Ressources numériques en sciences humaines et sociales OpenEdition Nos plateformes OpenEdition Books OpenEdition Journals Hypothèses Calenda Bibliothèques OpenEdition Freemium Suivez-nous

Press release, June 30th 2022

Successful campaign to support Ukrainian university publishing and first exchanges

As a result of the support campaign organised by the European initiative SUES (Support to Ukrainian editorial staff)/SESU (Support to Scholarly Publishing in Ukraine), 45 scientific journals and publishers will receive support totalling over €73,000. The campaign also initiated exchanges between publishing professionals in Europe and Ukraine.
SUES is an initiative of European institutions, infrastructures, organisations and French scientific publishing professionals. It was formed in March 2022 to support scientific communication in Ukraine by providing assistance to academic journals and publishers. One of the objectives is to enable these structures to continue their editorial activities despite the war context.
A crowdfunding campaign was launched on May the 6th, 2022, the results of which have exceeded all expectations: by the closing date of June the 24th, more than 73,000 euros had been raised, thanks to the contributions of 157 donors, individuals and organisations, from all over the world (the initial goal was to obtain 16,500 euros, in order to support about ten journals).
To the 118 donations (for a total amount of more than 20,000 euros), collected through crowdfunding launched on the Wemakeit platform, made mainly by individuals, but also from some major public institutions, associations, learned societies and publishers, were added those made by Knowledge Unlatched/Wiley, from the community of publishers and University libraries (36,000 euros, more than 38 donors). Finally, the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research has decided to donate an additional 16,500 euros, through its National Fund for Open Science (FNSO), to support 10 additional journals, shared in open access in Ukraine.
This funding will be distributed among 45 Ukrainian scientific journals and publishers. The latter had applied following a survey circulated in May 2022 by SUES, which aimed to gain a better understanding of the Ukrainian scientific publishing landscape, establish contacts with stakeholders, and determine their most urgent needs. The applications were examined by a scientific committee (composition of editorial committees, evaluation procedures, editorial quality, distribution methods), and 45 of them were selected for this first campaign. The Committee took care to take into account the diversity of the disciplines represented.
This funding campaign was accompanied by contacts with representatives of these journals, leading to exchanges and the production of videos. It was followed by the creation of a blog that will keep the community informed of the project’s progress and by the organisation of webinars bringing together European scientific publishers. Beyond the financial aspects, it seems essential to continue the dialogue initiated during this campaign between publishing professionals in Europe and Ukraine.

Communiqué de presse, 30 juin 2022

Une campagne de soutien à l’édition universitaire ukrainienne fructueuse et des premiers échanges tissés

Suite à la campagne de soutien organisée par l’initiative européenne SUES (Support to Ukrainian editorial staff)/SESU (Soutien à l’édition savante en Ukraine), 45 revues et éditeurs scientifiques recevront une aide, pour un montant total de plus de 73 000 euros. Cette campagne a également permis d’initier des échanges entre professionnels de l’édition en Europe et en Ukraine.

Le SUES est une initiative d’institutions, d’infrastructures, d’organisations européennes et de professionnels de l’édition scientifique française. Il s’est constitué en mars 2022 pour soutenir la communication scientifique en Ukraine en apportant une aide aux revues savantes et aux éditeurs universitaires. L’un des objectifs est de permettre à ces structures de poursuivre leurs activités éditoriales malgré le contexte de guerre.

Une campagne de financement participatif a été lancée le 6 mai 2022, dont les fruits ont dépassé toute attente : à sa date de clôture, le 24 juin, plus de 73 000 euros ont été recueillis, grâce aux contributions de 157 donateurs, individuels et organisations, du monde entier (le pari était initialement d’obtenir 16 500 euros, pour soutenir une dizaine de revues).

Aux 118 dons (pour un montant total de plus de 20 000 euros), recueillis par le crowdfunding lancé sur la plateforme Wemakeit, effectués pour l’essentiel par des particuliers, mais aussi venus de quelques grandes institutions publiques, d’associations, de sociétés savantes, d’éditeurs, se sont ajoutés ceux apportés par Knowledge Unlatched/Wiley, issus de la communauté des éditeurs et bibliothèques universitaires (36 000 euros, plus de 38 donateurs). Enfin, le ministère français de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche a décidé de donner 16 500 euros supplémentaires, par l’intermédiaire de son Fonds national pour la science ouverte (FNSO), pour soutenir 10 revues supplémentaires, diffusées en accès ouvert en Ukraine. 

