The Directorate of Research of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) organized the “Workshop and FGD on Improving the Quality of UGM Scientific Journals in 2023,” which was held on Monday, July 31, 2023 in Bulaksumur Room, University Club (UC) Hotel UGM. This event aimed to strengthen cooperation and collaboration between scientific journal managers, so as to improve journal quality and encourage the growth of journal management at UGM. In addition, this event served as a forum for sharing experiences, thoughts, and best practices in the management of scientific journals at UGM.
The event was opened by the Secretary of UGM Research Directorate, Prof. drg. Diatri Nari Ratih, M.Kes., Ph.D., Sp.KG (K)., who in her opening remarks expressed great hope that all journal managers will increase UGM’s reputation as an excellent research university, through the management of journals with high standing. This hope is supported by the existence of various scientific journal management programs organized by the Directorate. The Head of the Sub-Directorate of Scientific Publication and Intellectual Property Directorate of Research UGM, Ratih Fitria Putri, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D., conveyed the various assistance programs, services, facilitation, and policies managed by the Directorate to facilitate and support scientific journals at UGM. The increased reputation of journals at UGM will certainly have a broad impact, both on the performance of the university as well as the development and dissemination of science.
Scientific journal accreditation is one of the instruments to encourage scientific journals to meet certain qualities and implement best practices in scientific publication. In line with this, scientific journal indexing institutions also apply strict standards and a more comprehensive evaluation process to ensure that indexed journals meet good publishing standards. Therefore, managers of scientific journals at UGM are required to have adequate knowledge and follow the latest developments, in either accreditation, indexation, or other important knowledge needed in journal management.
The Coordinator of Scientific Publications and Scientific Journals of DRTPM DIKTI Ristek, Yoga Dwi Arianda, S.T., was presented directly as a resource person in the first session to provide exposure and socialization related to scientific journal accreditation. The next material presentation was best practices in indexing scientific journals in Scopus, delivered by the second speaker, Dr. Miftahul Ilmi, S.Si., M.Si. who is the Editor in Chief of the Journal of Tropical Biodiversity and Biotechnology (JTBB). This first session was guided by moderator Ide Yunianto, S.Si., M.Eng, the Coordinator of Scientific Journal Management at the Directorate.
The Directorate of Research also presented speakers from the UGM Journal Reputation Improvement Acceleration Teams. The first speaker, Dr. Andri Putra Kesmawan, S.IP, M.IP, presented material about the application of Creative Commons licenses in scientific journals, followed by Dr. Purwani Istiana, S.I.P., M.A., who presented material about the best practices for indexing scientific journals in DOAJ. This second session was guided by Agustina Asih Tri Utami, S.T.P.
In the last session, namely the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) session, discussions and direct assistance were held, where a total of 174 participants who were representatives of 103 journals at UGM were divided into four different groups according to the current condition of each journal and according to the scientific cluster of the journal. The discussion of the strategic plan for scientific journals was guided by moderator Dr. Miftahul Ilmi, S.Si., M.Si, and the group of scientific journals in the field of social sciences and humanities was guided by moderator Widya Paramita, S.E., M.Sc., Ph.D.
This workshop and FGD activities are expected to provide several outcomes, including: UGM journal managers attain additional knowledge about best practices and the latest information related to scientific journal management, understand the flow of the national journal accreditation process and indexation of scientific journals, and they receive the latest information related to scientific journal development programs organized by the Directorate of Research. With good management, it is expected that the quality and reputation of UGM journals will increase.
Author: Kiki
Photos: Ma’ruf
