Submitting a paper to a HAC-listed journal in Azerbaijan or elsewhere in the CIS calls for attention not only to the content of the work but also to the journal’s formal requirements. Here are the mistakes that come up most often, and how to avoid them.
What mistakes most often lead to rejection when submitting to HAC?
Most rejections at the initial stage have less to do with the quality of the research than with a failure to meet the publication’s formal requirements. The editorial team checks a manuscript against the journal’s scope, structure and technical formatting before it ever reaches a reviewer.
If even one of these parameters is not met, the paper is returned to the author without being considered on its merits, and resubmission takes additional time.
Choosing the wrong HAC journal in Azerbaijan or the CIS is a common mistake
Academics preparing a dissertation for defence in Azerbaijan can publish in journals from two categories. The first is the list drawn up by the Higher Attestation Commission under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan – the HAC (AAK). The second is journals from recognised HAC (VAK) lists of CIS countries.
A common mistake is assuming that publication in any foreign journal on its own country’s HAC list is automatically accepted for a defence in Azerbaijan. In practice, only journals from the lists formally recognised by Azerbaijan’s HAC (AAK) count.
What’s more, these lists are reviewed every year, and a journal a colleague used last year may have already dropped off the list by the time a paper is submitted. Another common mistake in journal selection is a mismatch between the paper’s topic and the journal’s scope.
Do formatting shortcomings in a paper affect a journal’s decision?
Technical requirements vary between publications, but a number of errors recur across most of them.
The most frequent formatting shortcomings include:
- text that does not match the journal’s template for length, font or section structure
- a missing abstract or keywords in the required languages
- a mismatch between in-text citations and the reference list
- incomplete author details, including a missing ORCID
These shortcomings surface at the technical-check stage, so it is worth resolving them before submission rather than after receiving comments from the editorial team.
The publication quota for a scientific degree is another source of mistakes when submitting
The current Regulation on the award of scientific degrees sets a minimum number of publications on the dissertation topic. For a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), this is five articles, at least one of which must appear in an internationally recognised publication. For a Doctor of Science, it is fifteen articles, at least three of which must be published in publications of that standing.
A mistake made by some candidates is counting only the total number of publications without tracking the required share at international level. The shortfall is usually discovered shortly before the defence, when there is little time left to publish another article.
Why is it important to plan the timing of a submission in advance?
HAC-listed journals often publish a limited number of issues a year, and peer review can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Submitting a manuscript at the last minute increases the risk of publication being pushed back to the following year.
To reduce the risk of rejection and stay within the timeframe, it is worth following this sequence of steps:
- Check the journal’s current status on the HAC list as of the submission date.
- Review the manuscript formatting requirements on the journal’s official website.
- Check the number and category of planned publications against the requirements for the chosen degree.
- Confirm the issue schedule and the submission deadline for the current year.
Most mistakes made when submitting a paper to HAC-listed journals in Azerbaijan and the CIS can be prevented at the preparation stage, simply by checking the journal’s current requirements in advance. A careful approach to choosing a journal and formatting a manuscript significantly improves the chances of successful publication and a timely defence.
Need help publishing a paper in the journals of the HAC of the CIS? The specialists at Scientific Publications will confirm the journal’s status, check the manuscript against its requirements, and support you at every stage of the publication process. To get a free consultation, fill in the form below, and our manager will be in touch with you shortly.
