International OA Journal Recommended List

At present, the emergence of some low-quality "questionable journals" has severely disrupted the academic publishing ecosystem and posed a threat to academic integrity. These questionable journals have also led to negative perceptions among the public and academia regarding Open Access (OA) journals, affecting the development of high-quality OA journals and potentially hindering the progress of Open Science.

Against this backdrop, the "International OA Journal Recommended List Project" was initiated, aiming to construct a guiding list of OA journals that meets international standards and is suitable for China's current state of Open Access. The project is committed to upholding academic integrity and quality standards, encouraging responsible academic communication and knowledge dissemination, reducing academic misconduct, and promoting the efficient and rational use of public funds. The main objectives of the project are to provide Chinese scholars with references and guidance for publishing in high-quality OA journals, establish best practices for OA journals, enhance the academic community's and the public's understanding of OA journals, promote the practice and development of Open Science in China, and increase China's contribution to the global development of OA.

This recommended list was first released in December 2024. Subsequently, it will be continuously updated and supplemented with other Open Access (OA) journals that meet the criteria. The selection criteria will also be continuously refined and improved in accordance with the development and changes in the academic publishing environment.

Principles

Collaborative: The project upholds a collaborative approach, working together with other national journal lists, research institutions, and experts to enhance the project's authority and effectiveness.

Responsible: The project prioritizes academic integrity as its primary consideration, encouraging honest and responsible academic communication and knowledge dissemination.

Transparent: The project's methodology is open and transparent, allowing for public oversight and participation. The evaluation criteria and standards are clear and well-defined, facilitating broad understanding and adherence.

Dynamic: The project will maintain regular updates, tracking the development trends of open access journals and conducting dynamic assessments.

Organization

Secretariat: Composed of designated personnel from each initiating organization, the office is located at CNPIEC, responsible for the daily management and operation of the project.

Expert Committee: Comprised of renowned industry experts from both domestic and international fields, including journal evaluation and metrics, responsible for establishing and updating the project's evaluation criteria and methodologies. They provide in-depth analysis and professional advice on open access journals, ensuring the scientific, and effective nature of the assessment work.

Evaluation Committee: Consists of scholars, experts, and journal editors with a profound understanding of relevant academic fields, responsible for the professional selection and evaluation of journals. Based on the criteria set by the Expert Committee, they conduct comprehensive assessments and recommendations of journals.

Advisory Committee: Composed of industry leaders, policymakers, and influential academic representatives, providing strategic guidance and policy advice to the project. They offer consultative opinions on the project's development direction and international cooperation.

Initiators

Partners