From December 15 to 18, 2024, the 28th Annual Conference of the Chinese Association of University Science and Technology Journals was held in Haikou, Hainan Province. Attending the opening ceremony were Zou Hui, Deputy Director of the Department of Science, Technology, and Informatization of the Ministry of Education (online); Liu Xingping, Director of the Department of Science and Technology Innovation of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST); Li Jun, Vice President of the China Periodical Association (online); Liu Jiansheng, former Deputy Director (Level 1 Inspector) of the Publication Bureau of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee; Gao Diangong, Member of the Party Committee and Vice President of Hainan University; Tan Lei, Deputy Director of the Publication (Copyright) Division of the Publicity Department of the Hainan Provincial Party Committee; Liu Jiacheng, President of the Hainan Provincial Periodical Association; as well as Chen Haoyuan and Yan Shuai, Honorary Chairpersons of the Association, and other board members, secretaries, supervisors, invited reporting experts, and representatives from publishing technology service enterprises.
In his speech, Zou Hui emphasized that university science and technology journals are one of the important supports for implementing the national strategies of science and education revitalization, talent strengthening, and innovation-driven development. The Ministry of Education attaches great importance to the work of science and technology journals. Through the joint implementation of the first phase of the "China Science and Technology Journal Excellence Action Plan," it has promoted the rapid enhancement of the influence of university science and technology journals. The journals' international citation indicators have continuously set new records, and the construction of independent publishing platforms has begun to show results. Currently, university science and technology journals are in a crucial phase of academic publishing transformation. The focus should be on scientific innovation and serving national strategies; strengthening dynamic assessments and proactively responding to changes; and building consensus within the industry while exploring cluster paths. After successfully completing the board re-election, the association should continue its work in uniting science and technology journal workers in universities, conducting academic research on university science and technology journals, and promoting the development of the journal sector.
In his speech, Liu Xingping pointed out that the first phase of the "China Science and Technology Journal Excellence Action Plan" has been successfully concluded, and the second phase has officially launched. The new phase puts forward higher and more demanding requirements for further building consensus, gathering strength, and deepening reforms in the field of science and technology journals. First, there is a need to fully recognize the pioneering and supportive role of science and technology journals in building a strong science and technology nation. Second, it is important to leverage the unique functions of both Chinese and English journals. Third, science and technology associations must fulfill their irreplaceable responsibilities in building top-tier science and technology journals. Liu hopes the association will better utilize its advantages in expert governance, cross-sector connections, and academic management, and attract more high-quality research results to be published on China's independent journal platforms.
Gao Diangong introduced the rapid development of Hainan University, which has benefited from the opportunities provided by the Free Trade Port. The university has made significant progress in talent cultivation, faculty development, scientific research innovation, social service capabilities, and international cooperation and exchanges. Hainan University places great importance on the development of science and technology journals and has rapidly enhanced its journal management capabilities. Two of its journals, Light: Nature and Health (English) and Tropical Plants (English), were selected as new high-start journals under the Excellence Action Plan. The university is exploring in-depth interactions and collaborative development between its disciplines and journals, leveraging regional characteristics.
Li Jun pointed out that universities are the mainstay of academic journals. University leaders should treat journal development as an integral part of university construction and continue to support the growth of university science and technology journals. University faculty and on-campus scientists are the primary source of content for these journals, and they should contribute high-quality manuscripts to the development of China's top-tier scientific journals. Editors of university science and technology journals play a leading role in building world-class scientific journals. They must: first, act as academic gatekeepers; second, prioritize service; and third, prioritize efficiency. Their efforts will contribute significantly to ensuring that academic papers are written on Chinese soil.
Tan Lei emphasized that Hainan’s efforts to establish a higher-level open economic system, promote cross-border movement of global factors and resources, and facilitate the free and convenient movement of people and secure, orderly data flow in the Hainan Free Trade Port create favorable conditions for hosting international scientific journal forums and exhibitions in Hainan. This will enhance international exchanges and cooperation in the field of science and technology journals, opening up vast possibilities and rich application scenarios for the digitalization and internationalization of scientific journals.
Liu Jiacheng pointed out that Hainan is vigorously building a Free Trade Port with Chinese characteristics and expressed a willingness to work together with the journal community to explore innovative ideas and measures for the digitalization and internationalization of scientific journals. He hopes to jointly promote the prosperous development of the journal industry. Liu also expressed the hope that this year's conference would engage in in-depth discussions and full exchanges on how scientific journals can better meet the demands of the times, make greater breakthroughs in areas such as innovating media models and enhancing academic influence, and reach more consensus.
The opening ceremony was hosted by Zhang Xin, Vice Chairperson and Secretary General of the Association, while the release ceremony was hosted by Zeng Guifang, Vice Chairperson.
