In Poland’s higher education system, the research activity of universities and research institutes is assessed using a special metric – ministerial points. These are awarded by the Ministry of Education and Science of Poland and play a key role in determining an institution’s funding and prestige. One of the main sources for accumulating these points is publications in international databases such as Scopus and Web of Science. How does this system work? We explain in detail below.
What are ministerial points and why are they important?
Ministerial points (punkty ministerialne) are a quantitative measure of research achievements accrued for publications in journals on the Polish List (the ministry’s list of ranked journals). They are used in the evaluation of the quality of research activity (ewaluacja jakości działalności naukowej) conducted by Poland’s Ministry of Education and Science every four years.
For more on what the Polish List is and why researchers should publish in journals included in it, read in our previous article.
These points are crucial for academic and educational institutions because they directly affect funding levels and reputation. Based on the number of points earned, all institutions are assigned to five scientific categories: A+ (highest), A, B+, B and C (lowest). The higher the category, the more state subsidies, grants and opportunities a university or institute receives. This procedure is governed by Article 269 of the Act of the Republic of Poland “Law on Higher Education and Science”.
The role of publications in earning ministerial points
We have established that ministerial points are important for elevating an institution’s standing. A natural question follows: how can they be earned?
The primary route is publications in journals indexed in Scopus and Web of Science that are included in the current ministry list of ranked outlets. Each journal on the list carries a fixed number of points: 20, 40, 70, 100, 140 or 200, which are credited to the author upon publication.
A significant share of the Polish List title, especially those rated 70–200 points, are included in Scopus and Web of Science. At the same time, not all journals from these databases are automatically part of the ministry’s list. Therefore, before submitting your paper, verify the journal’s status via the official search tool.
The platform allows searching by several criteria, including:
- journal title
- journal ISSN
- discipline
- publisher
Such a check protects you from wasted effort and ensures that your work will translate into real points for the institution.
How to prepare a manuscript for Scopus and Web of Science
To increase your chances of publishing in journals indexed by these databases, approach manuscript preparation responsibly. Keep in mind the following recommendations:
- Choose a journal from the current Polish List. As noted above, check the outlet’s status in advance to ensure the necessary points will be awarded. This helps avoid submitting to a journal that is not on the list.
- Follow the required structure. Organise the text according to the IMRaD scheme, with clear sections and subheadings. This aligns with the standards of most Scopus and Web of Science journals and improves your chances during peer review.
- Ensure originality. It is essential to screen your article for plagiarism prior to submission (e.g., with Turnitin).
- Align with the journal’s aims. Carefully study the “Aims & Scope” section on the journal’s website to confirm your article fits the outlet’s specialisation.
- Prepare cover documents. Along with the article, submit a cover letter that presents key information about your study – its relevance, novelty and contribution to the field.
- Provide a high-quality academic translation. Most journals indexed in Scopus and Web of Science publish exclusively in English, so ensure the quality of your academic translation and, if needed, consult specialists.
It is hard to overstate the importance of ministerial points: they directly influence an institution’s status and category. To earn them, institutions should stimulate publishing activity within their teams and select journals indexed in Scopus and Web of Science.
The company Scientific Publications can help to facilitate publication in these databases. Our specialists will select a suitable journal, format the manuscript according to requirements and support you at every stage. Want a free consultation? Fill in the form below and our manager will contact you shortly. Together to the new scientific achievements!
