Hargeisa, Somaliland | 4 November 2026
The University of Hargeisa has officially launched The Impact Journal, a new international, multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed, open-access academic journal designed to advance research excellence, promote scholarly publication, strengthen knowledge dissemination, and contribute to addressing local and global challenges.
The official launching ceremony, held on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, at Warsame Research Hall, University of Hargeisa, brought together university leadership, representatives of the Somaliland Higher Education Commission, international academic partners, researchers, faculty members, and distinguished guests. The event marked a significant achievement in the University’s continuing efforts to strengthen its research culture, expand international academic collaboration, and establish a globally recognized platform for scholarly communication.
Developed under the theme “Research, Innovation and Global Impact,” The Impact Journal aims to provide an inclusive academic publishing platform for researchers from Somaliland, across Africa, and around the world. The journal welcomes contributions from universities, research institutions, public and private sector organizations, and independent scholars, with a particular emphasis on generating knowledge that responds to real societal needs.
The ceremony began with an introductory presentation by Dr. Jonah Kiruja, Director of Research, Grants and Community Service at the University of Hargeisa, who provided a comprehensive overview of the journal’s vision, objectives, scope, editorial standards, and long-term development strategy.
Dr. Jonah explained that The Impact Journal covers eight major research disciplines, encompassing agricultural and veterinary sciences; business, economics and management; social sciences; law; education; health sciences; environmental sciences; and engineering and technology. Through this multidisciplinary approach, the journal seeks to encourage collaboration across academic fields and facilitate the publication of research addressing complex development challenges.
He emphasized that the journal is designed as an international, peer-reviewed, open-access publication, offering researchers from Somaliland, Africa, and the wider international academic community an opportunity to publish and disseminate their scholarly work. He further announced that the journal currently charges no publication or submission fees, making the platform accessible to emerging and established researchers alike.
Explaining the journal’s publication procedures, Dr. Jonah highlighted that manuscripts will undergo a structured editorial assessment and peer-review process in accordance with recognized scholarly publishing standards. Authors will be able to follow the progress of their submissions through the various stages of manuscript evaluation, review, revision, and editorial decision-making.
He also outlined the University’s long-term ambition to develop The Impact Journal into an internationally recognized publication indexed in leading academic databases, including Scopus and Web of Science, with the ultimate aspiration of achieving Q1 journal status. He acknowledged that attaining these objectives requires sustained institutional commitment, rigorous peer-review practices, high-quality publications, strong editorial governance, and continuous improvement.
Reflecting on the journal’s name, Dr. Jonah emphasized that research should extend beyond academic publication to generate measurable benefits for society. The name “Impact” reflects the University’s commitment to producing and disseminating knowledge that contributes to societal transformation, informs policy and practice, and provides evidence-based solutions to contemporary challenges.
Delivering his remarks, Dr. Khalid Ahmed Abdi, Vice President for Research, Innovation and Partnerships at the University of Hargeisa, welcomed the distinguished guests, including the visiting delegation from Denmark, academic partners, researchers, and members of the university community. He described the official launch as an important institutional milestone and a reflection of the University’s growing commitment to research development and international academic engagement.
Dr. Khalid explained that the establishment of The Impact Journal represents the culmination of approximately two years of dedicated preparation, during which the University worked toward developing the journal’s institutional framework, editorial processes, and publication standards in line with international academic publishing requirements.
He emphasized that the journal is intended to establish an accessible and credible platform where students, academic staff, researchers, and professionals can publish original research and contribute to the advancement of knowledge.
He further announced that the University is preparing to publish Volume 1 of The Impact Journal by the end of January 2027, marking the beginning of its formal publication journey.
Dr. Khalid underscored the importance of translating academic knowledge into meaningful contributions to society. He explained that acquiring knowledge is only one part of the academic mission; equally important is the ability to create new knowledge, share research findings, and apply evidence to solve challenges affecting communities.
