50 years. Which ones do you find most striking or significant?
Leuven University Press may have been founded half a century ago, its primary task is still the same and remains just as topical: to offer high-quality academic titles in the human and social sciences.
Of course, much has changed in the book trade over the past 50 years. The fact that Leuven University Press is and continues to be a relevant actor in 2021 is partly thanks to its unwavering commitment to its core principles: peer review, for instance, continues to vouch for high quality publications. This firmness of principle ought not to be mistaken for rigidity. On the contrary. In recent years, LUP has succeeded in quickly detecting trends and responding to new challenges. I am thinking in the first place of internationalisation. The books of Leuven University Press find their way to an international audience thanks to a global distribution network. Conversely, many international authors find their way to Leuven University Press.
Internationalisation is unstoppable, as is digitalisation. This trend, too, was quickly adopted. Leuven University Press, for instance, makes use of major digital platforms such as JSTOR, Project MUSE, ProQuest, Google Scholar and Amazon. Over the years, ebooks have seen the light of day: they are a fitting answer to the demand for a more sustainable approach.
Leuven University Press also has its finger on the pulse of our society, with titles in topical areas such as gender and diversity.
What is your experience with Open Access publishing, either as an author or as a reader? Do you identify obvious benefits or perhaps also opportunities for future development?
That Leuven University Press is genuinely committed to disseminating scientific knowledge and supporting scientific research is demonstrated by its many efforts in the field of Open Access. The KU Leuven Fund for Fair Open Access finances researchers who want to publish an OA book with Leuven University Press.
How do you expect academic publishing to evolve over the next 50 years?
Leuven University Press and KU Leuven operate in a world subject to the same forces. We share the same challenges. Whether it concerns internationalisation, digitalisation, sustainability, interdisciplinarity, or the future of education. In a rapidly changing world, it is important to be ready and to change course in time. Leuven University Press has proven to be very adept at this over the past 50 years. That is reason enough to have faith in the future.
]]>University Presses are among the most visible societal vehicles of universities. They are at the core of what academic communities do: discovering and inventing new and future realities.
Geert Bouckaert, President of the Board since 2007
Please introduce yourself briefly
As a professor in public management and governance at the KU Leuven Public Governance Institute (Faculty of Social Sciences) I had a varied academic training in business administration, political science, and philosophy. My academic focus is on how the public sector is functioning and changing to deliver services, implement policies, and organise a well-functioning society. Within this field of public administration, my focus is on structures of government, financial management, and performance of public systems.
It is a privilege to also hold the chair of the KU Leuven Commission for Contemporary Art. To combine a passion for contemporary science and contemporary art is a perfect stepping stone to understand how the relevance of science and art in our current times can be communicated.
How did you come to take responsibility for Leuven University Press?
In 2007, the previous general manager of KU Leuven, professor Koen De Backere, entrusted me with the role of Leuven UP's board president. Supporting Leuven University Press in becoming a sound and sustainable scholarly publisher has been an extraordinary and enriching experience. The collaboration with the current and previous director, Veerle De Laet and Marike Schipper, in doing so has been truly a privilege. They have delivered outstanding work, and Veerle and her team will continue to do so.
Which moment, project or book at Leuven University Press will you always remember and why?
When Thomas More published his ‘Utopia’ in Leuven in 1516, it was not with Leuven University Press (unfortunately), but it was with a press in the university town of Leuven. When celebrating the 500th anniversary of this milestone publication in 2016, it was a pleasure and an honour to have realised, in close cooperation with the colleagues from KU Leuven Metaforum, an edited book that constituted a truly university-wide effort. The collection spans the university's multiple disciplines and focuses on the broad spectrum of utopian visions within these various fields of research.
This publication, 'A Truly Golden Handbook', will be of lasting importance since it documents how our university is able to leave its comfort zone and conceive the almost inconceivable and thus what is utopian. This book will retain its status as a reference work, likely until 2125, when KU Leuven will celebrate its 700th anniversary, or in 2116, when it will be 600 years since More’s Utopia was first published, to verify how right or wrong we were about our own futures.
Which projects/activities are you particularly proud of?
I am very proud of the whole Leuven University Press team. They are professional, dedicated, hard-working, motivated, innovative, and creative in making the strategy happen. They are also patient, supportive, and helpful to all authors and editors. This is a dream team, and I am very proud of everyone involved in making Leuven University Press an outstanding university press.
Where do you see the future of Leuven University Press?
