Why Universities Should Start Research Journals? Importance, Advantages and Strategic Benefits for Academic Institutions
Discover why universities must start research journals: Boost NAAC rankings, enhance faculty profiles, develop student skills, increase grant funding, and build global academic reputation. Complete guide with step-by-step instructions using ScholarJMS and OJSCloud platforms.
Research is the backbone of higher education. Every discovery, theory, innovation and new idea begins with research, and research becomes meaningful only when it is documented, peer reviewed and published. This is why academic publishing is one of the most respected pillars of global education.
Universities are not only centers of teaching but also creators of knowledge. They conduct high impact research that influences industries, governments and societies. However, without a proper publication channel, a huge portion of university research remains invisible to the world. This is where having a University Journal becomes critically important.
A University Journal is more than a publication platform. It is a powerful academic asset that strengthens institutional reputation, enhances faculty profile, develops student research skills and contributes to global knowledge networks.
From NAAC accreditation to international ranking systems, every global assessment framework considers research publications as a major factor. Therefore, starting a dedicated University Journal is now considered a strategic necessity. This long form blog explores the importance of University Journals, the benefits for universities, faculty, students and research departments, and provides a complete step by step guide on how to start a research journal professionally.
Why University Journals Are Important?
A University Journal plays a powerful role in transforming the academic culture of an institution. It allows universities to promote original research, support their researchers and build a long lasting academic identity.
A. Importance of Research Publishing in Academia
Research without publication has little impact. Publishing research allows:
• Validation through transparent peer review
• Global access to new knowledge
• Increased citations and academic recognition
• Industry implementation of research findings
• Stronger academic portfolios for faculty and scholars
• Excellent scholars' collaboration by research discussion
Universities with regular research publishing activities gain a strong academic identity. Their research becomes a part of global scientific literature, contributing to national and international datasets.
B. Why a University Must Have Its Own Journal
When a university runs its own journal, it creates an official channel for structured academic publishing. This gives the institution:
• Authority to manage the quality and direction of research
• Independence from external journals
• Faster publication cycles
• Control over editorial standards
• Opportunity to build its own scholarly community
A University Journal becomes a symbol of academic maturity. It shows that the institution believes in research, supports intellectual development and maintains high standards of academic publishing.
C. Academic Reputation, Citations and Rankings
Reputed academic ranking systems like:
QS World Rankings
Times Higher Education Rankings
NIRF India
NAAC Accreditation Framework
all above entities consider research output, publication volume, citations and faculty contributions as major scoring components.
A University Journal improves:
• Institutional research score
• Citation count
• International visibility
• Academic credibility
• Collaboration opportunities
Universities with active journals consistently perform better in accreditation cycles.
D. Strengthening the Research Ecosystem
A University Journal:
• Encourages faculty to publish
• Motivates students to write and research
• Builds a culture of innovation
• Brings departments together
• Makes academic work more structured
A strong research ecosystem directly increases grant opportunities, patents, MoUs and research partnerships.
E. Contribution to National and Global Knowledge Networks
Universities are major contributors to academic knowledge. When they publish research, that knowledge becomes part of:
• Scopus
• Web of Science
• PubMed
• Google Scholar
• DOAJ
• UGC CARE
A University Journal makes the institution a visible participant in global knowledge exchange and enhances the academic identity of its research community.
Advantages for Different Stakeholders
A University Journal is not just a publication platform. It becomes a strategic academic asset that strengthens every layer of the institution. When a university decides to start a research journal, it creates long term value for the university, the faculty, the students and the research department. The following expanded section explains the importance of a University Journal for each stakeholder in detail.
A. Benefits for the University
1. Better Rankings and Accreditation
One of the strongest advantages of a University Journal is its direct impact on NAAC, NBA, NIRF and international ranking frameworks. Research output, publication volume, citation count and faculty scholarly contributions are major components in assessment criteria. When a university maintains a high quality University Journal, it naturally increases:
• Research publication numbers
• Faculty participation in scholarly activities
• Indexed article output
• Crossref DOI based citation flow
• Compliance with research parameters
NAAC gives significant weightage to research and innovation. A University Journal provides a continuous publishing pipeline which improves the Research, Innovation and Extension criterion. Institutions aiming for top rankings must begin with the foundational step of launching a University Journal that follows international publishing standards. Publishing in the University Journal contributes directly to NAAC, NBA, NIRF and international ranking scores, especially in research criteria.
