As part of my ongoing mentorship for the University of Baghdad’s journals, I actively monitor their progress to ensure they meet the requirements for indexing in Scopus and Web of Science. Citation indicators serve as a crucial benchmark for assessing research quality, authorship impact, and overall readiness for successful indexing. In this post, I am pleased to share a sample of the monthly citation analysis for the Iraqi Journal of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, based on data from the Scopus database. The journal has demonstrated remarkable progress, and I am optimistic that it is on track to achieve Scopus indexing in the near future. The key citation indicators I assess include: – Number of Citations in Scopus – H-index in Scopus – Scopus-indexed research citing the journal’s articles – Citation distribution based on affiliations – Citation distribution based on countries – Citation distribution based on sources Before 3 years, this journal had a predominantly local focus and was far from meeting the criteria of any major international repository. However, we implemented the following measures, which have transformed it into a competitive, globally recognized publication: 1- Enhance Content Quality: – Prioritize the publication of original, high-impact research in cutting-edge areas of chemical and petroleum engineering. – Encourage comprehensive literature reviews and studies with practical or theoretical implications. 2- Increase International Collaboration: – Actively invite submissions from renowned international scholars and research groups. – Establish partnerships with global institutions to co-host special issues and conferences. 3- Strengthen Editorial and Peer-Review Processes: – Implement stringent peer-review standards to maintain research credibility. – Incorporate international experts in the editorial and reviewer teams. 4- Optimize Digital Presence: – Ensure the journal’s website is user-friendly, featuring enriched metadata, DOIs for all articles, and adherence to Scopus technical standards. – Promote open-access publishing to boost readership and citations. 5- Focus on Citability: – Encourage authors to cite recent, high-impact studies, including Scopus-indexed sources. – Highlight key articles that have the potential for higher citation rates. 6- Monitor and Adapt to Scopus Requirements: – Regularly evaluate journal performance metrics like citation trends, H-index, and international contributions. – Address feedback from Scopus evaluation reports to align with their indexing criteria. 7- Promote Journal Visibility: – Utilize digital marketing, indexing platforms, and social media to enhance journal discoverability. – Collaborate with indexing services and databases to expand reach.
