National Scientific Conference on Enhancing Journal Quality towards Scopus and Web of Science Standards

On 18 September 2026, at the University of Transport Technology, the Party Committee of Universities and Colleges in Hanoi hosted, in coordination with the National Political Publishing House, Hanoi University of Science and Technology and the University of Transport Technology, the National Scientific Conference “Enhancing the Quality of Vietnamese Scientific Journals towards Scopus and Web of Science Standards”.

The Conference pursued a strategically significant objective of promoting the substantive and professional development of Vietnamese scientific journals and their gradual recognition by the international scientific community, thereby enhancing the research capacity, knowledge autonomy and academic standing of Vietnamese higher education institutions.

The Conference brought together approximately 300 delegates representing central agencies, Hanoi authorities, ministries and sectors, higher education institutions, research institutes, press and publishing agencies, as well as scientists, experts and professionals working in scientific journals.

Overview of the Conference

The Conference was held in the context of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated 22 December 2024 of the Politburo, which identifies the development of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation as a top strategic breakthrough; and Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW dated 22 August 2025, which sets out requirements for breakthroughs in education and training, with higher education more closely linked to scientific research, innovation and international integration.

Representatives of the four co-organizing institutions chairing the Conference

Opening the programme, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Trong Lam - Secretary of the Party Committee, Director and Editor-in-Chief of the National Political Publishing House presented the keynote report, outlining key issues for delegates to discuss regarding the need to improve quality, professionalize publishing activities and gradually bring Vietnamese scientific journals closer to international standards.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Trong Lam – Secretary of the Party Committee, Director and Editor-in-Chief of the National Political Publishing House presenting the keynote report

In the report “Vietnam’s Scientific Journal System: Current Status, Level of Integration and Development Orientation”, Dr. Tran Dac Hien - Director General of the Department of Information, Statistics and Science and Technology Evaluation, Ministry of Science and Technology provided an overview of the scale, structure and operation of Vietnam’s scientific journal system. Alongside the achievements made, he noted that the adoption of DOI identifiers, development of online journals, data standardization and international integration remained uneven across journals. In the coming period, journals need to continue standardizing publishing processes, improving the quality of peer review and editorial boards; strengthening the application of OJS, DOI and ORCID; ensuring research integrity and transparency in the use of generative AI; and enhancing connectivity and data sharing. Governing bodies also need to invest appropriate resources and support journals with potential to gradually meet Scopus and Web of Science standards.

Dr. Tran Dac Hien – Director General of the Department of Information, Statistics and Science and Technology Evaluation, Ministry of Science and Technology presenting his report at the Conference

At the Conference, in the report “A Model for Developing a Scopus-Standard Scientific Journal through Internal Resources: The Case of the Journal of Science and Transport Technology”, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long – Secretary of the Party Committee, Rector of the University of Transport Technology affirmed: The greatest value of the JSTT case lies not merely in an index or a ranking. Its distinctive achievement is that a Vietnamese university can proactively build its own scientific publishing brand, take ownership of its editorial and peer-review processes, digital infrastructure, academic network and development orientation, while still gaining recognition from a major international database. This experience reinforces the belief that Vietnamese higher education institutions are fully capable of developing journals that meet international standards if they have a clear strategy, professional management, sustained investment and a commitment to quality from leadership to the implementation team.

From this specific case, the message was broadened into a systemic orientation: if each university proactively raises the standards of its own journals while also collaborating to share experts, reviewers, infrastructure, data, management experience and internationalization resources, Vietnam can gradually develop a stronger and more reputable scientific journal system with a more visible presence on the international scientific landscape.

Drawing on JSTT’s experience, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long recommended that, to achieve sustainable development, journals must be standardized from the outset (standardization cannot wait until the preparation of a Scopus application); internationalization must be substantive by increasing the participation of Editorial Board members, reviewers, authors and international scientific activities; quality must remain at the core because it determines a journal’s long-term reputation; journals should be managed as scientific publishing systems rather than merely as platforms for receiving manuscripts; and a scientific ecosystem should be developed (behind a journal there should be research, laboratories, conferences and international networks).

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long - Secretary of the Party Committee, Rector of UTT sharing the model for developing a Scopus-standard scientific journal through internal resources

During the discussion session, participants at the Conference agreed that Scopus and Web of Science are important international benchmarks, but the ultimate goal remains substantive scientific quality. A journal can only develop sustainably when the quality of its articles is ensured, peer review is independent and rigorous, publishing ethics are respected, management is data-driven, digital infrastructure is under its own control and internationalization is strengthened through substantive academic cooperation.

Delegates exchanging views and discussing solutions to enhance the quality of Vietnamese scientific journals

An action-oriented highlight of the Conference was the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Commitment among 20 member institutions on cooperation to enhance the quality of Vietnamese scientific journals towards Scopus and Web of Science standards for the 2026 - 2030 period. The signing laid the foundation for an inter-institutional cooperation mechanism in developing scientific journals towards international standards.

Representatives of 20 member institutions signing the cooperation agreement on developing scientific journals towards Scopus indexing for the 2026-2030 period

Under the orientation of the Memorandum of Commitment, the institutions will proactively develop roadmaps, allocate resources and make efforts to have their scientific journals indexed in Scopus or Web of Science by 2030. The parties will also establish a cooperation network to share experience in management, editing, peer review, internationalization and digital transformation; organize training programmes, professional workshops and seminars; support self-assessment against international criteria and strengthen resource connectivity.

Under the coordination mechanism, the Party Committee of Universities and Colleges in Hanoi will promote its role in connecting, providing orientation and facilitating the Network’s joint activities; the University of Transport Technology will serve as the coordinating focal point, sharing experience and supporting connections among professional activities. Accordingly, the commitments of the 20 institutions are expected to be translated into concrete plans with designated focal points, timelines, deliverables and monitoring mechanisms, so that the international integration of scientific journals becomes a sustainable development process rather than a short-term movement.

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Son - Member of the Hanoi Party Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee of Universities and Colleges in Hanoi delivering the closing remarks at the Conference

Delivering the concluding and closing remarks at the Conference, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Son - Member of the Hanoi Party Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee of Universities and Colleges in Hanoi affirmed the significance of strengthening collaboration and sharing resources and experience among educational institutions, research organizations and publishing units in developing scientific journals towards international standards.

Delegates taking a commemorative photo at the Conference

University of Transport Technology