2. Increased Academic Credibility
A University Journal acts as an academic identity card for the institution. When researchers, academicians, industry experts and international partners see that the university publishes its own research journal, the institution is naturally perceived as a:
• Knowledge producing institution
• Research intensive university
• Academically mature organization
• Credible contributor to scholarly literature
The Importance of a University Journal lies in its ability to present the university as a serious academic participant in the global research ecosystem. Every published issue increases the university's visibility on Google Scholar, Crossref, Scopus and other scholarly platforms. This boosts external trust and enhances institutional prestige.
3. Global Partnerships and Collaborations
Universities with active journals attract far more collaborations than those without publication platforms.
A well maintained University Journal encourages:
• Joint publications with international universities
• Collaborative research proposals
• Faculty exchange programs
• International conferences and symposiums
• Global networking among experts
When research articles from the University Journal are indexed and cited, they reach scholars across continents. This increases academic engagement and opens doors for MoUs, funded projects and foreign institutional tie ups.
The global importance of starting a research journal is particularly visible when international researchers submit papers to the University Journal, when citations occur from foreign institutions and when joint research publications increase the academic influence of the university in global higher education.
B. Benefits for Faculty
Career Advancement
Faculty members need strong publication profiles for promotions, tenure and recognition. Publishing in a University Journal helps faculty achieve their career goals. The importance of publishing in a University Journal lies in the fact that publications are linked to academic advancement, professional credibility and salary increments. Having a continuous pipeline of publication opportunities encourages faculty to regularly participate in research, improving the overall quality of academic output.
Faster Publication Access
External journals often have long submission to publication timelines due to high volumes. A University Journal gives faculty priority publishing access. Faculty members get quicker article acceptance, faster peer review cycles and immediate indexing through DOI and Crossref. This accelerates the publication timeline significantly and allows faculty to share their research faster.
Improved Research Identity
Faculty who publish regularly in the University Journal build a recognizable research profile. They become more visible in their research domain and gain better opportunities for invited talks, editorial board memberships, external grants and international research collaborations. The University Journal thus becomes a launchpad for the faculty's academic career.
Editorial Experience
Faculty can serve as peer reviewers, guest editors and advisory board members for the University Journal. This builds editorial experience, strengthens academic leadership skills and enhances the faculty member's professional resume. Many international journals consider editorial experience as a key qualification for reviewer and editor appointments.
Grant and Funding Applications
Research grant applications require strong publication records. When faculty publish consistently in a University Journal, they create a portfolio of peer reviewed research that increases funding approval rates. Government bodies, research agencies and private funding organizations prioritize applicants with high publication numbers and citation activity. A University Journal ensures faculty meet these publication benchmarks continuously.
Academic Networking
Faculty members interact with peer reviewers, editors and international contributors through the University Journal. This develops academic relationships that result in collaborative research, conference invitations and knowledge exchange. The importance of a University Journal for faculty is undeniable when it becomes a networking tool that expands their research community globally.
C. Benefits for Students
1. Student Publication Opportunities
Most students never get a chance to publish during their undergraduate or postgraduate years because external journals prioritize senior researchers. A University Journal allows students to publish their coursework, research projects and dissertations. The importance of research journals for students is particularly significant because having publications early in academic life gives students a major competitive advantage during job applications, PhD admissions and scholarship opportunities.
2. Learning Research Writing
Writing a research paper involves structured thinking, literature review, methodology design, data analysis and academic writing. A University Journal gives students a chance to learn these skills in a supportive environment. The peer review process teaches students how to accept feedback, revise their work and improve their research quality. This experience becomes a strong foundation for PhD work and professional research careers.