Vice Chairperson Cheng Qinjuan announced the "2024 Annual Demonstrative Case Database of University Science and Technology Journals in China: Outstanding/Top 100/Excellent Science and Technology Journal Cases." Vice Chairperson Liu Zhiqiang presented the "2024 Annual Demonstrative Case Database of University Science and Technology Journals in China: Gold Pen Articles/Silver Pen Articles/Bronze Pen Articles." Vice Chairperson and Secretary General Zhang Xin released the "2024 Annual Demonstrative Case Database of University Science and Technology Journals in China: Gold Key/Silver Key/Bronze Key Video Abstract Cases" and hosted the presentation of the "China University Science and Technology Journal Research Association 2023 Youth Research Fund Completion Certificates." Zhang also hosted the awarding of certificates for the journals selected in the "2024 China English Scientific Journals Overseas Media Communication Impact Report."
Chairperson Zhang Tieming hosted the launch ceremony of the "University Science and Technology Journals Graded Directory" and announced the list of first-member institutions for the "Academic Integrity and New Media Matrix for Publishing." Along with Liu Jiansheng, former Deputy Director of the Publication Bureau of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, Yang Huabing, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Higher Education Press, and Liu Xiaomin, Secretary General of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Natural Science Journals Editors Association, Zhang Tieming also jointly launched the China University Science and Technology Journal Aggregation Platform online.
The keynote speech session of the conference was hosted by Zhang Xin, Vice Chairperson and Secretary General, and Liu Zhiqiang, Vice Chairperson.
Liu Jiansheng delivered the keynote speech titled "The Dilemmas and Solutions of Scientific Journals," pointing out that current scientific journals face challenges such as uneven resource distribution, scattered publishing entities, the outflow of high-quality manuscripts, frequent academic misconduct, escalating technological challenges, and a shortage of highly skilled personnel. The solution lies in following the guidance provided by the Party and the state’s strategic plans for publishing work, promoting the fine traditions of the older generation of publishing managers, and working in accordance with the requirements set out in the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Liu emphasized that the scientific, educational, and publishing sectors across the country must work together to achieve the prosperous, sustainable, and long-term development of China’s science and technology journals.
Liu Jiansheng delivered the keynote speech titled "The Dilemmas and Solutions of Scientific Journals," pointing out that current scientific journals face challenges such as uneven resource distribution, scattered publishing entities, the outflow of high-quality manuscripts, frequent academic misconduct, escalating technological challenges, and a shortage of highly skilled personnel. The solution lies in following the guidance provided by the Party and the state’s strategic plans for publishing work, promoting the fine traditions of the older generation of publishing managers, and working in accordance with the requirements set out in the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Liu emphasized that the scientific, educational, and publishing sectors across the country must work together to achieve the prosperous, sustainable, and long-term development of China’s science and technology journals.
Yu Zhenglu, a researcher from the Center for Scientometrics and Evaluation at the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China, delivered the keynote speech titled "Analysis of Citation Characteristics of High-Quality Scientific Journals." Based on the analysis of SCI journals, Nature Index source journals, and Chinese English-language scientific journals, Yu emphasized that China’s scientific journals should accelerate their development toward higher quality in the future, with a focus on enhancing their brand and competitiveness.
Zhang Tieming delivered the keynote speech titled "High-Quality Development of University Science and Technology Journals in the Context of the Second Phase of the Excellence Action Plan." Based on the analysis of university science and technology journals selected for the second phase of the China Science and Technology Journal Excellence Action Plan, Zhang highlighted the development opportunities and challenges faced by university journals. He also analyzed the advantages, potential, current development status, and issues in the construction of university science and technology journals. Zhang proposed directions for exploring and practicing the high-quality development of university science and technology journals.
On the afternoon of the 16th, the conference's plenary reports were divided into three topics: "High-Quality Development of University Science and Technology Journals," "Innovative Development of Excellent Journals," and "Cutting-Edge Technologies in Journal Publishing." On the morning of the 17th, several sub-forums were organized, including the "Technical Journal Professional Committee Sub-forum," "Academic Integrity and Copyright Working Committee Sub-forum," "Medical Journal Professional Committee Sub-forum," and the "Innovative Development of English Academic Journals Sub-forum." In the afternoon, the "Publishing Integration Working Committee Sub-forum," "Higher Vocational College Journal Professional Committee Sub-forum," "International Cooperation Working Committee Sub-forum," "Agriculture Sub-forum: Enhancing New Journal Productivity to Serve Rural Revitalization," and the "Youth Teacher Education Sub-forum" were held. During the conference, the 9th Board of Directors' 2nd Executive Meeting, the 9th Board of Directors' 2nd General Meeting, as well as the second editorial board meeting of the Chinese journal Academic Publishing Research and the youth editorial board meeting of the English journal Academic Communication Journal were also convened.
The conference concluded on the 18th, with nearly 90 experts from both domestic and international fields invited to deliver reports and engage in discussions. Over 700 representatives attended the event, both online and offline. During the conference, experts and journal representatives engaged in extensive interaction, deep exchanges, and lively discussions, sparking new ideas and releasing wisdom. Their collaboration injected more innovation and vitality into the efforts to support the construction of a strong science and technology nation and promote the high-quality development of university science and technology journals.
(Written by: Liu Jun)