2nd System Development and Quality Improvement of Thai Journals Indexed in Scopus, Phase 2

The editorial team of JIBS participated in a meeting related to the "The 2nd System Development and Quality Improvement of Thai Journals Indexed in Scopus, Phase 2" project. This event was organized by the Thai Journal Citation Index Center (TCI) Center in collaboration with several organizations, including Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI), Science Technology and Innovation Policy Institute (STIPI), King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), and the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC).

The meeting occurred on Thursday, October 19, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Eastin Grand Hotel in Phayathai. It brought together journal editors and the working group associated with the project, with a total of 250 participants representing 93 journals.

During the meeting, Dr. Kanyawim Keeratikorn, Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation at King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), inaugurated the proceedings. She emphasized the importance of the TCI Center, which operates under the auspices of KMUTT and receives support from STIPI and NECTEC. This collaborative effort seeks to elevate the quality of Thai journals.

Prof. Dr. Narongrit Sombatsompop, Head of the Thai Journal Citation Index Center, delivered a presentation on the "Progress on Quality Improvement of Thai Journals Indexed in Scopus (2017-present)." He elaborated on the broader objectives of the TCI-TSRI-Scopus Collaboration Project Phases 1 and 2, underlining the imperative of enhancing journal quality, increasing research article output, and raising the quartile ranking of Thai journals within the Scopus database. The overarching aim is to gain international recognition for Thai journals while fostering an understanding of the Thai Local Board's evaluation process.

Prof. Richard Whatmore, hailing from the University of St Andrews in the United Kingdom, provided insights into "Scopus journal selection criteria: what are expected from CSAB when evaluating local journals for indexing Scopus?" He elucidated the criteria used to assess journals for Scopus indexing, with a strong emphasis on internationalization. Key criteria encompassed original research, international focus, research identity, review policies, abstracts, bibliographies, ethics, and national profile (PIRRABEN). Prof. Whatmore also underscored the advantages of Scopus indexing, including expanded global access for researchers and enhanced collaboration opportunities.

Prof. Richard Whatmore continued his presentation with "Tips 1: How CSAB evaluates non-English journals for Scopus inclusion" and "Tips 2: How local journals in Scopus maintain or improve quality." He delved into the possibility of including non-English journals in Scopus and strategies for upholding article quality. Factors influencing journal quality encompassed publication frequency, peer review, internationality, accessibility, and ethical publishing practices. For journals in local languages, he suggested designating article abstracts as "Extended Abstracts" to facilitate broader accessibility.

Lastly, Dr. Nongyao Sripromsuk, Assistant Head of the Thai Journal Citation Index Center, presented performance analysis findings for 48 journals involved in the TCI-TSRI-Scopus Collaboration Project Phase 1 in 2023. The analysis entailed a comparison of seven metrics from SciVal spanning the period from 2017 to 2023, offering valuable insights into the project's progress.