Announcements

Veterinary Sciences (ISSN: 2306-7381), a leading open access journal, was honored to collaborate with Khon Kaen University to organize the MDPI Academic Publishing Workshop on 29 August 2025. This event brought together researchers, academics, and publishing professionals to explore innovative strategies for academic dissemination in the field of veterinary sciences. Its primary objective was to equip participants with practical tools and insights to enhance the visibility and impact of their research. This collaboration reaffirmed the strong and ongoing partnership between MDPI and Khon Kaen University, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing research excellence, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and promoting the open dissemination of knowledge within veterinary sciences.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Panupon Hongpakdee, Associate Dean for Research, Innovation, and International Affairs at Khon Kaen University, delivered the opening speech at the Academic Publishing Workshop. He emphasized the importance of strengthening research and publishing in international journals and highlighted the value of collaborating with academic publishers in delivering scientific writing sessions. Dr. Hongpakdee expressed his appreciation for MDPI’s training contribution as part of the third workshop under the 2025 project to enhance research publication potential at Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, on the topic “How to Write a Good Manuscript.” He also conveyed his confidence that the event would enhance participants’ understanding of academic publishing processes and encouraged active engagement to maximize the benefits of the workshop.

In the first session, Ms. Ploy Assavajamroon, Editorial Team Leader and Regional Journal Relations Specialist at MDPI’s Bangkok Office, introduced MDPI as a leading open access publisher and highlighted its credibility through indexing in reputable databases such as Web of Science and Scopus. She presented MDPI’s broad journal categories, and then focused on journals relevant to the categories of agriculture, plants, and animal sciences, with particular attention to Veterinary Sciences, a journal frequently selected by the participants’ faculty.

The second session was shared by Dr. Krit Inthajak, MDPI’s regional journal relations specialist in the Asia-Pacific, with the topic “How to Write Scientific Papers”. This session discussed how to prepare literature reviews before deciding to write a manuscript, and the contents of the front matter, main text, and back matter. Participants were interested in how to write their results and discussion in the most convincing way as possible, especially for reviewers. While this section can be written in a professional manner, researchers should aim to provide the most promising outcome of their results before they start writing a manuscript to submit to their preferred journal.

The third session, titled “How to Respond to Peer Reviewers”, was presented by Ms. Hathaipat Kittirojana, a Regional Journal Relations Specialist. She discussed the peer-review process at MDPI and explained how to revise a manuscript professionally. This session also included key tips on revision preparations and how we can organize a response in an effective way. During the session, she addressed the questions raised. Some participants inquired about the acceptable level of repetition in the methodology section, while others were curious about the appropriateness of the discussion and conclusion parts. 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.

For the final session, Dr. Siriporn Tantiwatcharothai, Chief Section Managing Editor of Catalysts and Regional Journal Relations Specialist at MDPI’s Bangkok Office, delivered a presentation on the role and importance of data visualization in academic writing. She introduced the concept of data visualization, discussed its effective use in research papers, and highlighted best practices for formatting figures and tables professionally. The session concluded by encouraging participants to prioritize clear and impactful data communication, underscoring the crucial role of strong data visualization in advancing research dissemination.

As the MDPI Academic Publishing Workshop at Khon Kaen University came to a close, we reflected on a successful day marked by vibrant intellectual exchange and cross-disciplinary collaboration. The enthusiastic participation of researchers, educators, and students from various agricultural disciplines underscored the event’s relevance and effectiveness. Attendees acquired valuable competencies in high-impact publishing, rigorous peer-review processes, and the integration of AI in research practices. Key discussions centered on emerging trends in open access publishing, ethical publication practices, and the role of international research collaboration in advancing open science. This joint effort further solidifies the enduring relationship between MDPI and Khon Kaen University, setting a strong foundation for future academic endeavors and the continued professional development of participants.