FIRST TRIBUNE REGARDING THE MEANING OF THE IMPACT FACTOR FOR THE MACEDONIAN SCIENCE

Abstract

On the 25th of June 2012, at the faculty of Philosophy in Skopje was held the first tribune regarding the meaning of the impact factor for the Macedonian science. A tribune of this importance was organised for the first time in our country and it is why it attracted the attention and interest of meaningful number of visitors, even despite the high temperatures and summer holidays. The people that were present had the chance to listen and learn useful information for the impact factor, weaknesses and problems with which the Macedonian journals are facing every day and follow a short presentation to educate young future academic people for correct publication of their own labours in journals.    
Foremost, Prof. Dr. Vladimir Trajkovski, who was one of the main culprits for the realisation of this tribune, started with short introduction of the lecturers and thanked the audience that decided to learn, widen and cherishes their thinking about this sensitive subject in Macedonia. Thanks to the advanced technology, the tribune was transmitted in-live on the internet for those who were not able to be directly present.
The initial presentation was offered by Prof. Dr. Mirko Spiroski from the Institute of Immunobiology and Human Genetics on the subject "Measuring scientific contribution". He was talking about the scientometrics as a discipline for  measuring  and  analysing  the  science  and that the same one is mostly based on the scientific publications by Darek J. De Solla and Eugene Garfield. In his presentation he was talking about the Impact factor of influence as a measurement that shows the average number of quotations of scientific publications such as how this factor is calculated and possible manipulations. Also, he demonstrated graphs measuring the scientific contribution of the journals, as well as measuring the scientific contribution and search trough Macedonian journals. Trough his presentation, he managed to transfer one reasonable picture for the importance of the Impact factor, where Macedonia is on that issue and the problems the country is facing with it. 
After him followed Dimitar Poposki, with a presentation titled "Impact factor versus open access". He was talking about the meaning of the Impact factor and the financial expenses related to obtaining suitable knowledge. The main accent was placed on the meaning of open access existence, namely, existence of free access to internet, reading, downloading and using the published scientific papers in eminent journals for the purpose to broaden the knowledge as professionals within the contemporary field of research. He also emphasised the Impact factor in the higher education in Macedonia, what should be done and in which manner to improve the existing law for education, as well as what should be done to enable the open access for the needs of the science.  
At the end, Prof. Dr. Vladimir Trajkovski from the institute of Special Education and Rehabilitation gave a presentation on the subject "Impact factor and Journals in Macedonia focusing on the Journal of Special Education and Rehabilitation". In his presentation, he explained the meaning of the Impact factor for the journals and how this factor is calculated. The applicative value of the Impact factor was revealed and which persons should use it. In his presentation he emphasised on how the Impact factor should not be used, both the bad and the good sides and the existing critics regarding it. He exposed the number of recorded journals in the World and the fact that the medical discipline is the most easily followed. By figures were supported the journals with impact factor in the field of special education and rehabilitation in some countries among which was mentioned and Macedonia.        
On the completion of this tribune, there was time period dedicated for open discussion used by the audience who presented their own thinking regarding the meaning and the necessity of the Impact factor in Macedonia.