The College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, held a seminar titled:
“How to select a proper Scopus journal according to Iraqi criteria.”
Under the auspices of the Deanship of the College of Engineering and in cooperation with the Continuing Education Unit at the College of Engineering, the Department of Computer Engineering at the University of Baghdad held a seminar titled “How to select a proper Scopus journal according to Iraqi criteria.” The seminar was delivered by Assistant Professor Riyad Basil Abdul-Jabbar on Monday, March 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in the department’s discussion hall. A number of faculty members from the department were also in attendance. The seminar included a discussion on how to select the appropriate Scopus journal according to Iraqi standards. The seminar focused on the mechanism for distinguishing between reliable journals and non-reputable journals (commercial, hijacked and predatory) through a five-stage examination process (1- Examining the journal on the Scopus website 2- Examining the journal on the Scopus spreadsheet 3- Making sure that the journal is not listed on the website of the Research and Development Unit of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research 4- The journal is not listed on the Bell website and the Predatory Report website 5- Sending an email to make sure that the journal is still covered by Scopus). The seminar also addressed how to conduct an examination of the journal to be published in by analyzing a set of its indicators, which are (impact factor, citation rate and self-citation rate), as well as identifying the reasons approved by Scopus that lead to the journal being excluded from its database, which are (radar, statistical indicators, reasons related to publishing ethics). The symposium concluded with several recommendations, the most important of which are:
- The importance of ensuring reputable journals: The need to use precise academic criteria when selecting appropriate journals for publication, ensuring that the journal has a good reputation and adheres to academic publishing standards.
- The need for evaluation using the five criteria: Emphasizing the use of a five-stage review process to accurately and objectively evaluate academic journals to determine their credibility and quality.
- Analyzing journal-specific indicators: Emphasizing the need to examine a set of basic journal indicators, such as impact factor, citation rate, and self-citation rate, before making a publishing decision.
- Reviewing the reasons for a journal’s removal from Scopus: The need to understand the reasons that lead to a journal’s removal from the Scopus database, such as radar, statistical indicators, and issues related to publishing ethics.
- Raising awareness of the dangers of predatory journals: The need to educate researchers about the risks of publishing in predatory journals that focus solely on raising funds without regard for the quality of scientific research. 6. Encouraging publication in reliable journals: Encouraging researchers to publish their research in reputable, internationally recognized journals, which contributes to enhancing the quality of scientific research.
- Continuous updating and training: The need to organize ongoing workshops and training courses to familiarize academics and researchers with the latest methods and standards for selecting appropriate journals for publication.
