On August 8, 2025, the 7th DTU Tourism Forum kicked off, focusing on qualitative methods & idea formation for international publications. The event featured a special keynote by Prof. Dr. Hiram Ting, Chairman of Responsible Borneo (REBORN), and a large number of DTU lecturers and tourism industry experts.
Prof. Dr. Hiram Ting delivers invaluable, practice-oriented insights
to early-career researchers and lecturers at DTU
REBORN Chairman Prof. Dr. Hiram Ting currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of the journal Young Consumers (indexed in WoS & Scopus, Q1) and is involved with several other reputable academic journals. In addition, Prof. Dr. Ting is Emerald Publishing’s first Ambassador for East Asia and a member of the United Nations’ Tourism Expert Council (formerly UNWTO). For his outstanding contributions in Business, Management, and Marketing, he has been ranked among the world’s top 2% of scientists by Stanford University and Elsevier.
With extensive experience in international editing and publishing, Professor Hiram Ting brought valuable, practical knowledge to the seminar for DTU young researchers and faculty members. The main focus was on how to form high-quality research ideas and develop them into scientific papers that have the potential to be published in international journals ranked in the Q1 and Q2 categories.
Prof. Dr. Hiram Ting
The 7th DTU Tourism Forum on “Qualitative methods & idea formation for international publications” placed special emphasis on the role of qualitative research methods in tourism and services, as these areas are considered to encompass many aspects of human behavior, cultural experiences, and intangible values that are difficult to quantify. Such methods not only enable in-depth exploration of issues but also offer fresher and more dynamic perspectives compared to purely quantitative studies.
Prof. Dr Hiram Ting provided a clear explanation of the development of research ideas, covering specific steps such as: writing down objectives to clarify and guide the research, eliminating unsuitable ideas, identifying priority topics for study for time-planning and appropriate design, and ensuring that research objectives address resource requirements and the level of involvement of different partners. He explained how this process demands patience, sharp critical thinking, and the ability to harmoniously connect theoretical concepts with practical realities.
Prof. Dr. Hiram Ting poses for a photo with DTU lecturers and staff
In addition, Professor Hiram Ting also provided a detailed overview of the steps involved in preparing a scientific paper, including how to choose the appropriate journal, structure the article, present results, and discuss them in a way that is engaging, logical, and convincing to the editorial board. These "secrets" were based on his practical experience working with many prestigious journals, helping participants gain a clearer understanding of the quality standards for international publications. He emphasized that the biggest difference between a regular paper and a "Top-tier" paper lies in how the researcher selects the problem, designs the study, and especially the ability to communicate the scientific message clearly and convincingly.
Throughout the forum, DTU faculty members actively asked questions and engaged in discussions with the speaker, focusing on practical topics such as how to formulate research questions relevant to the tourism industry, the experience of selecting appropriate international journals, and how to enhance the ability of young researchers to publish internationally.
(Media Center)