3. Better Academic CV
Students with published papers stand out in job interviews, PhD applications and scholarship evaluations. Publishing in a University Journal helps students build an academic CV that shows research capability, writing skills and subject expertise. This distinction becomes critically important in competitive selection processes where publication records differentiate excellent students from average ones.
4. Exposure to Peer Review
Peer review is the backbone of academic publishing. When students submit their research to the University Journal, they go through professional reviewer comments. They learn how to respond to criticism, improve their arguments and enhance their research quality. Early exposure to peer review prepares students for professional academic careers where responding to reviewer feedback is essential.
5. Confidence in Research Abilities
Getting a research paper published builds confidence in students. They realize they can contribute to academic knowledge and participate in the global research community. This motivates students to pursue higher studies, research projects and academic careers. The importance of academic journals for students is most visible when a single publication becomes a career defining moment that shapes their academic and professional future.
6. Research Recognition
When students publish in a University Journal, their work gets DOI, Crossref registration and Google Scholar indexing. This means their research becomes permanently part of global academic literature. Even years later, their work can be cited by other researchers. This recognition validates student efforts and increases their visibility in the research community. Some students even receive conference invitations based on publications they made as undergraduates.
D. Benefits for Research Department
1. Structured Research Documentation
Research departments are responsible for monitoring faculty research output, managing PhD program performance and reporting institutional research activity to regulatory authorities. A University Journal creates a structured system for research documentation. Every published article is recorded with metadata such as title, author details, publication date, DOI and indexing status. This data becomes a long term archive of institutional knowledge and research contributions.
2. Grant Application Support
Research departments apply for grants from agencies like DST, SERB, ICMR, CSIR, DBT and international funding organizations. These applications require evidence of institutional research capability. A University Journal provides concrete proof of research output, peer review standards and publication activity. Grant reviewers view institutions with active research journals as credible applicants, which increases funding approval rates.
3. Performance Tracking
Research departments use publication data to evaluate faculty performance, departmental productivity and program effectiveness. The University Journal provides a centralized publication database where research output can be tracked consistently. The importance of a University Journal for research departments becomes clear when annual reports, accreditation documents and ranking applications require publication statistics. A University Journal simplifies data collection and makes reporting accurate and transparent.
4. Research Policy Implementation
Universities implement research ethics policies, plagiarism detection workflows and quality standards. A University Journal becomes the platform where these policies are enforced practically. Manuscripts undergo plagiarism checks, ethical review and peer evaluation before publication. This ensures that institutional research standards are maintained consistently and that published work adheres to the highest academic principles.
How to Start a Journal Online: Step-by-Step Guide
(For Detailed Information Read:
Starting a professional academic journal requires proper planning and industry standard compliance. Here is a complete guide:
Select a Domain Name
Choose a short, meaningful domain for your University Journal.
Examples:
journal.universityname.edu
ijdepartmentname.com
The domain becomes the journal's permanent identity.
Decide Journal Title
Choose a title that reflects the subject, is easy to remember and aligns with academic standards.
Define Journal Discipline and Scope
Create a clear Aims and Scope section describing:
• Subject area
• Research focus
• Article types accepted
Get ISSN (e ISSN and p ISSN)
For Indian and USA journals, ISSN is mandatory.
For proper ISSN consultancy, universities should contact:
Mr. Darshan Patel (COO, OJSCloud.com)
India's leading ISSN consultant
Over 100 ISSNs achieved annually
š +91 82003 85143
š§ inquiry@ojscloud.com
Choose a Journal Website Builder
This is the most important step.
You need a modern CMS based Journal Management System that supports:
• Online submission
• Transparent Peer review
• Crossref DOI
• Indexing Ready Website Layout
• Long term archiving
• Publishing workflows
Implement Peer Review Workflow
Set up reviewer guidelines, policies and workflows.