University Presses are among the most visible societal vehicles of universities. They stand at the very crux of what academic communities are engaged in: discovering and inventing new and future realities. University Presses both function as an essential hub and transmitter of knowledge and expertise within academic communities and as a bridge between the academic landscape and society at large. They play a pivotal role in communicating and demonstrating the broader relevance of science and art to the public as a whole.
Leuven University Press covers all these roles.
My dream is that Leuven University Press becomes The University Press in continental Europe, in a close network of other major university presses.
My dream is that Leuven University Press manages to realise free open access to communicate knowledge and research findings.
My dream is that Leuven University Press publishes books and articles that impact societal and academic agendas and debates, and therefore future realities.
This team, under the leadership of Veerle, will make this happen.
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Pictures: Geert Bouckaert at the Press's 45th anniversary reception in 2016 // Geert Bouckaert, Koen De Backere and Marike Schipper at the Press's 45th anniversary reception in 2016
Education and research are essential domains in society, and this is even more true in times of crisis and uncertainty when there is a growing need for experts and researchers who can guide, explain, provide new insights, critically evaluate, and dare to ask the right questions.
Please introduce yourself briefly
Veerle De Laet, born in Lier, studied history at the University of Antwerp and KU Leuven. She obtained her doctorate at the University of Antwerp, held a postdoctoral position at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, and then started as an acquisitions editor at Leuven University Press. From 2016 onwards she has been working as director and in that capacity she has been the representative of the Flemish publishers in the Federation of European Publishers (FEP) since 2020.
How did you come to work at UPL?
Like any other researcher in a post-doc position, I regularly asked myself: what's next? I never had a clearly defined career plan. I have always felt comfortable in different contexts and like to seize opportunities. When at one point a vacancy opened up for an acquisitions editor - a job title completely unfamiliar and yet intriguing to me - I felt enormously attracted to the position. With each sentence of the job description, I thought: yes, this is it! This is what I would really like to do. And so it happened.
And, of course, the outstanding team at Leuven University Press that I have the pleasure of working with on a daily basis: all of them highly qualified people with a sense of humour and a strong dedication to their job.
Which projects/activities are you particularly proud of?
I think the most fascinating book projects are the ones that can be brought to a successful conclusion in spite of vast geographical distances. These are book projects with authors on different continents, in different time zones, sometimes living and working in very different contexts, but when on the same wavelength, it is possible to jointly accomplish something highly valuable. Some recent titles come to mind, such as Public Administration in Ethiopia with about 30 Ethiopian authors, Lumumba in the Arts, a benchmark work with a mixed academic-artistic approach, or Worlds in a Museum in collaboration with Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Where do you see the future of Leuven University Press?
More than ever, Leuven University Press matters - and by extension, all university presses with a distinct academic and social mission.
Education and research are essential domains in society, and this is even more true in times of crisis and uncertainty when there is a growing need for experts and researchers who can guide, explain, provide new insights, critically evaluate and dare to ask the right questions.
Leuven University Press takes its academic-social role seriously. In recent years, we have published several titles that emphatically address current issues and thus make a well-founded contribution to debates about post-colonialism, feminism, human rights, migration, experiences of dislocation. Leuven University Press also consciously continues to provide a forum for research domains and disciplines that want to make a robust and fundamental contribution alongside these pressing topical issues, and that want to take the slow and profound developments within the social sciences and humanities forward. This is at least as important to Leuven University Press. As is the collection of textbooks, which has grown considerably over the past few years, has become more diverse and aims to contribute to the scholarly training of young people.
And last but not least, there is the movement towards Open Science and Open Access, which has gained momentum in recent years and which Leuven University Press has embraced for the full 100%. Being able to share scientific insights with readers worldwide and giving them access to new knowledge, unhindered by financial thresholds, is the pinnacle of scientific publishing. We are therefore proud of the growing collection of titles - across all disciplines - available in OA. We are most grateful to KU Leuven for actively and structurally supporting this future-oriented path in the Leuven University Press publishing policy.
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Pictures: Veerle De Laet (2018) // Veerle De Laet and Marike Schipper at the 45th anniversary reception of the Press in 2016 // Part of the Leuven University Press team (2018)
In a time when alternative truths have acquired the same status as substantiated and demonstrable facts, and when the ultimate democracy of the Internet is sending out an unstoppable stream of opinions and perspectives, an academic publisher like Leuven University Press that subjects its publications to a multiple review procedure is a very important gatekeeper.
Marike Schipper, Director from May 2006 to May 2016
Please introduce yourself briefly.
Marike Schipper, born and raised in the Netherlands, studied Literature and English Language and Literature in Utrecht and Cambridge, moved to Leuven in 2006 to lead Leuven University Press - a big and exciting step that turned out to be a fantastic experience.
