Profiling the Sustainability Of Journal Lists: Preliminary Results from a Tentative Approach

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate journal listings, which are commonly adopted as policy instruments by universities, and assess the alignment of the aims of the journals in these listings with research priorities regarding the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Design/Methodology/Approach: Its approach is to characterise the editorial focus of publication outlets through the application of a tool originally developed to qualify university curricula based on course syllabi. Findings: Preliminary findings point to an incongruence between university staff’s publication incentives and the societal imperative for research to contribute to achieving sustainable prosperity. Originality/Value: These findings have immediate practical value both to the bodies responsible for the compilation of journal listings and universities and other institutions that rely on these listings to manage research as they strive to ensure that the listings encompass the whole gamut of research needed to inform the implementation of the UN goals. Research Implications: The results presented here are still preliminary. Further research is needed to take into account other dimensions of sustainability and to extend the analysis to other relevant journal listings. Implications: The study’s findings have important policy implications for business schools and the accreditation bodies they interact with as it shows the need for schools committed to specific SDGs to reconcile their research strategies with the listings they follow. Keywords: Assessment Framework; Sustainability Attributes; Policy Coherence; Keyword Analysis; Research Policy; Scholarly Publishing. Citation: den Besten, M. D. (2025): Profiling the Sustainability Of Journal Lists: Preliminary Results from a Tentative Approach. World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development (WJSTSD), Vol. 20, Nos 1/2, pp. WASD: London, United Kingdom.