Cette somme sera répartie entre 45 revues et éditeurs scientifiques ukrainiens. Ces derniers avaient déposé une demande suite à l’enquête diffusée en mai 2022 par le SUES, qui visait à mieux connaître le paysage de l’édition scientifique ukrainienne, à établir des contacts avec des acteurs de celle-ci, et à déterminer leurs besoins les plus urgents. Les demandes ont été examinées par un comité scientifique (composition des comités éditoriaux, procédures d’évaluation, qualité éditoriale, modes de diffusion), et 45 d’entre elles ont été retenues pour cette première campagne. Le Comité a veillé à tenir compte de la diversité des disciplines représentées.

Cette campagne de financement a été accompagnée de prises de contacts avec des représentants de ces revues, donnant lieu à des échanges et à la production de vidéos. Elle s’est prolongée par la création d’un blog qui permettra d’informer la communauté des suites de ce projet et par l’organisation de webinaires rassemblant des éditeurs scientifiques européens. Au-delà des aspects financiers, il paraît en effet primordial de poursuivre le dialogue initié lors de cette campagne entre des professionnels de l’édition en Europe et en Ukraine. 

The war in Ukraine is impacting our colleagues in scholarly publishing – We set up the Supporting Ukrainian Editorial Staff program to provide editorial staff in Ukraine with the help they need

Les institutions donatrices sont mentionnées dans la liste ci-dessous. La liste des donateurs individuels est présente sur la plateforme Wemakeit, sauf s’ils ont choisi de rester anonyme.

Ten scholarly journals in Ukraine selected to receive financial support from the SUES program

The committee took under consideration 95 journals whose statement of needs was submitted via SUES web form by 19th May 2022 noon, when the evaluation process started. New queries are received after this date but will be processed later, if a new round is possible. Two important points should be made: (1) not all journals and publishers asked for financial support, (2) journals often asked for broader support exceeding the financial capacities of SUES.

The evaluation was conducted iteratively, according to the criteria reflecting the general principles of SUES and ensure that the help will go to the journals in need, planning a wider cooperation with SUES partners: journal’s history, recent issues, open access policy/plans, presence in journal indexes, location in regions directly affected by the war, interest in further cooperation, expression of needs. Given the capacity of the programme, the committee prioritised individual journal submissions instead of university submissions (with an exception of Luhansk).

The top 10 list journals presented below will receive scholarships :

Collected scientific works of the Ukrainian State University of Railway Transport (English version: https://kart.edu.ua/en/unit/collected-sw-ukrsurt)

Founded in 1994, with 4 issues per year, the journal is peer-reviewed and in open-access on their website. Their focus includes these fields of research : applied mechanics, science of material, sector machine building, heat power engineering, etc.

Educational Challenges

Since 1996, the journal publishes peer-reviewed original research and review articles across all aspects of up-to-date education. The journal publishes manuscripts in the following basic areas: educational policies, initial and continuing teacher training, experimental education, etc.

From the archives of the VUChK–GPU–NKVD–KGB

Since 1994, highlights little-known pages of Ukrainian history, studying the problems of state terror of the Soviet period as well as to publish documents from the archives of secret services. In open access, published twice a year.

Proceeding of Shevchenko Scientific Society. Medical Sciences

Since 1898, publishes two issues a year, in open access, on medical issues and currenty research.

Scientific journals of the State Institution «Taras Shevchenko Luhansk National University» | The websites : http://visnyk.luguniv.edu.ua/, http://eps.luguniv.edu.ua/index.php/eps, http://evd.luguniv.edu.ua/index.php/evd, http://ling.luguniv.edu.ua/index.php/ling, http://admjournal.luguniv.edu.ua/index.php/adm

Skhid (East)

Since 1995, published four times a year in open access, wirth the main rubrics covering the fields of philosophy, history, religious studies and other areas of social and humanitarian sciences.

Sociology: Theory, Methods, Marketing

Since 1998, with four issues a year in open access, aims at developing professional sociological knowledge and academic expertise through the publication of outstanding articles and the reports on the results of advanced innovative research on social issues and processes in contemporary sociology.

Technical sciences and technology

Since 2015, publishes 4 issues a year in open access, on theoretical and experimental research in the specialties: applied mechanics, materials science, mechanical engineering, etc.

The Scientific Notes of the Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University. Literature Studies.

Since 1997, publishes scientific articles on literature studies and critics.

VSESVIT

Since 1925, publishes exclusive translations of world classics and contemporary works of literature, covering different aspects of cultural, artistic, social and political life in all parts of the world.

Official selection

Interviews with Ukrainian editors

We recorded a few interviews with editors in Ukraine : the link is here.

The questions where the following :

  • Can you give us a short presentation of your work with the journals ?
  • How did war impact the production of the research papers ?
  • What are your urgent needs ?
  • What are the research papers’ prospects for the years to come ?
  • How can artists and producers of intellectual content involve themselves ?

See their answers by yourself.