How did you come to work at Leuven UP?
After graduating, I had been working at Amsterdam University Press - Leuven University Press's Amsterdam counterpart - since 2000, first as a marketing manager, later as a publisher. In this capacity, I met Jo Tollebeek, who was on the editorial board there. When my predecessor Hilde Lens was about to retire, Jo sounded out whether I might be interested in applying for the position of director in Leuven. At first, that seemed literally 'very far away' - my life at that time was mainly centred in and around Amsterdam. But after a few exploratory talks, among others with the then rector Mark Vervenne, I became very enthusiastic about the opportunities Leuven had to offer and I applied. And I did not regret it for a second
Which moment, project or book at Leuven University Press will you always remember and why?
An absolutely memorable moment was the first meeting of our brand new editorial board. The idea that Leuven University Press would set up a separate advisory committee in addition to the series' editorial boards was certainly not immediately embraced by everyone. Who should be part of it? The idea of including not only professors from Leuven but also academics from other universities - on the one hand to guarantee a refreshing outside perspective and on the other to broaden our scope of acquisition - was not an obvious one. As a Dutch newcomer, I was not immediately aware of all the sensitivities present in the Flemish university landscape... But after several introductions inside and outside Leuven, the first editorial board was set up. A committee of then five professors gave their advice in outlining the publishing policy and setting up the external review procedures.
And it worked. The support, the trust, the fascinating conversations and sometimes tough discussions around the table formed the backbone of an academic publishing policy and legitimised the publishing decisions we had to make. I have always considered those evening meetings with the editorial board, usually with a modest snack and drink, as the most pleasant, valuable and instructive meetings throughout my time at Leuven University Press.
Which projects/activities are you particularly proud of?
What a difficult question! There have been so many projects that are very dear to me - because the collaboration with an author or series leader went particularly well and harmoniously, or because a project seemed very difficult to bring about at first but in the end we succeeded in completing the publication.
The over 2000 bound pages of De geschiedenis van de Nederlandse syntaxis [The History of Dutch Syntax], with its 'mango-yellow' flyleaves, was such a book. Joop van der Horst had been working on the book for many years and a hard copy publication did not seem obvious at first. Raising the funds, typesetting the 2014 pages, editing them, even designing the table of contents were painstaking efforts. But the two hefty volumes now on the shelf harbour a wealth of information of which the importance for future generations of Dutch language scholars can hardly be overestimated. Or the transcription of some handwritten texts by Lyotard into the series by Herman Parret: hitherto unpublished texts with reflections on contemporary art and artists. The negotiations with Lyotard’s emotional widow in the Parisian Café de Flore in order to obtain permission for the publication of the six-volume series, the acquisition of the necessary but sometimes untraceable visual material, the immense challenge for the designer to place French and English texts on opposite pages in parallel so that the texts could be compared and interpreted word for word - it was a long-drawn-out project. But it resulted in a wonderful series that received broad international recognition and was ultimately awarded the Best Dutch Book Designs Prize.
I have always particularly enjoyed working on books where we succeeded in optimally aligning design and content, not only for aesthetic reasons, but also out of the idea that good graphic design can help the reader to structure and fathom often complex scientific information.
But what I also still remember is the five-yearly stress whether the new economics textbook would leave the presses on time - which, luckily, it always did! And the endless search for suitable reviewers who were prepared to read a manuscript for us... unpaid and preferably before the end of the month. Or my futile attempt to change the Leuven University Press logo in a burst of enthusiasm for innovation... It proved to be much more untouchable than I had anticipated!
So many projects come to mind that I think back on with pleasure, but ultimately I have especially fond memories of the authors, the series managers, the editors and translators, and most certainly of my direct colleagues with whom I had the privilege of working in Leuven. It was a really fine experience.
Where do you see the future of Leuven University Press?
In a time when alternative truths have acquired the same status as substantiated and demonstrable facts, and when the ultimate democracy of the Internet is sending out an unstoppable stream of opinions and perspectives, an academic publisher like Leuven University Press that subjects its publications to a multiple review procedure is a very important gatekeeper. The fact that a university press also provides a platform for scientific information that matters irrespective of departmental size, and does not operate solely to financially satisfy shareholders, bolsters its credibility and integrity. That the General Management of KU Leuven has had a university press within its midst for 50 years, is a commendable example of a scientific institution that recognises and actively endorses the importance of a university press.
