Proceeding from the objectives of the Council, and following assigned terms and specialties, the Council hosted and conducted many activities and events during the academic year of 2007/2008 .
1) In the area of contained research resources and situation publication:
The Academic Publication Council aims to publish a scientific journal highly rich with culture, and academic excellence to better serve the decision-making circles, researchers, and interested readers. This year the Academic Publication Council received 834 studies, 37 more than the previous year. A remarkable increase of 4.6%, the studies examined various scientific specialties, and was collected from different countries in the world. The Academic Publication Council has maintained a high level of standards for all the studies conducted, in light of the increasing multiplicity of global refereed journals. This demonstrates the confidence of researchers in demand for literature by the Academic Publishing Council, and underlines its position among counterparts, and reflects the demand of academic growth.
The number of rejected studies amplified to 45.1%, in comparison to the 9.9% of studies which were approved. This increase of rejected studies has a positive connotation, the higher percentage of rejected studies help maintain the value of the scientific journals. This is accomplished by filtering out any limited studies, and only approving studies that meet all of the required academic standards. Also by dropping the percentage of published studies to 1.1% of the total research contained. This is an indication of the length of the waiting list in the publication, which obviously reflects the intensity of demand for publication in literature.
In addition, the Academic Publication Council published a considerable amount of journals by researchers outside of Kuwait, comparing to studies done by University of Kuwait staff. The Academic Publication Council no longer depends sole on the research done by University of Kuwait, as it did in the early years of the council; instead, it now demands attention from outside of Kuwait. Currently, the Academic Publication Council drew 633 studies from outside of the University of Kuwait, which equals 75.9% of all published journals, and within the University of Kuwait it published 201 journals, which is 24.1% of all published journals. This is a positive indication of great cultural significance, and a profile of these scientific journals abroad, reflects the accomplishments of the University of Kuwait, and the genuine exercise of the role of Kuwait leading to the cultural and scientific arena.
2) In the Area of Preparation and Issuance of Publications:
From July 1st 2007, until June 30th 2008 alone the Academic Publication Council published 46 journals, total of 112,000 copies all together. The Council also published 21 books written by authors of the Authorship, Translation & Publication Committee, total of 23,000 copies. With the intention to better support the Arab and international library and enrich them with variety of research studies and literature, and in order to provide opportunities for scientific publishing and arbitrators. The different journals and numerous editions were published according to the highest levels of order to create an atmosphere of intellectual contribute to the building of the academy of vision on various issues.
4) In the Area of Publishing Special Issues:
In addition to preparing periodic issued by the Academic Publication Council and highlighting issues important to the deployment of special needs, namely:
A. Extension Edition:
The proposal of laws and regulations for electronic financial issues developed during different discussion panels held by the Journal of Law, published in 3rd issue – December 2005.
Development of methods in which Kindergarten teachers utilize short story books for early learning of reading and writing. A methodology currently used with children in the State of Kuwait. Prepared by: Dr. Sawla Bager Jawher, Department of Education. Issue (77) – December 2005.
The magnitude of impact of experimental treatments, and the significance of its statistical significance. Prepared by: Prof. Rajaa Mahmoud Abo Allam, The Educational Journal. Issue (78) – March 2006.
The moral values contained in Kuwaiti children magazines: an analytical study. Prepared by: Eesa Mohamad Al-Ansari, The Educational Journal. Issue (79) – January 2006.
B. Electronic Publication:
The Scientific Journal released all its issues for the academic year 2005/2006 on a compact disc (CD).
The Authorship, Translation & Publication Committee published an electronic version of its book for the academic year of 2005/2006.
The Scientific Journals as well as the Authorship, Translation & Publication Committee published summaries of all its findings dating back to the committees establishment to all recent work. Currently, the committee is working on the English-language version.
5) In the Area of Arbitration Research and Books:
The Academic Publication Council upholds a high level of standards in terms of mandatory research requirements, to verify the quality of each study before its publication. Therefore, the Scientific Journal and the Authorship, Translation & Publication Committee hired 675 academic arbitrators from different specialties and various countries. In addition, the Committee made certain that 71.5% of the arbitrators were from outside of Kuwait. Such measures are taken to rule out any type of bias, and to encourage researchers to publish literature in the University of Kuwait. The Scientific Journal and the Authorship, Translation & Publication Committee also required an average of 43 days for the arbitration. This has helped in the adoption of electronic correspondence as a means of communication between the Journals and arbitrators in several occasions.
6) In the Area of Receiving Scientific Awards:
Confirming the position occupied by the prestigious Scientific Journals issued by the University of Kuwait, which no doubt includes complex and adequate research, which are closely tied to local development issues. The following studies were honored and received Scientific Awards:
The Science and Engineering Journal received an award from the Kuwait Publisher of Scientific Progress for the best research paper published in Kuwaiti journals specializing in the field of science. The Science and Engineering Journal, Volume (31) No. (1) Titled: (Effect of urban and industrial expansion on the genetic biodiversity of two desert animal species in Kuwait as determined by RAPD-PCR.)
The Annals of the Arts & Social Sciences received an award from the Kuwaiti Foundation of Scientific Progress for best research in field of humanities. The research was titled: (Behavior of Cigarette Smokers among Students of the University of Kuwait). Annals of the Arts & Social Sciences Journal, Volume (25) No. (217).
7) In the Area of Attainment of Databases:
In addition to receiving international recognition, registering with the competent scientific circles and the wide increase of its spread the Academic Publication Council entered Arab Journal of Administrative Sciences in a database called Pro Quest Information and Learning.
A) Using the Research of Kuwait Journal of Science and Engineering:
The classification of research published by the Kuwait Journal of Science and Engineering is referred to as (Citation) through what is known as scientific influencing factor (Impact Factor). For each particular year, count the number of times research published by the Kuwait Journal of Science and Engineering is cited or referenced in other scientific journals in the previous two years, and divided by the total of all published research by the Kuwait Journal of Science and Engineering in those previous two years. Last year the Kuwait Journal of Science and Engineering received a factor influencing percent of 0.06% which means the spread of the Journal as the researchers knew it was remarkably high, and there are still vigorous efforts to raise the current result. By increasing the scientific content of the Journal on the Internet, and increase the distribution list to include scientific institutions and universities libraries and scientific institutes in countries all over the world.
8) University Book Project:
In a series of university books assigned over to the Academic Publication Council to oversee and with the help of the Authorship, Translation & Publication Committee the following books were published and printed this year:
(Methods of Quantitative and Qualitative Research in the Field of Social and Behavioral Science). Written by Dr. Yaagoob Yousef Al-Kenderi, issue number (271).
(Principles of Law (Part I) The Theories of Law: the study of the fundamentals of law and principles). Written by Dr. Ibrahim Alsogy Abu-Allayl, issue number (104).
(The Modern History of Arabs since the Beginning of the 16th Century until the First World War). Written by Dr. Abdu-Almaleek Khalaf Al-Temimy, Dr. Abdu-Alrahim Abdu-Alrahim, Dr. Benyan Saud Turkey, Dr. Faisal Abdu-Alah Al-Kenderi, Dr. Nassir Al-Dein Saaydooni, Dr. Ali Bin-Hussain Al-Mahjoubi, issue number (101).
