The Research and Development Office (RDO) of Biliran Province State University has set its sights on achieving Scopus indexing for the BiPSU Journal of Society and Technology (JST) after successfully conducting benchmarking visit to the University of San Jose–Recoletos (USJR) in Cebu City to learn from the successful Scopus-indexed Recoletos Multidisciplinary Research Journal (RMRJ).

The said visit aligns with BiPSU’s broader internationalization agenda and its commitment to the ambitious WoW BiPSU 2.0 vision, which prioritizes strengthening research outputs and global recognition.

Held on March 18, the activity aims to gain insights from RMRJ’s experience in obtaining Scopus indexing, understand editorial workflows and best practices in peer review and journal management, identify key factors that contribute to citation impact and international recognition, assess JST’s current standing and develop strategies for improvement, and establish collaborations with USJ-R’s editorial board for future knowledge exchange.

Journal of Society and Technology (JST) is the peer-reviewed official journal of BiPSU which aims to become a premier platform for high-quality research publications. However, achieving Scopus indexing requires adherence to rigorous editorial and publication standards.

Moreover, the benchmarking visit, facilitated by the RMRJ Editorial Board, provided BiPSU officials with insights into best practices in editorial management, manuscript review, and citation impact enhancement. 

The benchmarking also involved discussions with RMRJ’s editorial board, presentations on the Scopus indexing process, and the formulation of an action plan to enhance JST’s chances of inclusion in the prestigious database.

Dr. Roland A. Niez, vice president for Research, Innovation, and Extension Services, led the delegation. Also part of the delegation are Research Director Dr. Pearl Irish de Paz, JST Editor in Chief Dr. Ruffy M. Rodrigo, Glenn Gumba, Eric John Celis, John Raymund Calderon, Phia Jane Llesis, Rambee T. Golin, Myra Ivy A. Parac, and Ma. Shiela C. Torregoza.

In an interview, Research Director Dr. de Paz explained the importance of the visit in the BiPSU’s efforts in elevating the university’s research visibility and international standing.

“The increasing emphasis on Scopus-indexed publications underscores the need for high-quality research dissemination,” the research director said. “Our goal is to elevate JST to meet the rigorous standards required for Scopus indexing.”

Dr. de Paz also noted the need to understand the specific requirements for Scopus indexing and refine the university’s editorial workflows to meet the standards. “Strengthening partnerships with institutions like USJR will also open avenues for collaborative research and knowledge exchange,” she added.

[This aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education.]