Supporting our editors with an updated training program

Our new training platform & courses are proving a hit with our editorial community

Research publishing is changing fast. New tools, systems and ways of working, emerging forms of ethical misconduct and rapid developments in AI mean that what editors need to know today looks different from what you needed a year ago — and will look different again next year.

As an editor, you advance trusted research and help authors improve their work. We provide you with powerful tools, support, and guidance which enable us to accomplish these goals together. Part of this support recognizes that training for the all-important role of editor is critical, and we are therefore keen to ensure that all our editors get the guidance and preparation they need.

We recently released the third update of our “Absolute Essentials” training course, covering the fundamentals of editorial roles and article handling. The revised course has been updated to reflect the latest insights on research integrity and AI policies as the publishing landscape continues to evolve.

Training built around editors, not processes

Elsevier relaunched its editor training program with a mission: you and your peers should feel confident and well-supported in your roles. The editorial journey can be demanding — manuscript decisions are not always straightforward, and the stakes, especially when it comes to research integrity, are high. The program is designed to give editors practical, accessible guidance you can draw on when it matters.

We are committed to working together to ensure the integrity of the research we publish, and to building trust in science. Ensuring our publications are both trustworthy and inclusive, which benefits your authors, science and society at large sits at the heart of what we do — and at the heart of your role. This shared commitment heavily informs the composition and focus of the program.

Introducing the new training platform

To deliver a smooth and professional experience at scale, we have invested in a new, modern learning management system — giving you and your fellow editors a clean, accessible platform to engage with training content wherever you are in your editorial journey.

Core modules cover editorial fundamentals, article handling processes, and generative AI, each designed to be completed in around 20-30 minutes, with short knowledge checks along the way to help concepts stick. The goal is to make this a resource to which you will enjoy returning throughout your tenure as an Elsevier editor.

The program launched with new editors joining Elsevier journals this year, ensuring they have the foundation they need for the role from the start. We're now extending the program to our full editor community. The rollout to existing article-handling editors contracted by Elsevier is already underway, with the goal of ensuring every editor, wherever they are in their journey, has the training and support they need to navigate the role. If you haven't received access yet, keep an eye out for a message from us confirming when you're up.

The content is evolving alongside the role. On top of the core modules covering editorial fundamentals, article handling, and generative AI, we'll soon be adding guidance on publication ethics and Editorial Manager to help with the day-to-day mechanics of the system, with more topics to follow as we hear what you and your peers need. And when you just need a fast, reliable answer, the platform's AI assistant is already live: trained on Elsevier's own learning content and policies, so you can ask an editorial question and get an accurate answer on the spot.

A clear seal of approval

The 2,000+ editors who have already explored the program have been overwhelmingly positive, rating Absolute Essentials 9.4 out of 10 and submitting more than 400 pieces of written, typically highly enthusiastic feedback. What comes through consistently is an appreciation for the practical focus of the content and the clarity it brings to complex situations.

“It seems well-designed and practical. I really appreciate its concise format and emphasis on building confidence in decision-making while upholding research integrity.” — feedback on Absolute Essentials

“I found it very insightful and pedagogical. It made me aware of more granular aspects of the triage process. Thank you!” — feedback on Triage

We monitor your feedback regularly and it directly informs how the training program develops. Do you have a topic you'd like to see covered — a tricky integrity scenario, a new AI tool, a process that's never quite clicked? Let us know by sending a suggestion to: [email protected]opens in new tab/window. The program will work best if built with the editor community not just for it, after all.

Looking to the future

The publishing landscape will keep changing; this program will evolve accordingly. Over the coming months we'll be adding live webinars and guidance on navigating Elsevier's editorial systems into the platform, along with new modules on topics like inviting reviewers, ethical compliance, acquisition, and how Elsevier supports editors through the journal lifecycle. We're also working to make sure Society partners can benefit from the platform, extending the same support beyond our own journals. So stay tuned for more updates, explore the new training platform when you can and we look forward to continuing to support your vital work in advancing trusted research.