Publications under an employment contract are scientific works that a lecturer publishes as part of their job responsibilities. How they are formalised depends on the terms of the contract, the university’s internal documents and the requirements of the legislation of Kazakhstan. Such publications are often taken into account in attestation, and the rights to them may belong to the employer.
What are a lecturer’s publications under an employment contract?
According to Article 28 of the Labour Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, an employment contract sets out the rights and obligations of the employee. Amendments are made in writing, as a rule by means of a supplementary agreement (Article 33). Since 25 August 2026, the Code has included Article 146-2: the work of scientific workers is governed by the Code, subject to the particularities provided for by the Law “On Science and Technological Policy”.
This Law replaced the Law “On Science” on 1 September 2024. It recognises as scientific workers persons who work at universities and obtain the results of scientific activity.
A requirement to publish may be set out in:
- the employment contract and its supplementary agreements
- the job description
- the lecturer’s individual work plan
- the university’s internal regulations on attestation and the assessment of research activity
Journals for a lecturer’s publications under an employment contract
Many universities take publication activity into account in attestation and in competitive selection for positions. Journals from the current list of the Committee for Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education (KOKSNVO) are most often accepted, as are publications indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. The final set of criteria is determined by the university’s internal documents.
For the award of an academic title, the “Rules for Awarding Academic Titles” apply. They provide that, if a journal ceases to be indexed in Scopus or Web of Science, the applicant’s articles in that journal are not counted.
Who holds the rights to a lecturer’s publications under an employment contract?
The rights to such works are determined by Article 14 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Copyright and Related Rights”. A work created in the performance of official duties or an official assignment from the employer is considered an official work.
Moral rights, including the right of authorship, belong to the author. Property rights belong to the employer unless the contract provides otherwise.
The employer may state its name when such a work is used. The assignment of property rights is formalised in a written agreement, so before signing an agreement with a journal it is advisable to clarify who owns the rights to the work.
It also matters whether writing scientific articles falls within a lecturer’s duties. If a work is not an official work, the general rules apply, under which the rights belong to the author.
Place of work in a lecturer’s publications under an employment contract
Affiliation is information about the organisation with which an author is associated. Its correct indication may determine which university the publications are attributed to in bibliometric databases. Discrepancies in how the organisation’s name is written across publications may complicate the attribution of works within an author’s profile.
Universities often fix a single form of the name, including in English, in their internal documents. If a lecturer works at several organisations, it is advisable to agree the procedure for stating affiliation with each employer.
What should a lecturer do before publishing under an employment contract?
Before submitting an article to a journal, it is advisable to take the following steps:
- Study the employment contract, the job description and the individual work plan.
- Clarify in the university’s internal documents which journals and indicators are taken into account.
- Check the journal’s status in the current KOKSNVO list, Scopus or Web of Science at the time of submission.
- Find out the procedure for stating affiliation and for approving publications.
- Keep supporting documents: the acceptance letter, the link to the publication and the agreement with the journal.
Publications under an employment contract involve labour, copyright and academic issues at the same time. Studying the university’s documents, checking the journal’s status and agreeing the terms with the employer in good time help to plan publications with fewer risks.
Need help with publishing a scientific article? The specialists at Scientific Publications will help you check a journal’s status, choose a suitable journal and support you at every stage of the publication process. To receive a free consultation, fill in the form below and our manager will contact you shortly. Onwards to new scientific achievements!
