On October 18, the Annual Conference of Journal Evaluation Committee Chairpersons was held at the Academic Exchange Center of Hainan University. The event also celebrated the 8th China Humanities and Social Sciences Evaluation Day. It was jointly organized by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Evaluation Studies (CASSES), Hainan University, and Hainan Normal University. Jing Linbo, President of CASSES; Nie Qingbin, President of Hainan Normal University; and Luo Qingming, President of Hainan University, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony, which was chaired by Chen Jun, Vice President of Hainan University.

Hainan University hosts the Annual Conference of the Journal Evaluation Committee Chairpersons on the 8th China Humanities and Social Sciences Evaluation Day. (Photo by HNU’s CPC Publicity Department) .

At the opening ceremony, Luo Qingming emphasized that the humanities and social sciences are a driving force for social progress and an essential foundation for building China’s independent knowledge system. He noted that the rigor and fairness of evaluation mechanisms directly determine the direction and quality of disciplinary development. In recent years, Hainan University has deepened reform and institutional innovation in the humanities and social sciences, establishing a diversified, multi-level evaluation framework. The University has achieved notable results in areas such as local legislation, policy consulting, and international cooperation, significantly strengthening the social impact of its humanities and social sciences research. Hainan University will continue to advance innovation and practice in academic evaluation, contributing its distinctive “HNU wisdom” to the development of evaluation standards with Chinese characteristics.

Luo Qingming, president of HNU, delivering a speech. (Photo by HNU’s CPC Publicity Department)

Jing Linbo focused on building China’s independent knowledge system for academic evaluation. He gave an overview of the Institute’s major research efforts and findings in evaluating journals, think tanks, academic disciplines, and public policies. He noted that the Institute will continue to advance both theory and practice in the field, exploring new paradigms through the creation of evaluation laboratories, the development of evaluation as a discipline, and the integration of artificial intelligence into evaluation processes. These initiatives aim to generate high-quality outcomes that contribute to the thriving development of the humanities and social sciences.

Jin Linbo, President of CASSES, delivering a speech. (Photo by HNU’s CPC Publicity Department)

Nie Qingbin noted that Hainan Normal University has long made the humanities and social sciences a strategic priority, achieving fruitful results in research on Hainan’s reform and development, the history and culture of the South China Sea region, and modern and contemporary Chinese literature. He noted that the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port has created fertile conditions and valuable policy opportunities for research in these areas. He expressed hope that this conference would serve as a platform for deeper academic exchange and cooperation, and help advance the building of a system of humanities and social sciences with distinctive Chinese characteristics.

Nie Qingbin, President of Hainan Normal University, delivering a speech. (Photo by HNU’s CPC Publicity Department)

During the keynote report session, experts shared their views on how a system of humanities and social sciences with Chinese characteristics can serve major national strategies, contribute to the building of an independent knowledge system, and support the development of academic evaluation frameworks.

In the afternoon breakout sessions, participants discussed how journals in the humanities and social sciences can better support national strategies, how to optimize the evaluation mechanisms for top-tier (“A”) journals, and strategies and trends for developing journals with distinctive features.

Discussion at one of the parallel sessions. (Photo by HNU’s CPC Publicity Department)

During the conference, a handover ceremony was held between Hainan University and Xiamen University, represented by Hu Jingwei, Director of the Office of Humanities and Social Sciences at HNU, and Zhang Suigang, Deputy Director of the Office of Social Sciences at XMU. The 9th annual meeting will be hosted by Xiamen University in 2026.

The handover ceremony. (Photo by the HNU’s CPC Publicity Department)

The conference brought together nearly 100 experts, scholars, and representatives from universities, research institutions, and academic journals across China, as well as officials from relevant provincial departments and faculty and student representatives.