Journal Publishing Practices and Standards framework is shortlisted for prestigious publishing award

JPPS assessment framework for Global South journals is finalist for 2018 ALPSP Award for Innovation in Publishing

The Journal Publishing Practices and Standards (JPPS) framework, developed and now being implemented by African Journals Online (AJOL) and INASP has been chosen as a finalist for the 2018 ALPSP Award for Innovation in Publishing.

JPPS was developed in response to the challenges that journals in the developing world face in becoming known and respected in the international research landscape. It provides detailed assessment criteria for the quality of publishing practices of Global South journals.

The framework has been used to assess more than 900 journals published in the Global South across six national and regional Journals Online (JOL) platforms.

The JPPS levels, which are displayed on the journals’ pages on the JOLs as well as on the official JPPS site (www.journalquality.info), reassure readers and authors that journals meet an internationally recognized set of criteria. The detailed feedback from the JPPS assessment guides editors on ways to improve their publishing practices and standards acknowledges journals that have attained internationally recognized publishing standards.

In addition, INASP and AJOL work with journal editors and editorial boards to build capacity and knowledge in international publishing standards and the JPPS. Face-to-face training, mentoring support and online training using courses and materials have been developed specifically for journal editors working in developing-country contexts.

The ALPSP Awards recognize new developments, products, services, launches or projects that demonstrate excellence in terms of originality and innovation, significance and value to its community, utility and long-term viability. As a finalist, someone from the JPPS team will present a ‘flash session’ about JPPS at the ALPSP international conference in Berkshire, UK on 12-14 September 2018, where the winner of the award will also be announced.

JPPS was one of six projects chosen from 45 submissions.

“We are delighted to be selected as finalists for this award. We see this as recognition of the importance of working towards a more balanced global research system where the importance of the role played by good journals from all countries can be recognised,” said Susan Murray, Executive Director of AJOL.

“We thank ALPSP for this recognition and the opportunity to present at the ALPSP international conference on behalf of the hundreds of journal editors in Africa, Asia and Latin America who asked for an initiative like this and who have embraced JPPS since its launch,” added Sioux Cumming, Programme Specialist at INASP.

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Media contact:
Siân Harris, Communications Specialist, INASP
sharris@inasp.info

About Journal Publishing Practices and Standards (JPPS) (www.journalquality.info)

The Journal Publishing Practices and Standards (JPPS) framework provides detailed assessment criteria for the quality of publishing practices of Southern journals and is initially being used to assess the journals hosted on JOL platforms.

Journals assessed against the JPPS criteria are given one of six levels: inactive title; new title; no stars; one star; two stars; and three stars. The assigned JPPS levels serve a dual purpose. For readers, they provide assurance that the journals meet an internationally recognized set of criteria at a particular level. For journal editors, the detailed feedback from the JPPS assessment helps them identify ways to improve their publishing practices and standards with a view to achieving a higher level at the next assessment.

The JPPS framework has been established and is managed by African Journals Online (AJOL) and INASP. Development of JPPS was funded by DFID and Sida. The ongoing work is being funded by Sida.

About African Journals Online (www.ajol.info)

African Journals Online (AJOL) was the first JOL platform, established by INASP as a pilot in 1998 and formally launched in 2000. Since 2005, AJOL has been managed independently by a South African Non-Profit organisation of the same name, working towards relevant content reaching those who need it in order to transform African research into African development. The AJOL platform now hosts over 500 journals, with over 300 additional titles that have applied for inclusion and are being assessed.

AJOL provides a highly visible online library of African-published, peer-reviewed scholarly journals at www.ajol.info, allowing global access to the research output of the continent. AJOL also works with our journal partners throughout Africa to facilitate their capacity building in publishing best practices, and provides various technical services that many journals might not be able to afford or implement on their own.

About INASP (www.inasp.info)

Founded in 1992, INASP is an international development organization working with a global network of partners in Africa, Latin America and Asia. In line with the vision of research and knowledge at the heart of development, INASP works to support individuals and institutions to produce, share and use research and knowledge, which can transform lives.

INASP’s approaches are based on the core pillars of capacity development, convening, influencing and working in partnership. INASP promotes equity by actively addressing the needs of both men and women across all our work and addressing issues of power within the research and knowledge system.