SAN FRANCISCO, CA —The Public Library of Science (PLOS) today announced a publishing agreement with Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), enabling its researchers to have unlimited publishing in all PLOS Journals. MAHE is participating in our Community Action Publishing, Global Equity and Flat Fee models that shift publishing costs from authors to research institutions. The publishing agreement runs through 2026.

Evaluating research quality is central to building scientific knowledge, yet social sciences often face challenges due to methodological limits and disciplinary biases in existing tools. A new study addressed these gaps by systematically reviewing current approaches and developing the Quality Appraisal Checklist for Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed-Methods Studies (QQM Checklist). This concise, versatile tool enhances rigor in assessing diverse study types and supports more transparent, evidence-based decisions in both research and funding.

University of Phoenix today announced the publication of a new white paper, “Leveraging Achieved Skills to Improve Confidence Between Students and Employers,” authored by Francisco Contreras and Brandon Edwards of the University’s careers product team. The paper outlines how a record of a learners’ achievements and attested skills can help students and employers speak a common language of skills, and help working adult learners see where they may qualify—and where they are close—before they apply.