Digital Infrastructure and International Visibility of Moldovan Scientific Journals

Abstract

This study evaluates the online accessibility and international visibility of scientific journals from the Republic of Moldova by analyzing the technical and functional features of their websites. In an era where a journal's digital presence is fundamental to its reach and impact, many smaller academic communities risk marginalization. Applying a structured evaluation framework, this research assesses key website characteristics – Including domain architecture, publishing platforms, metadata implementation, and archive currency – against international best practices. The findings reveal a concerted effort towards internationalization, evidenced by the presence of an English-language version on 80% of the sites. However, this intent is counteracted by significant technical deficiencies. A reliance on subdomains or pages within institutional websites limits autonomy and professional perception, while the low adoption of specialized platforms like Open Journal Systems (OJS) hinders efficient editorial management and metadata standardization. Critically, fewer than half of the journals provide individual, persistent URLs and comprehensive metadata for their articles, severely compromising discoverability by major databases and search engines. Furthermore, over one-third of journals exhibit irregularly updated archives, posing a direct threat to their credibility and indexing eligibility. The study concludes that strategic modernization of the technical and editorial infrastructure is urgently required for Moldovan journals to enhance their global visibility, establish credibility, and increase their scientific impact. The findings offer a model for similar small research ecosystems aiming to navigate the complexities of digital scholarly communication and achieve greater integration into the global academic conversation. JEL: I23, D83, O33