But Leuven University Press is a vigorous fifty-year-old that will not rest on her laurels. It is a vibrant and inventive publishing house, where the passion for academic books and the relationship with the author are of central importance. A publisher that is fully in tune with the times and has jumped on the Open Access bandwagon with full conviction, with the aim of making science more accessible and thus actively contributing to a world that is more sustainable, tolerant and better informed. So, to Veerle, Beatrice, Mirjam, Annemie, Patricia, Margreet and Nadine, congratulations on your great work! Keep up the good work and let's get to 100!
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Pictures: Marike Schipper at the Press's 45th anniversary reception in 2016 // Marike Schipper and Geert Bouckaert at the Press's 40th anniversary reception in 2011 // The Leuven University Press team in 2016
Leuven University Press is a mature academic press that has developed and earned its place in the publishing world. I dare to hope that the future for Leuven University Press will remain just as enriching, challenging and interesting!
Hilde Lens, Director from 1982 until April 2006
How did you come to work at Leuven UP?
After my return from the US in 1973, where I had been living with my husband, I started working as an executive secretary for Mr Guido Declercq, then KU Leuven General Manager. In August 1971, Mr Guido Declercq had taken the initiative to start a university press. Apart from our General Management duties, we - a colleague and I - also performed all press-related tasks. One moment I would be acting as a secretary and the next moment I was negotiating with printers or handling distribution problems. At that time, authors were still received by the General Administrator.
In 1982, Mr Guido Declercq left the university and was succeeded by Professor Karel Tavernier. The latter then proposed that I should henceforth occupy myself solely and full-time with Leuven University Press. And so it happened. I obtained my publishing degree in the Netherlands and I stayed on as Leuven University Press managing director until my retirement in April 2006.
Which moment, project or book at Leuven University Press will you always remember and why?
The textbook Inleiding tot de economie [Introduction to Economics], published in 1977, was our bestseller. It was our first textbook and by holding it up as an example, we were able to convince more authors to also publish their textbooks with Leuven University Press. I will always remember the great efforts made to retain Introduction to Economics within our portfolio, since various competing publishers were keenly interested in this particular book.
Which projects/activities are you particularly proud of?
I look back with pride on every title we published, but of course there are a few very remarkable ones, such as the bilingual edition of the University's Jubilee Book [on the occasion of KU Leuven 575th anniversary]; the book Sporen in België" - 175 jaar spoorwegen, 75 jaar NMBS [Tracks in Belgium – 175 Years of Railways, 75 Years of National Railway Company of Belgium], which was a successful project; De universiteitsbibliotheek van Leuven [The University Library of Leuven]; various fine series etc.
Where do you see the future of Leuven University Press?
Leuven University Press is a mature academic press that has developed and earned its place in the publishing world. I dare to hope that the future for Leuven University Press will remain just as enriching, challenging and interesting!
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Pictures: Hilde Lens at her retirement reception in 2006 // Marike Schipper and Hilde Lens at Leuven University Press's 40th anniversary reception in 2011
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Turning Inspiring Scholarship into Outstanding Publications
Established in 1971 Leuven University Press is proud to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year.
The world of scholarly communication is highly dynamic, constantly evolving, and adapting to new changes and challenges. And so are we! Throughout our 50 years of publishing academic books and journals, innovation and flexibility have gone hand in hand with quality and consistency.
On its 50th anniversary we can proudly state that our publishing house has acquired a solid reputation, not least by adapting quickly and adequately to key developments within the publishing field in recent years. In partnership with the academic community at large, Leuven University Press embraces new technologies, particularly those that enable us to disseminate scholarly content to an international reading audience in a smooth, user-friendly, and reliable manner.
Systematically made available both in digital form and in print, our books and journals are marketed and distributed worldwide through all major sales channels, both online and in brick-and-mortar bookshops. Furthermore, our OA book collection is thriving. Scholars around the world can freely access a steadily growing collection of Leuven University Press ebooks, unhampered by financial or geographical barriers, while affordable paperback editions are simultaneously available for those readers who prefer a tangible publication.
We look forward to a festive year in which we will celebrate our 50th anniversary together with our authors, editors, series boards, readers, customers, and supporters. Our website will host an anniversary blog offering multiple reflections on the affordances and challenges of academic publishing today.
To further underline the importance we attach to Open Access and Open Science, we will make a selected backlist title permanently available in Open Access each month. So keep an eye on our website www.lup.be and social media (facebook, twitter, linkedIn) and stay posted on our publication programme and special offers!
Meanwhile, we keep publishing original and inspiring scholarly work. This
catalogue presents our new and forthcoming titles for Spring-Summer 2021.
Have a good read!
Veerle De Laet
Director, Leuven University Press