The University would like to draw the attention of all academic staff members on fraudulent conferences.  The University is aware that some of our academic staff members have been receiving email invitations to attend conferences which states that papers presented at the conference would be considered/accepted for publication in a journal.    It is noted that these conferences normally, do not have a rigorous review process for the papers accepted for presentation.   It is also noted that there are instances where the conference was not held but the conference proceedings was available at the publisher’s website with the authors informed that the hard copy of the journal/conference proceedings and certificate would be posted to them if  they are unable to attend the conference.

The following website provides some information on fraudulent conferences:

http://www.authoraid.info/en/news/details/1156/

The University urges all academic staff members to be cautious when submitting papers for presentation at conferences from invitations received from organisations with offers of free journal publication.  Please check with your Dean/Head if you have doubts on the approaches made by these organisations. 

Arising from the above issue, the University has made the following amendment to the Policy on Sponsorship to Attend Training and Conference as follows:

Clause 6.1.4     “The conference/exhibition must be of an international standard with rigorous peer

                        review process. “

The policy is available in web2 under UTAR Policies-DHR.

The University reserves the right to withdraw the sponsorship approved if the conference is not held.