Changes in Scopus in 2024: new journals, exclusions and their importance for Ukrainian science
Every year, Scopus reviews the journals included in the database, introducing new standards and removing those that do not meet quality or ethical criteria. In 2024, these changes affected a wide range of journals, both in terms of their exclusion and the addition of new publications. Such adjustments are important because they affect which platforms remain available for scientific publications, shaping the international agenda in the field of science.
For Ukrainian scientists, the changes in Scopus are of particular importance. War conditions, increased academic mobility, and the need to integrate into the global scientific community pose particular challenges. Expanding the number of Ukrainian journals in Scopus can significantly increase the international authority of Ukrainian science, while excluding questionable publications helps to improve the overall quality of scientific activity.
E-SCIENCE SPACE plays an important role in supporting researchers on their way to publishing in high-quality journals. We help authors prepare articles in accordance with Scopus standards, advise on the selection of journals, and provide translation, proofreading, and preparation services. Our experience allows us to successfully overcome the challenges of the modern academic environment and create new opportunities for publications in prestigious journals.
Overview of the main changes
In 2024, the Scopus database underwent significant changes that affected the academic environment around the world. By reviewing the quality and relevance of journals, Scopus has included new publications and excluded those that did not meet the established standards. These changes are aimed at ensuring scientific transparency, academic ethics and high quality publications.
Number of journals added to the database in 2024
Last year, 66 new journals were added to the Scopus database. These publications cover various scientific disciplines, including mathematics, medicine, social sciences, engineering, and others.
Among the new journals, Ukrainian publications attract special attention. The addition of Ukrainian journals to Scopus demonstrates that even in the difficult conditions of war, scientific activity in Ukraine continues to develop. This achievement underscores the importance of Ukrainian publishers adapting to international standards, which in the long run increases their competitiveness on the global stage.
Number of excluded journals and main reasons
In 2024, Scopus excluded 45 journals from the database. The main reasons for exclusion were:
- Violation of ethical standards.
- Predatory journals and low quality of publications.
- Problems with metrics and reputation.
Adding Russian journals: a challenge for the international academic community
Special attention should be paid to the issue of adding Russian journals to the Scopus database in 2024. In the context of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, this decision looks ambiguous. Supporting Russian institutions in the international scientific space may be perceived as tolerating aggression.
Moreover, the question of the ethics of some Russian journals has been repeatedly raised in international circles. Whether these journals meet high quality standards remains a matter of debate. At a time when many international partners are restricting cooperation with Russia, the inclusion of these journals could weaken Scopus’ reputation as an independent and ethical platform.
Predators in the midst of science
Predatory journals remain a serious problem in the modern scientific world, and the changes to the Scopus database in 2024 have once again drawn attention to this issue. The inclusion of new journals that potentially do not meet high standards of academic integrity, as well as the exclusion of others for suspected poor quality, underline the importance of a critical approach to the selection of journals for publication.
How do predatory journals affect Ukrainian science?
For Ukrainian researchers, especially in times of war when resources are limited, the risk of collaboration with predatory journals is particularly high. This may be due to the following factors:
- The desire for quick publication: Many authors are looking for journals with short deadlines for accepting articles, which can lead to choosing an unreliable publication. But in practice, we have long known that fast does not mean quality.
- Limited access to information: Not all scientists have the opportunity to check journals through databases such as Scopus or Web of Science. That is why, if you are not sure about the journal where you are going to submit your manuscript, it is important to choose relevant journals. That is why we provide a journal selection service.
- Increased requirements for publications: Career advancement or grant applications often require publications in Scopus-indexed journals, and this can lead authors to look for shortcuts.
Concerns in the scientific community
The addition and exclusion of journals in Scopus regularly sparks debate. In 2024, this topic became particularly relevant due to the inclusion of Russian journals and the removal of publications that did not meet the criteria. The main questions that concern scientists are:
- Can reliable journals be left without indexing?
- The exclusion of some publications through Radar calls into question the transparency of the assessment.
- Will the inclusion of “predatory” journals affect the quality of the database?
- If a journal with a dubious reputation is included in Scopus, it may reduce the credibility of the database.
- Should Scopus take into account the political context?
- During the war between Russia and Ukraine, the inclusion of Russian journals is a cause for concern among Ukrainian scientists and the international community.
Conclusion
The year 2024 was an important milestone in the development of the Scopus database, which affected both the international scientific community and Ukrainian scientists. The addition of 66 new journals has expanded publication opportunities. At the same time, the exclusion of 45 journals due to non-compliance with quality, ethics and transparency standards underlined the rigour and reliability of Scopus’ approaches to ensuring the quality of the database.
However, the problem of “predatory” journals that pose serious risks to authors remains relevant. Scopus remains a key tool for assessing scientific achievements, but changes to the database highlight the need for clear ethical principles and transparency. Ukrainian scientists should focus on quality journals that provide a decent platform for research while maintaining their academic reputation.
E-SCIENCE SPACE offers professional assistance to scientists who want to publish in prestigious journals:
- Analysing the reputation of journals.
- Preparation of articles in accordance with the requirements of international databases.
- Advice on choosing reliable journals and avoiding “predatory” journals.
In a world where scientific reputation plays a crucial role, it is important to work with experienced partners. Contact E-SCIENCE SPACE to increase the effectiveness of your scientific publications and strengthen your position in the international scientific community.
