How Will Universities Consider a Good Quality Paper Published in a Low-Quality or Non-Indexed Journal?
Sometimes a research scholar produces high-quality and novel research work, but it gets published in a low-quality or non-indexed journal that is not covered by SCI or Scopus. In such cases, universities usually evaluate the paper based on their academic regulations rather than only on the research quality claimed by the scholar.
General University Standpoint
Most universities give importance to journal indexing rather than individual paper quality. Therefore:
- Papers in SCI / SCIE indexed journals are fully accepted
- Papers in Scopus indexed journals are widely accepted
- Papers in non-indexed journals are usually not counted
Even if the research work is technically strong, a paper published in a non-indexed journal may not fulfill formal university requirements.
Possible Ways Universities May Consider Such Papers
1. As Supporting Work (Not Main Requirement)
The paper may be considered as:
- Supplementary research evidence
- Part of thesis literature
- Proof of research activity
But it may not be counted as the mandatory SCI or Scopus publication.
2. Subject to Expert Committee Review
Some universities may forward the paper to:
- Research advisory committee
- Subject expert panel
The committee may judge the technical merit independently of journal indexing.
3. Allowed Only If No Indexed Option Exists
In rare or emerging research areas where indexed journals are not available, universities may consider non-indexed papers on a case-by-case basis.
4. Used for Internal Evaluation Only
The paper may be used to:
- Justify novelty of thesis work
- Support methodology
- Demonstrate research contribution
But it may not be accepted for formal publication requirements.
What Universities Usually Will NOT Do
- They will not treat a non-indexed paper as an SCI or Scopus paper
- They will not upgrade or convert the paper into indexed status
- They will not ignore their official regulations
Best Practice for Scholars
- Publish extended or improved version in SCI or Scopus journal
- Use the non-indexed paper only as a base work
- Cite the original paper properly
- Do not rely only on non-indexed publications
Conclusion
Universities primarily consider the indexing status of journals while evaluating publications. A high-quality paper published in a non-indexed journal may be acknowledged as supporting research work, but it usually does not fulfill the formal requirement for SCI or Scopus publications. To fully satisfy university regulations, scholars should publish their work in recognized indexed journals.