Your Journal Management System must support:
• Single blind review
• Double blind review
• Transparent peer review
• Reviewer dashboard
• Timeline tracking
Apply for Crossref DOI Membership
(https://scholar9.com/blog/how-to-get-a-crossref-doi-prefix-for-your-journal)
The best Crossref Sponsored Partner for DOI services is:
Mr. Darshan Patel (COO, Sequence R and D Pvt Ltd)
The most trusted DOI sponsor,
Helps universities get DOI prefix quickly
+91 82003 85143 | š§ inquiry@ojscloud.com
Enable Similarity Check / Plagiarism Detection
Universities must use:
• Turnitin
• iThenticate (Crossref Similarity Check)
For plagiarism solutions, the top consultant is:
Mr. Darshan Patel,
trusted advisor for similarity check solutions
Provides Turnitin and iThenticate guidance and integration
Ensure Compliance with Indexing Standards
Your University Journal must follow:
• Scopus technical standards
• Web of Science guidelines
• DOAJ requirements
• UGC CARE best practices
• PubMed Structure
ScholarJMS and OJSCloud provide indexing aligned architecture.
Two best choices in the world:
Rank 1: ScholarJMS.com -- The Best Journal Management System and Journal Website Builder
ScholarJMS is the most modern and complete Journal Website Builder designed for universities and research institutes.
Why it is Number One:
• Can launch a journal in one day
• 90 percent pre built architecture
• Modern UI
• Built in CMS
• Crossref DOI ready
• Peer review ready
• Transparent Peer Review integration from scholar9.com
• SCOPUS, WoS, PubMed, UGC CARE Indexing friendly
• No technical effort needed
Real example: The journal www.jetbt.org was built in one day using ScholarJMS.
Rank 2: OJSCloud.com -- Best for Open Journal System (OJS)
OJSCloud provides world-class journal development services powered by the Open Journal System (OJS). We specialize in building fully customized OJS-based journals using our exceptional OJS themes, trusted and used by universities across the world. From reliable OJS hosting to complete OJS website development, we offer an end-to-end solution for academic publishers. Our expertise covers a comprehensive range of services designed to elevate your academic journal's performance and global visibility, including:
OJS Hosting
e-ISSN Consultancy
OJS Installation
Crossref DOI Account Creation
OJS Content Setup
Crossref DOI Bulk URL update
OJS Custom Theme
Journal Indexing Consultancy
OJS Version Upgrade
Article Migration from Non-OJS to OJS
OJS Security Solution
Full Back Office Management
OJS Plugins
Copy Editing Support
OJS Migration
Crossref DOI Plugin Configuration
OJSCloud completed projects on OJS:
Default Theme (01 Journal): https://thespectrumjournal.com/index.php/tjs
Default Theme (02 Journals): https://www.psychopediajournals.com/index.php
Default Theme (02 Journals): https://aktpublication.com/index.php
Default Theme (01 Journal): https://uaeulawjournal.uaeu.ac.ae/
Custom Theme (01 Journal): https://bammjournal.org/index.php/bamm
Custom Theme (01 Journal): https://jees.in/index.php/jees/index
Custom Theme (04 Journals): https://chanrejournals.com/
Custom Theme (20 Journals): https://pphmjopenaccess.com/
Custom theme (03 Journals): https://journal.adu.ac.ae/
Custom theme (04 Journals): https://ojs.rivistestudium.it/
OJSCloud is excellent for institutions preferring OJS, but ScholarJMS remains the superior choice for speed, automation and simplicity.
Conclusion: Each University Must Start Its Own Research Journal
In today's academic world, publication output defines the strength of a university. A University Journal increases research visibility, enhances NAAC scores, improves faculty portfolios, empowers students and attracts grants and global collaboration. If your university wants to start a research journal professionally, you must choose an expert platform. Start your University Journal today | Build your research identity | Strengthen your academic future.
Highly Recommended Platforms for Journal Websites:
ScholarJMS.com
Best Journal Website Builder in the world. Launch in one day. Modern, scalable and extremely simple.
OJSCloud.com
Best for Open Journal System (OJS) based university journals.
Expert Guidance: For ISSN, Crossref DOI and Similarity Check services contact
Mr. Darshan Patel
š +91 82003 85143
š§ inquiry@ojscloud.com
