سخن سردبیر : تسلط بر مقررات و اسناد بالادستی: کلید موفقیت متخصصان علم‌سنجی در نظام علمی

To implement their policies and programs to improve the scientific system and the status of universities and research institutions, policymakers and planners in the fields of science, technology, and innovation consistently utilize laws and regulations as tools to shape and adjust regulations in accordance with their policies. On the other hand, today, utilizing specialized scientometrics knowledge in various stages of policy-making and planning in science, technology, innovation, and higher education—including the regulation and implementation of relevant policies—has become one of the most essential requirements in this field. Therefore, comprehending the details of upstream documents, executive regulations, and the laws governing the scientific system, technology, innovation, and higher education is considered one of the most important requirements for the success and scientific influence of scientometrics specialists in supporting science and technology policy-making and planning. In other words, a scientometrics specialist must possess a deep understanding of specialized scientometrics knowledge, as well as the skills required to utilize reference and specialized databases, visualize and analyze data, and develop various measurement and evaluation metrics and indicators. Additionally, the specialist must have a thorough understanding of the provisions outlined in upstream documents, as well as current laws and regulations that govern the science, technology, and innovation system at both micro and macro levels. In this case, a scientometrics specialist can shape policies and programs in the field by engaging in the formulation, updating, and implementation of relevant laws and regulations. As key and influential figures, scientometrics specialists can continually enhance their scientific and practical impact within scientific, technological, and higher education organizations. Their expertise is particularly vital in navigating and implementing upstream documents and regulations, which outline science and technology policies at both micro and macro levels. These policies not only determine the direction of science, technology, and innovation but also shape the trajectory of the country's higher education system. Among the most significant upstream documents and regulations are:
-   Comprehensive Scientific Plan of the Country,
-   National Development Plans (especially the Seventh Development Plan),
-   General Science and Technology Policies,
-   Higher Education Planning Policies and Regulations,
-   Faculty Promotion Regulations,
-   Faculty Employment Regulations,
 
-   Promotion and Academic Decline Regulations,
-   Basic Incentive Grade Regulations,
-   Grant Regulations,
-   Scientific Publications Commission Evaluation Regulations,
-   Educational Excellence Regulations,
-   Research Excellence Regulations,
-   Study Opportunities and Scientific Mobility Regulations,
-   Scientific Leap Guidelines,
-   And many similar upstream documents and regulations.
These documents, along with numerous other upstream policies and regulations, highlight the critical role of scientometrics in advancing science, technology, Innovation, and higher education. By leveraging their expertise, scientometrics specialists can ensure the effective implementation of these policies, thereby contributing to the growth and development of the scientific and educational landscape. After more than a decade of activity and the growing presence of scientometrics in the fields of science, technology, and higher education, stakeholders now expect scientometrics specialists to play a pivotal role in shaping and guiding scientific and technological policies and programs. To meet these expectations, specialists must not only demonstrate mastery and expertise in the technical aspects of scientometrics but also possess a deep understanding of the relevant laws, regulations, and upstream documents. From an evaluative perspective, scientometrics specialists should be thoroughly familiar with the details of these regulations and critically assess them when necessary. By identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) within the science and technology landscape, they can positively influence the content of upstream documents and the regulations derived from them. This proactive approach enables scientometrics specialists to contribute more effectively to the policy-making and planning processes in science, technology, and innovation, while also shaping the trajectory of the higher education system. However, several important questions arise that warrant careful consideration and discussion:
-   To what extent has the previous and new master’s degree program in scientometrics succeeded in equipping graduates with the skills to identify and understand upstream documents, as well as the current scientific and research laws and regulations of the country in previous and new master's degree programs in scientometrics?
-   How much progress have faculty members and professors of scientometrics made in enhancing their own expertise in this area, and what steps have they taken to empower themselves within this domain?
-   In more than a decade of scientometrics activities in the Iran's higher education system, to what extent have experts in this field been able to effectively engage with relevant management and executive sectors?
-   How have scientometricians leveraged their expertise in science and technology regulations to influence the science, technology, and innovation system, as well as the broader landscape of higher education in the country?
-   What mechanisms can be established to facilitate collaboration between scientometrics experts and policymakers?
-   From a scientometric perspective, how can the strengths and weaknesses of existing regulations be systematically evaluated to guide future enhancements?
-   What role can scientometrics play in addressing emerging challenges in science, technology, and higher education?
-   How can the impact of scientometrics-driven policies be measured and optimized over time?
Addressing these questions will not only enhance the role of scientometrics specialists but also ensure that their contributions lead to meaningful and sustainable advancements in the scientific and educational systems.