A Mass Communication lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Dr Gever Verlumun, has won a €3,580 grant from the Centre for Advanced Internet Studies, Bochum, Germany, to support the publication of a special issue for his Scopus-indexed journal, Ianna Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies.
Verlumun, the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Ianna Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, at a virtual press conference, said the theme of the special issue was ‘Digital media and research in 21st century society: Assessing current trends and projecting the future.’
He disclosed that the grant covers editing, printing, archiving, promotions, and distribution.
While reminding that aspects of research like data collection, literature review, data analysis and intervention delivery, among others, have evolved over the past decades, Verlumun noted that the special publication is aimed at understanding how digital media and new technologies have changed the dynamics of research.
Verlumun specified the areas of interest for the special issue as artificial intelligence and research in contemporary society, software and data analysis, digital media and intervention delivery, digital media and data collection, and digital media and communicating research findings.
“I have also been ranked as the country’s number one communication scholar based on my publications in the Scopus SciVal author ranking of the top 500 scholars in Nigeria. I have maintained that position for the 2019-2022, and 2020-2023 ranking years.
“SciVal is a research analytics tool from Elsevier that measures metrics gathered from the Scopus dataset. It provides information on the research output of scholars and contributes to university rankings.”
Typically, it takes into account authors’ publications for the past four years,” Verlumun added.
Scopus is a globally recognised indexing and citation database that evaluates and indexes publications like journals, books, and conferences. Journals that are indexed in Scopus are regarded as complying with the highest global research standards, and authors who publish in such journals are seen as scholarly sound.
Verlumun charged the government and owners of tertiary institutions to encourage academics to engage in research and publication of their findings.
He commended the recent action of Afe Babalola (SAN), the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), who recently rewarded his lecturers, who made some publications, with over over N12 million.
Babalola also promised a car gift for anyone who emerges the university’s top researcher.
“This is inspiring and that is what school owners should aim at. Ranking of universities depend on a number of factors, and the number of publications is one. In Nigeria today, publication in journals indexed in Scopus is an achievement that is celebrated. It is also a requirement for promotion from one rank to another,” Verlumun stated.
