Index Academic is gradually moving to an OJS-based editorial infrastructure, extended academic metadata, DOI identifiers, and standardized digital processes
MultiMedia Publishing announces an important stage in the development of the academic journal it manages —Index Academic — through the modernization of its editorial infrastructure, the expansion of multilingual functionality, and the gradual transition to a fully online processing workflow.
The transition is already under way and will continue until 1 January 2027, during which the editorial platform and the website of the journal will operate in parallel with the existing procedures for testing, adjustment, and gradual migration of activities.
The main objective is to build a clearer, more transparent editorial infrastructure, better aligned with current requirements in scholarly communication, metadata services, and academic databases.
From Publishing Website to a Complete Academic Infrastructure
Over the past years, the journal has undergone a continuous development process. Its website has been restructured, multilingual versions have been expanded, and editorial, copyright, Open Access, peer review, academic ethics, and archiving policies have been revised.
Particular attention has been paid to academic metadata, because the visibility of an article no longer depends solely on its publication on a web page. The title, authors, affiliations, abstract, keywords, DOI, language, document type, license, and relationships between different versions of a work must be correctly identifiable and processable by academic search engines, aggregators, bibliographic services, and international research infrastructures.
At the same time, tools for displaying and tracking bibliometric indicators have been introduced and developed, based on data available through academic services and identification and citation infrastructures. These indicators are provided for informational purposes and contribute to a better understanding of the visibility and circulation of published works.
This evolution has also made it necessary to move from a model in which publication was largely managed manually, through web pages and direct correspondence, to a fully online editorial workflow, closer to the standards used by modern academic journals.
OJS Becomes the Main Editorial Platform
For the management of the editorial process, Open Journal Systems (OJS) has been implemented, one of the most widely used open-source platforms for academic journal publishing and management.
The new infrastructure allows the main stages of the editorial process to be managed within a single system:
- registration of authors and reviewers;
- manuscript submission;
- initial screening;
- assignment of editors;
- peer review;
- communication between authors, reviewers, and editors;
- requests for and uploading of revisions;
- editorial decision;
- preparation for publication;
- metadata management;
- publication of issues and articles.
This change is not intended only to simplify editorial work. It is also necessary for better compatibility with the requirements of modern academic indexing and discovery services, which increasingly rely on standardized metadata, persistent identifiers, and documentable editorial workflows.
The common editorial platform can be accessed at:
During the transition period, each journal will retain its own website, which remains its main public space for presentation, archives, editorial policies, articles, news, and information for readers.
The Transition to the New System Will Be Gradual Until 1 January 2027
MultiMedia Publishing has chosen a gradual migration rather than an abrupt change.
Until 1 January 2027, the OJS platform and the website of four journal will be in a period of testing, verification, and optimization. During this stage, both technical issues and the experience of authors, reviewers, editors, and readers will be closely monitored.
Comments regarding:
- manuscript submission;
- creation and completion of profiles;
- navigation in OJS;
- language versions;
- forms;
- metadata;
- article display;
- website functionality;
- possible errors or unclear elements
are welcome and will be taken into account in the process of finalizing the infrastructure.
The aim is that, from 1 January 2027, the processing of academic manuscripts will be carried out mainly through the online workflow of the editorial platform.
Index Academic Is Also Developing a Multidisciplinary Academic Repository
In parallel with the development of the Index Academic journal, Index Academic Repository has also been created as a distinct component of the platform.
The Repository is intended for the archiving, description, preservation, and dissemination of academic and research outputs.
Depending on the applicable rights, it may host:
- preprints;
- Accepted Author Manuscripts;
- previously published articles;
- conference papers;
- book chapters;
- research reports;
- working papers;
- theses and dissertations;
- educational materials;
- datasets;
- supplementary materials;
- other academic outputs.
The Repository and the journal are two distinct components.
Depositing a material in Index Academic Repository does not mean publication in the Index Academic journal and does not automatically imply peer review.
Before inclusion, materials are checked with regard to metadata, document version, deposit rights, license, identifiers, and technical requirements.
Documents that already have a DOI retain their original DOI. Certain original, stable, and eligible materials that do not already have a DOI may be assigned a persistent identifier in accordance with the Repository’s DOI policy.
Index Academic Repository:
https://www.indexacademic.ro/en/repository/
Deposit a Material:
https://www.indexacademic.ro/en/repository/deposit-guidelines/material-deposit-form/
Academic Publication Fee: EUR 10 for Each Accepted Material
Under the new editorial system, a fee of EUR 10 applies to each academic article accepted for publication in the journals.
The same EUR 10 fee also applies to materials accepted for publication in Index Academic Repository when they are processed and published as complete academic records.
