THE UNIVERSITY has granted Thomasians free access to online citation database Scopus and research performance benchmarking tool SciVal, both developed by leading academic publisher Elsevier.
The subscription, which began March 1, can be accessed by students and faculty using their official UST email address. Those logging in for the first time must access the websites using the UST internet network Veritas.
Prof. Cecilia Moran, executive assistant for research operations and management of the Office of the Vice Rector for Research and Innovation (OVRRI), said the tools would enhance UST’s research impact on a global scale.
“Elsevier’s Scopus and SciVal can significantly enhance the UST’s research endeavors by providing crucial data and analytical capabilities,” Moran told the Varsitarian.
“By leveraging these tools, UST can ultimately elevate its research impact, refine its strategic direction, and strengthen its position within the global research community, aiding the institution’s world university ranking performance.”
Moran said Scopus would enable UST to monitor its research output and track emerging trends through citation counts and the h-index, a metric used to evaluate scholarly impact.
Meanwhile, SciVal’s benchmarking tools will help assess UST’s research performance against peer institutions.
“It also enables in-depth analysis of research output, aiding in identifying strengths and areas for improvement. Additionally, SciVal can assist in pinpointing potential collaborators and funding prospects by scrutinizing research networks and funding patterns,” Moran said.
The OVRRI conducted an onboarding session on Scopus and SciVal at Miguel de Benavides Library on Feb. 28. More training sessions are being planned to encourage faculty and students to maximize the research tools in their work, said Moran.
“OVRRI can demonstrate the value of Scopus and SciVal by emphasizing the importance of research evaluation and strategic planning. These tools are essential for analyzing research impact, identifying trends, and developing effective research strategies,” she said.
UST’s subscription to Scopus and SciVal will run until 2028.
Launched in 2004, Scopus is an abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature combined by subject matter experts. Scival, meanwhile, provides insights into research performance using data from Scopus.
