The most important task assigned to the Panels is the evaluation and classification of academic publication channels in the fields covered by each individual Panel. The practical evaluation work takes place through a web portal designed for the Panellists’ use. The Panels only convene when necessary and mainly for the introduction of their work and during the review of ratings. When needed, joint meetings of the Panel chairs are also organised.

For peer-reviewed articles and monographs, the decision on the Publication Forum level calls for the identification of the correct publication channel. The choice of the channel depends on the type of publication.

All writings published by academic journals, conferences or book publishers are not scientific or peer-reviewed but one publication channel can include both refereed and non-refereed publications. The first step to take is to determine whether a publication is, indeed, scientific and peer-reviewed as defined in the data collection by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

In the case of individual articles or books, the rating factors include the publication type awarded to the article or book in question in the data collection procedure of the Ministry of Education and Culture as well as the series, conference or book publisher used as the publication channel. The Publication Forum level in force in the year in which the publication came out will be used to determine the level of the article or the book.

Only academic publication channels are eligible for the Publication Forum classification (levels 1, 2 and 3). The term ‘academic publication channel’ refers to book publishers, conferences as well as printed and digital publication series specialised in the publication of scientific research results. These forums have an editorial board composed of experts and they follow the peer-review practice. Academic publication channels are evaluated merely in terms of their impact on science, not their societal impact.

Publication Forum evaluates domestic and foreign academic publication channels.

Regarding general information on Publication Forum, please contact us at julkaisufoorumi(at)tsv.fi

Janne Pölönen
Secretary General
tel: +358 (0)44 346 9491
e-mail: janne.polonen(at)tsv.fi

The Steering Group draws the outlines regarding the continual maintenance, development and evaluation criteria of Publication Forum, informing the background communities about the classification and appointing new Panellists at the end of the mandates of former Panels.

Publication Forum started operating in 2010, first in project form. The decision to establish the Forum was based on persistent work to develop research quality assessment, started in the mid-90s as universities took over result-oriented management models.