🔗 Persistent Article Identifiers (DOI Policy)

1. Purpose of Persistent Identifiers

A Persistent Identifier (PID) is a unique, permanent reference to a digital object that remains valid regardless of changes to the location or URL of that object. Education Tomorrow uses Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) to ensure that every published article can be reliably found, cited, and accessed for perpetuity.

2. DOI Registration Service

Education Tomorrow registers DOIs through Zenodo, a general-purpose open-access repository operated by CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research).

2.1 About Zenodo

• Provider: CERN
• Type: Open-access repository and DOI registration service
• Reliability: Institutional backing from one of the world's leading scientific organizations
• Integration: Full metadata support for academic articles
• Compliance: Meets FAIR data principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable)

3. DOI Format and Structure

3.1 Standard DOI Format

DOIs assigned by Zenodo follow this format:

Where:

• 10.5281 = Zenodo's DOI prefix
• zenodo = Repository identifier
• [unique number] = Unique identifier for the specific article

3.2 Example DOI from Education Tomorrow

This DOI links to the article: "Integrating Preventive Health Insurance to Accelerate Universal Healthcare Coverage in Kenya" by Mary Nyachae, published in Volume 12, Issue 1 (2025).

4. DOI Assignment Process

Step 1: Upon Acceptance

Once a manuscript is accepted for publication, the editorial team prepares the article for DOI assignment.

Step 2: Metadata Preparation

Complete article metadata is compiled, including:

• Article title
• Author names and ORCID iDs (if available)
• Author affiliations
• Abstract and keywords
• Publication date
• Volume, issue, and page numbers
• License information (CC BY 4.0)
• References

Step 3: Upload to Zenodo

The article and metadata are uploaded to the Education Tomorrow community on Zenodo:

Step 4: DOI Generation

Zenodo automatically generates and registers a unique DOI for the article. This process typically takes 24–48 hours.

Step 5: Publication

The DOI is included in the published article (HTML and PDF versions) and displayed prominently on the journal website.

5. Where DOIs Are Displayed

Each article's DOI is displayed in multiple locations to ensure visibility and proper citation:

• Article Header: At the top of the HTML and PDF versions
• Journal Website: In the table of contents and article metadata
• Citation Information: In recommended citation formats
• Indexing Databases: Submitted to DOAJ, Google Scholar, and other indexes
• Zenodo Repository: As part of the archived record

6. How to Use DOIs

6.1 Accessing Articles via DOI

To access an article using its DOI:

1. Go to: https://doi.org
2. Enter the DOI (e.g., 10.5281/zenodo.17282562)
3. You will be automatically redirected to the article's permanent location

Alternatively, use the direct URL format:

6.2 Citing Articles with DOIs

When citing articles from Education Tomorrow, always include the DOI. Here is the APA 7th edition format:

7. Benefits of DOIs

7.1 For Authors

• Permanent citation: Your work can always be found and cited accurately
• Increased visibility: DOIs are indexed by Google Scholar, DOAJ, and other databases
• Professional credibility: DOI assignment is a mark of legitimate scholarly publishing
• Tracking metrics: DOIs enable citation tracking and impact measurement

7.2 For Readers

• Reliable access: Links never break, even if the journal website changes
• Verified authenticity: DOIs confirm the article is a legitimate publication
• Easy sharing: Simple, stable link to share with colleagues

7.3 For the Journal

• Credibility: DOI assignment demonstrates professional publishing standards
• Discoverability: Easier for researchers to find journal content
• Compliance: Meets requirements for indexing in DOAJ and other databases
• Long-term preservation: Ensures permanent access through Zenodo archive

8. DOI Permanence and Changes

8.1 DOI Permanence

Once assigned, a DOI is permanent and cannot be deleted. Even if:

• The journal website changes
• The article is moved to a different platform
• Education Tomorrow ceases publication

The DOI will continue to resolve to the article's current location.

8.2 Article Corrections

If an article requires correction after publication:

• The original DOI remains unchanged
• A correction notice is added to the article
• The corrected version replaces the original at the same DOI
• Metadata is updated to reflect the correction

8.3 Article Retractions

If an article is retracted:

• The DOI remains active
• A retraction notice is prominently displayed
• The original article may be removed or replaced with the retraction notice
• Indexing databases are notified

9. Integration with Other Systems

9.1 ORCID Integration

DOIs are automatically linked to author ORCID profiles when authors provide their ORCID iD during submission. This ensures that publications are correctly attributed in the global ORCID system.

9.2 Google Scholar

Articles with DOIs are automatically indexed by Google Scholar, increasing discoverability and citation tracking.

9.3 DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals)

DOI assignment is a requirement for DOAJ indexing, which enhances the journal's credibility and visibility.

9.4 Reference Managers

DOIs enable seamless import of citation information into reference management tools like Mendeley, Zotero, and EndNote.

10. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When will my article receive a DOI?

A: DOIs are assigned immediately upon publication. You will receive the DOI link in your acceptance notification.

Q: Can I use the DOI before the article is published?

A: No. DOIs are activated only when the article is officially published and publicly available.

Q: What if the DOI link is broken?

A: DOI links should never break. If you encounter a problem, contact us immediately at journal@kipchumbafoundation.org.

Q: Do DOIs cost money for authors?

A: No. DOI registration is included as part of our publication process at no additional cost to authors.

Q: Can I request a specific DOI?

A: No. DOIs are automatically generated by Zenodo and cannot be customized.

11. Contact Information

For questions about DOIs or persistent identifiers, contact:

Education Tomorrow
Kipchumba Foundation
Email: journal@kipchumbafoundation.org
Website: https://journal.kipchumbafoundation.org