Publishing Journal ›› 2025, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (6): 51-62.

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Data Operations in University Presses across China, the U.S. and the U.K. : Progress, Influencing Factors and Pathway Recommendations

  

  1. （Zhengzhou University Press，Zhengzhou， 450052）

    （School of Information Management/ Digital Publishing Research Institute， Wuhan University， Wuhan， 430072）

  • Received:2025-08-27 Revised:2025-09-28 Online:2025-12-04 Published:2025-12-04

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Abstract:

 Firstly， this paper reviews the primary development characteristics of university presses across China， the United States， and the United Kingdom，Chinese university presses emerged as a formidable force after China’ s reform and opening-up. Through corporate restructuring， they gained status as market competitors. Following exploration and optimization in the digital era， they entered a phase of multi-tiered data operations， giving rise to data operation leaders. American university presses， with their spirit of breaking and innovating， have effectively addressed challenges such as the rapid declined of the traditional library allocation market， reduced university subsidies， and the constantly evolving academic publishing model under the dominance of digital technology. In the United Kingdom， the digital revolution and open access publishing model have given rise to a new wave of university presses， injecting fresh vitality into the imbalanced landscape of British university publishing. Secondly， it analyzes the different stages of data operation progress and their characteristic manifestations among university presses in the three countries. Progressive university presses have seized the new opportunities in data operation brought about by digital technology and open science. First-class university presses， after accumulating highquality content and brand equity， have entered a competitive stage of data operation. Leading university presses have advanced into a mature phase of data operation， transitioning from product development to ecosystem construction. Thirdly， it explores three influential factors driving data operation in university presses， a policy environment conducive to promoting and facilitating data operation， including tax subsidies， various forms of funding support， and professional assistance from university press associations， which effectively alleviate the manpower shortage and cost pressures; the accumulation of content and brand equity， which helps university presses establish competitive barriers; and excellent management capabilities coupled with an enterprising and innovative publishing spirit， providing institutional guarantees for the construction of data operation ecosystem. Finally， it proposes path recommendations for promoting data operation in Chinese university presses through three subjects ： for the policy level， expanding funding sources， strengthening funding project management， and offering targeted tax incentives ； for the university press level， seeking breakthroughs by identifying their own positioning and exploring co-collaborations; and seeking professional supports from university press associations.

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