The Committee for Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (KOKSNVO) compiles a list of publications (the KOKSNVO list) recommended for publishing the main results of scientific activity. Articles from this list are taken into account, among other things, when defending a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor by Profile.
Which journals are included in the KOKSNVO list?
The criteria for inclusion are set out in the order “On the Approval of Requirements for Scientific Publications”, according to which the list consists of several levels:
- journals of List 1 – Scopus and Web of Science publications, journals of trusted publishers and selected national journals that meet the first-level requirements
- journals of List 2 – scientific journals that meet the second-level requirements
- journals of List 3 – scientific journals that meet the third-level requirements
The list also includes proceedings of international scientific conferences and a list of trusted Kazakhstani publishers.
The number of articles from the list that are taken into account when defending a PhD dissertation depends on the List: according to the order “On the Approval of the Rules for Awarding Degrees”, one article is sufficient in List 1, two in List 2 and three in List 3.
Official list of KOKSNVO journals
The current list of publications is published on the Committee’s page on the gov.kz portal.
The page shows the date on which the document was last updated, so before checking, make sure that the latest version is open.
Data on third-party resources may be out of date, so the Committee’s document serves as the reference point.
How to check a journal in the KOKSNVO list step by step?
The check is best carried out in a set order:
- Clarify the exact title, ISSN and publisher on the journal’s website.
- Open the current list on the Committee’s page and check the update date.
- Find the journal in the document by title and compare the publisher and the field of science.
- Determine which List the journal belongs to: 1, 2 or 3.
- Compare the result with the information about inclusion in the list given on the journal’s website.
If a journal is published in several series, the title of the specific series should be checked.
Checking international journals in the KOKSNVO list
Journals indexed in Scopus or Web of Science (AHCI, SCIE, SSCI, ESCI) are included in List 1 automatically.
Therefore, when checking such a journal, the check should rely on its indexing in the relevant database, not only on whether its title appears in the list.
Trusted publishers, including Elsevier, Springer Nature, Taylor and Francis, John Wiley & Sons and Sage Publications, are listed in the text of the requirements.
The status of a journal in the databases may change, so it should be checked again before documents are submitted.
What mistakes are possible when checking a journal in the KOKSNVO list?
Possible inaccuracies include:
- using an outdated version of the list
- relying on an editorial statement about inclusion in the list without checking it against the list
- confusing a journal with one of its series
- confusion caused by similar journal titles from different publishers
- overlooking the List, which determines the number of articles that are taken into account
Checking a journal against the KOKSNVO list involves clarifying the title and publisher, searching the current list and determining the List. Since the list is updated, a journal’s status may change, so it is advisable to repeat the check before documents are submitted. When choosing a journal, it is also worth considering its subject profile and the requirements for manuscripts.
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