A Comparative Study of High-quality Academic Journals in Southeast Asia

Abstract

This study compared the characteristics of the top-ten, multidisciplinary, academic journals, as ranked by the SCImago Journal & Country Rank database in 2014, in Southeast Asia (we used ASEAN, ex-Singapore, as a proxy for Southeast Asia) – Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology (TH), Sains Malaysiana (MY), Walailak Journal of Science and Technology (TH), Chiang Mai Journal of Science (TH), Maejo International Journal of Science and Technology (TH), ScienceAsia (TH), Chiang Mai University Journal of Natural Sciences (TH), Journal of Mathematical and Fundamental Sciences (ID), Journal of Science and Technology in the Tropics (MY), Malaysia Journal of Science (MY) – to analyze the factors for success and provide lessons for regional journals. We analyzed the ten selected journals using the SCImago’s journal metrics derived from its Scopus database, and compared four metrics: 1) SJR indicator, 2) number of documents published, 3) country affiliation of published authors, and 4) authors most frequently published. We also interviewed Editors-in-Chief and journal officers to gather both ‘demographic’ data about each journal and insights into how they are managed and issues they perceive with trying to improve the quality of their publications. Thailand is heavily represented in the top-ten regional, multidisciplinary journals, with six of the top-ten, and four of the top-five. However, the region as a whole is relatively weak, with its top-ranked regional journal only in the second quartile of all multidisciplinary science journals worldwide, and its seventh ranked journal already falling into the fourth quartile – Southeast Asia as a region is clearly an emerging, rather than established region for internationally recognized academic journals. As the Editors pointed out, these emerging regional journals face several challenges – limited visibility, tight budgets, and volunteer staff, among other obstacles. But, as they also suggested, a continued focus on quality content, finding quality peer reviewers, seeking out current and cutting-edge research, among others, can help lift these emerging journals to further impact and prominence.