Announcements

MDPI, in collaboration with King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), is pleased to announce the successful co-organization of an academic publishing exchange. This initiative was designed to equip researchers and scholars with essential skills for navigating the complexities of academic publishing. Hosted at KMITL’s prestigious facilities, the session aimed to enhance participants' understanding of the publication process, refine their English writing proficiency, facilitate effective communication with peer reviewers, and explore the innovative applications of artificial intelligence in publishing. By uniting experts from MDPI and KMITL, a dynamic platform was created for knowledge exchange and professional development.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kittichai Kasemsarn opened the session by expressing his enthusiasm for academic publishing and the opportunities it brings to researchers. As the Vice Dean for Research and Innovation at the School of Architecture, Art, and Design, KMITL, he emphasized the importance of high-quality publications in advancing research impact and fostering innovation within the academic community. He warmly welcomed MDPI’s presence and highlighted the value of collaboration between KMITL and MDPI in promoting accessible and impactful research dissemination. He acknowledged the growing importance of open access publishing and expressed appreciation for the insights and support MDPI provides to researchers in navigating the academic publishing landscape.

In the first session, Dr. Phranot Ajkidkarn, Editorial Team Leader at MDPI’s Bangkok Office, introduced MDPI as a leading open access publisher dedicated to advancing research through rapid peer review and global dissemination. He explained the meaning of open access, emphasizing its role in increasing visibility, citation potential, and societal impact by making research freely available. He then highlighted three related MDPI journals: Sustainability, focusing on sustainable development and environmental policies; Buildings, covering architecture, construction, and energy-efficient design; and Heritage, dedicated to cultural heritage preservation and conservation. Encouraging participants to explore publishing opportunities, he concluded by welcoming discussions on manuscript preparation and submission.

The second session was shared by Dr. Krit Inthajak, MDPI’s regional journal relations specialist in Asia-Pacific, with the topic “How to Write Scientific Papers in English”. This session covered how to prepare a manuscript before submitting it to a publishing institute and highlighted the importance of collecting and analyzing literature reviews as the first step. Next, he illustrated each main section of the manuscript, including the front matter, the main text, and the back matter. Examples of manuscripts on different research subjects were presented and compared to enable a better understanding of what the readers would expect, and how it would gain their interest.

The third session, titled “How to Respond to Peer-Reviewers”, was presented by Ms. Hathaipat Kittirojana, a Regional Journal Relations Specialist. She discussed various aspects of the open access publishing model and the reviewer process at MDPI. During the session, she addressed the questions raised. Some participants inquired about how MDPI conducts the similarity check upon submission, while others were curious about how to proceed when receiving contradicting review comments. She also offered practical advice for responding to reviewers and shared insights into the types of feedback authors may face during revisions. In conclusion, she encouraged the audience to remain positive, open-minded, and professional when replying to reviewers.

The final session of the Academic Publishing Exchange program was “Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Scientific Publishing”, presented by Ms. Ploy Assavajamroon, Regional Journal Relations Specialist. After giving a brief introduction to AI technology, which is now extensively employed, she went into detail about its potential and how it affects scientific publishing, stressing both its advantages and disadvantages. This presentation also reviewed criteria for AI, authorship, and the peer-review procedure in detail, in accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) position statement. Lastly, the AI tools built by MDPI's AI team were introduced, demonstrating their potential to improve processes and services for both internal and external users.

Reflecting on the conclusion of this enriching workshop, we are delighted to recognize the fruitful exchange of ideas and expertise between MDPI and KMITL. The active engagement and insightful discussions among scholars, faculty members, and MDPI representatives highlighted the event's significance. Participants gained a deeper comprehension of the publication process, developed a greater appreciation for peer review intricacies, and explored the transformative potential of AI in academic publishing. This partnership strengthened the robust relationship between MDPI and KMITL, paving the way for future collaborations that will further promote academic excellence and innovation. We express our gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the academic advancement of the KMITL community and eagerly anticipate future joint endeavors that align with our shared commitment to advancing research and scholarship.