Scopus Announced as One of the Primary Tools for Research Assessment of Russian Universities

MOSCOW, September 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Scopus recognized by Russian Ministry of Education and Science as key database for reaching international standards of excellence in education and science

Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, announces that Scopus is officially confirmed as one of the primary requirements for the research assessment of all Russian universities. Alexander A. Klimov, PhD., Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Russia, formalizes this decision through Scopus' inclusion in the Government's regulating act titled "Russia's Assessment of Higher Education Effectiveness".

As the Russian Ministry of Education and Sciences enforces international competitiveness of Russian education and science, applying international standards and practices for evaluation of the quality of higher education and its research is a crucial step in the process. With Scopus now recognized as the official tool for effective research assessment of Russian universities, the Government aims to map its research performance and international research collaboration trends more effectively, as well as support its research funding strategies objectively.  

Olga Moskaleva, PhD, Head of Department of Scientific Research, St. Petersburg State University, said of the inclusion of Scopus in the act, "Effective R&D assessment is key for strategic research funding and development within Russia. With Scopus now officially recognized by the Government as one of the tools to achieve effective research assessment, Russia will soon be able to reflect on past, current and future research trends, helping our Universities to be more competitive in the global academic arena."

Ivan Sterligov, Director of the Center of Situational Analysis, Ministry of Education and Science, noted, "With the ongoing reform of the higher education and science structure across Russia we see insight into all major bibliometric indices as crucial to be able to objectively reflect on our research landscape, also in comparison with other parts of the world. Scopus will help all Russian universities present and analyze the most important bibliometric indices."

Igor Osipov, PhD, Elsevier Regional Director for Russia and Belarus said, "We are honored to now see Scopus' official recognition in the Minstery's act. Using Scopus helps enhance the Ministry's aim to improve the quality and international reputation of Russian research output. Not only will Scopus help Russian universities assess the 'bigger picture,' it will also help identify and reward teams and individual researchers and their institutions conducting world-class work in Russia."

About the Ministry of Education and Science, Russia

The Ministry of Education and Science is a federal body of executive power, which carries out functions on elaborating state policy and normative-lawful regulation in the spheres of education, scientific, scientific-technical and innovative activity, nanotechnologies, intellectual property, and also in the sphere of upbringing, social support and protection of pupils of educational institutions.

About Scopus

Covering the world's research literature, Scopus is the largest abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature. Featuring smart tools to track, analyze and visualize research, Scopus was designed and developed with input from over 500 users and librarians internationally. Its unique database contains abstracts and references from nearly 19,500 peer-reviewed journals from more than 5,000 publishers worldwide, ensuring broad interdisciplinary coverage. Direct links to subscribed full-text articles, library resources and other applications like reference management software, make Scopus quicker, easier and more comprehensive to use than any other literature research tool.  

About Elsevier
Elsevier is a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. The company works in partnership with the global science and health communities to publish more than 2,000 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and close to 20,000 book titles, including major reference works from Mosby and Saunders. Elsevier's online solutions include ScienceDirect, Scopus, Reaxys, ClinicalKey and Mosby's Nursing Suite, which enhance the productivity of science and health professionals, and the SciVal suite and MEDai's Pinpoint Review, which help research and healthcare institutions deliver better outcomes more cost-effectively.

A global business headquartered in Amsterdam, Elsevier employs 7,000 people worldwide. The company is part of Reed Elsevier Group PLC, a world-leading publisher and information provider, which is jointly owned by Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV. The ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).

Media contact
Galina Yakshonak
Elsevier, Russia
+7-985-72-779-67
g.yakshonak@elsevier.com