The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, in collaboration with Clarivate, is organising a dedicated webinar to help Pakistani journal editors understand how publications are evaluated for inclusion in the Web of Science Core Collection. Titled “Inside Web of Science: How Journals Are Selected for the Core Collection,” the online session is scheduled for November 12, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM. The programme is specifically designed for editors of Pakistani journals and relevant editorial personnel, providing an opportunity to learn about the standards and procedures used to assess scholarly publications for inclusion in an internationally recognised research database. The session will be hosted by a Clarivate webinar representative, with members of the Web of Science Editorial Team expected to explain the journal evaluation framework and the criteria applied during the selection process. Through this collaboration, HEC aims to provide local academic publishers with a clearer understanding of international indexing requirements and the standards used to assess the quality and visibility of research journals.
The webinar will focus on the evaluation process for the Web of Science Core Collection, which indexes selected scholarly journals, books and conference proceedings used by researchers and academic institutions worldwide. Participants will receive an overview of the criteria considered by the editorial team when assessing journals, along with information about the procedures involved in the selection process. These standards are relevant to journal publishers seeking to improve editorial practices, publication quality and the international reach of their research output. Inclusion in the Web of Science Core Collection can increase the visibility of academic publications and make their research more accessible to the global scholarly community. The session is also expected to explain how the evaluation framework operates and what journal editors should understand when preparing their publications for consideration. HEC has clarified that the webinar will address general selection criteria and procedures rather than the eligibility, status or outcome of any individual journal. This distinction means the session is intended as an informational and professional development opportunity, not a review or approval process for specific Pakistani publications.
The initiative comes as universities, research institutions and academic publishers continue to place greater emphasis on research quality, publication standards and international recognition. For Pakistani journals, understanding the requirements of major indexing databases can help editorial teams review their publishing processes and identify areas requiring improvement. Journal selection frameworks generally consider several aspects of academic publishing, including editorial policies, peer-review practices, publication regularity, research content and the overall quality of published material. Familiarity with these requirements can help editors establish clearer workflows and maintain consistent standards across their publications. The participation of Clarivate’s Web of Science Editorial Team provides an opportunity for Pakistani editors to hear directly about the evaluation approach used by the database. It also creates a platform for improving awareness of how international research databases assess scholarly journals and maintain their collections. HEC’s involvement reflects its wider role in supporting the country’s higher education and research ecosystem, where the quality and accessibility of academic publications contribute to institutional research performance and collaboration with international universities and research organisations.
Interested participants can register through the link provided by HEC at https://rb.gy/hnzyn1 or by scanning the QR code included in the commission’s announcement. Registration is restricted to editors of Pakistani journals and relevant editorial personnel, and the general public or individuals outside the specified categories are not permitted to register. Eligible applicants are advised to complete registration ahead of the November 12 session and ensure that they meet the stated participation requirements. The webinar is part of HEC’s ongoing engagement with international academic publishing platforms and resource providers through its National Digital Library and related research support initiatives. The commission also provides training opportunities covering scholarly databases, research discovery, academic publishing and the use of digital research resources. By arranging specialised sessions with international partners, HEC is seeking to improve the capacity of local academic institutions and journal editorial teams to work with established research platforms. The upcoming webinar will give Pakistani editors an opportunity to better understand Web of Science selection procedures and consider how their journals can align with recognised international publishing standards.
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