Seminars & Workshops

Gulf University Research Council organized a workshop on Strategic Journal Targeting & Ethical Publishing — Identifying Reputable Outlets & Avoiding Predatory Practices, conducted by Dr. Husham Alawsi, Assistant Professor at Gulf University.

The workshop guided researchers through the criteria used to evaluate scholarly journals, including indexing in Scopus and Web of Science, peer-review quality, editorial transparency, and impact metrics. Participants explored practical methods for matching their work to suitable, reputable outlets.

A significant portion of the session focused on the warning signs of predatory publishing — aggressive solicitation emails, unrealistic turnaround times, opaque fee structures, and weak peer review — and how researchers can protect their academic record from venues that undermine credibility.