This is not a submission fee and not a peer-review fee.
For journal articles, it is payable only after the article has been accepted and does not influence the editorial decision in any way.
The amount has deliberately been kept low and is intended to cover only part of the real costs of academic publishing.
Publishing involves much more than placing a PDF file on a website. Depending on the article, the process may require:
- checking and manually completing metadata;
- standardizing author names and affiliations;
- checking ORCID identifiers;
- preparing and registering DOIs;
- checking references and bibliographic information;
- article formatting;
- typesetting;
- preparation of final files;
- integration into the journal issue;
- preparation and typesetting of digital issues;
- preparation of printed versions, where produced;
- actual costs of printed copies;
- platform administration;
- website maintenance;
- hosting services;
- file archiving and preservation;
- registration and maintenance of metadata;
- ongoing editorial administration.
A significant part of this work is performed manually.
The EUR 10 fee therefore does not represent “payment for acceptance” of an article, but a modest contribution to the technical and editorial costs arising after the work has been accepted.
For the Repository, the fee covers processing of the material, verification and completion of metadata, preparation of the record, verification of document rights and version, as well as publication and long-term administration of the record.
Free Publication Remains Possible
The introduction of the academic article fee does not mean that free publication on the journal websites will disappear.
Authors may continue to propose journalistic articles, analyses, opinion pieces, commentaries, informational materials, and other texts intended for editorial or Media sections, depending on the profile of each website.
Such materials may be published free of charge if considered relevant by the editorial team.
However, they will be clearly distinguished from academic articles:
- they will not be included in the academic volumes and issues of the journals;
- they will not be considered peer-reviewed articles;
- they will not receive a DOI;
- they will not be presented in metadata as academic journal articles.
This distinction is necessary in order to keep the academic status of journal articles clear and verifiable.
Current Editorial Team Members Will Be Asked to Confirm Their Participation
With the introduction of OJS and the restructuring of editorial team, current members of the journal will receive messages requesting confirmation that they wish to continue their activity.
After confirmation, they will be asked to complete their online profiles.
Profiles may include, as applicable:
- full name;
- institutional affiliation;
- areas of expertise;
- ORCID;
- data required for editorial activity;
- languages used;
- reviewing interests.
This stage is important both for updating internal records and for the proper functioning of the online editorial process.
Members who no longer wish or are no longer able to participate in the journals’ activities will be able to communicate this simply by replying to the message received.
Open Call for Researchers, Academics, and Specialists
The journal continue to expand its academic community and invite researchers, university staff, and specialists with relevant experience to apply for participation in editorial activities.
Available roles may include:
- editorial team members;
- members of scientific structures, where applicable;
- section editors;
- reviewers / peer reviewers;
- academic collaborators.
Selection is based on academic profile, experience, and field of expertise.
Application forms: https://www.indexacademic.ro/en/applications-for-editorial-and-reviewer-roles/
Academic Manuscripts Can Be Submitted Directly Online
Authors wishing to publish in the journal are invited, as the workflows are activated, to use the online manuscript submission system.
Manuscript submission: https://journals.telework.ro/indexacademic/en/about/submissions
The platform allows authors to follow the status of their manuscript more easily and to keep communication and document versions in one place.
One Shared Infrastructure, Distinct Editorial Identities
Although the journal use the same technical infrastructure and are managed by the same publisher, it retains:
- its editorial identity;
- its field of interest;
- its team;
- its specific policies;
- its archive;
- its own website;
- its ISSN;
- its issue structure;
- its community of authors and readers.
The purpose of the common platform is to standardize the technical and administrative side, not to make the scientific profiles of the journals uniform.
A Stage Open to Comments and Suggestions
The period until 1 January 2027 should also be regarded as a practical consultation stage.
Any comments regarding the operation of the new platform, forms, texts, navigation, profiles, policies, or editorial workflow are welcome.
In an academic system used by authors, reviewers, editors, and readers with different needs, real issues often become visible only through actual use.
For this reason, MultiMedia Publishing will continue to adjust the platform based on users’ practical experience.
The Journal: https://www.indexacademic.ro/en/
About MultiMedia Publishing
MultiMedia Publishing manages and develops editorial, academic, and digital projects, including the four journals Cunoașterea Științifică, Intelligence Info, IT & C, and Index Academic.
Through the new editorial infrastructure, the objective is to develop a sustainable academic publishing system based on Open Access, persistent identifiers, high-quality metadata, transparent editorial processes, and the best possible compatibility with modern scholarly communication infrastructures.
Contact
MultiMedia Publishing
Bucharest, Romania
Email: office@multimedia.com.ro
WhatsApp: 0040 745 526 896
Web: https://www.telework.ro/en/multimedia-srl-en/
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