Improving Indexing Visibility for University of Zambia Hosted Journals: Practical Approaches and Workflow Enhancements through Open Journal System Integration

Abstract

Enhancing the indexing readiness of scholarly journals is essential for increasing global visibility, accessibility, and academic credibility. This study improves the discoverability of Diamond Open Access journals at the University of Zambia through targeted technical and editorial interventions. Using a data mining approach, metadata was extracted from Google Scholar, Crossref, and the University of Zambia journal platform (via OAI-PMH) to compare indexing coverage. The work implements ORCID integration, metadata quality enhancements, and lightweight Open Journal Systems (OJS) plugins for automated metadata verification, DOI deposition, and DSpace package export. Initial tests show these tools help identify and correct indexing barriers, especially incomplete metadata and formatting inconsistencies. Findings indicate that technical upgrades and standardized editorial workflows can significantly improve readiness for inclusion in indexing services such as the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) and African Journals Online (AJOL). This approach offers a scalable model for strengthening institutional journal support and sustaining visibility in resource-limited environments.