Publishing scientific results in recognised journals is one of the key stages of an academic career in the CIS. In Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus and a number of other states there are national lists of peer-reviewed journals, which by long-standing convention are referred to as HAC journals. Understanding their role affects not only a scholar's admission to the dissertation defence, but also the further development of their academic reputation.
What are HAC journals in the CIS?
The abbreviation HAC stands for the Higher Attestation Commission – the body that historically compiled the list of journals suitable for publishing the main results of dissertations. In Kazakhstan, the attestation of academic personnel is carried out by the Committee for Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (MSHE RK), which approves the List of publications recommended for publishing the main results of scientific activity. In everyday usage, such journals are still called HAC journals.
The advantages of publishing in HAC journals
Placing an article in a journal from the national list offers a scholar a number of tangible benefits. The main ones include:
- recognition of the publication by the authorised state body
- the option of counting the article towards a dissertation defence
- the possibility of submitting material in Russian or the state language
- more predictable timelines and costs compared with the leading international databases
- greater visibility of the work within the regional academic community
These factors make journals from the national lists a convenient entry point into the academic publishing environment, particularly for early-career authors.
How are HAC journals useful for a dissertation defence?
For candidates for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor by Profile, publishing results before the defence is among the compulsory conditions. In Kazakhstan, the main results of a dissertation are placed in publications from the List of the MSHE RK Committee and/or in international peer-reviewed journals. The number of articles required depends on which list of the register the publication is included in:
HAC journals and the development of an academic reputation
The value of publishing in HAC journals is not limited to admission to the defence. Placing an article serves as an approbation of the results within the professional community, supports the citation of the work and contributes to building an author's profile. For many scholars, journals from the national lists become the first platform on which their ideas receive external assessment and feedback from reviewers. This creates a foundation for a subsequent move to the international level.
How to choose a HAC journal in a CIS country?
When selecting a publication, it is advisable to focus not on the title, but on the journal's current status. Before submitting an article, it is worth paying attention to several points: the alignment of the journal's thematic profile with the topic of the work, the inclusion of the publication in the current edition of the list, the list category and the requirements associated with it, as well as the order and timelines of peer review. The lists are updated periodically, so it is advisable to check a publication's status immediately before sending the manuscript.
Publishing in HAC journals helps to meet the requirements for a dissertation defence, broaden the audience of the work and strengthen a scholar's standing within the academic community. When choosing a publication, it is important to align its status with the current list and the specific requirements for publications, which reduces the risk of rejection and lost time.
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