UNIVERSITY JOURNALS: A Mission (Almost) Possible

Abstract

University journals (UJs) are essential but under-recognized actors in scholarly communication, particularly in promoting local research and supporting non-commercial scholarly publishing. Despite their importance, UJs face persistent structural barriers: limited international visibility, fragile funding, inconsistent editorial practices and outdated technologies. This study presents findings from a semi-systematic review of 105 publications (1995-2024) obtained from Dimensions Plus, OpenAlex, Scopus, Web of Science and manual searches. It examines how these systemic limitations constrain the role of UJs in research evaluation, particularly through language restrictions, editorial endogamy, and fragmented indexing. The analysis also highlights emerging solutions, including the adoption of open source publishing platforms, editorial training programs, and regional funding models. Using UJs as a lens, this research highlights critical weaknesses in current research assessment systems and argues for context-sensitive reforms that recognize the diversity of publishing ecosystems.