He also reaffirmed the University’s commitment to building the journal’s credibility and visibility through international collaboration, consistent publication quality, and continuous alignment with globally recognized indexing requirements.
In his address, Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Sulub, President of the University of Hargeisa, described the establishment of The Impact Journal as a major academic achievement and an important step toward strengthening the University’s position as a research-oriented higher education institution.
The President emphasized the importance of promoting Somali indigenous knowledge, encouraging researchers to document, examine, develop, and disseminate locally grounded knowledge and experiences through rigorous academic research.
He noted that higher education institutions have a responsibility not only to transfer existing knowledge but also to generate original research that contributes to addressing societal challenges and advancing sustainable development.
Dr. Sulub encouraged the University’s academic staff, researchers, and postgraduate students to take full advantage of the journal as a platform for publishing scholarly work, strengthening their research profiles, and contributing to the wider academic community.
He also highlighted the importance of ensuring that research findings reach beyond university campuses. He encouraged institutional partners, government bodies, development organizations, and private sector stakeholders to utilize the research publications and evidence produced through the journal to inform their programs, policies, and development initiatives.
Looking ahead, the President reaffirmed the University’s ambition to achieve international indexing for The Impact Journal within the next two years, emphasizing that this objective will require collective dedication, high academic standards, and sustained collaboration among researchers, editors, reviewers, and institutional partners.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Saad Ali Shire, Chairperson of the University of Hargeisa Board, congratulated the University’s leadership and research team on the successful establishment of the journal.
He highlighted the strategic importance of academic journals in strengthening institutional research performance, improving international visibility, and positioning universities within the global academic community.
Dr. Saad emphasized that a reputable research journal serves multiple purposes: it provides opportunities for emerging researchers to publish their work, supports the generation of new knowledge, contributes to solving local problems, and facilitates the exchange of ideas across institutions and countries.
He described academic journals as essential vehicles for the creation, validation, and dissemination of knowledge, noting that universities must actively contribute to scholarly research rather than focusing exclusively on teaching.
He further explained that research productivity and the quality of scholarly publications are important indicators considered in university performance assessments and international ranking frameworks. Strengthening institutional publication capacity therefore contributes to enhancing a university’s academic reputation and research competitiveness.
Dr. Saad encouraged researchers, academic staff, and the University’s partners to support the journal by producing high-quality research, participating in scholarly review processes, and promoting the publication of findings that can contribute to both local development and global knowledge.
The ceremony also featured remarks by Prof. Hassan Omar Halas, Chairperson of the Somaliland Higher Education Commission, who expressed his appreciation to the University of Hargeisa’s leadership for introducing this important academic initiative.
Prof. Hassan congratulated the University on the official establishment of The Impact Journal and emphasized the growing importance of research, innovation, and scholarly publishing within the higher education sector.
He noted that research productivity, knowledge creation, and academic publication are among the important indicators used to assess the performance and quality of higher education institutions.
He further stressed that universities must strengthen their capacity to conduct original research and contribute new knowledge that responds to the needs of society. He described the establishment of the journal as a positive step toward advancing institutional research standards and promoting a stronger culture of academic publication.
Prof. Hassan reaffirmed the importance of initiatives that encourage research excellence, strengthen academic quality, and enable higher education institutions in Somaliland to contribute more actively to regional and international scholarly discussions.
The ceremony culminated in the official inauguration of The Impact Journal, marking the formal introduction of a new platform dedicated to Research, Innovation and Global Impact.
The launch represents the beginning of an ambitious institutional journey aimed at establishing a credible, internationally recognized scholarly publication that connects researchers from Somaliland with the wider African and global academic communities.
With its eight multidisciplinary research areas, open-access publishing model, structured peer-review process, and current fee-free publication policy, The Impact Journal is positioned to expand opportunities for academic staff, postgraduate students, early-career researchers, independent scholars, and professionals working across public and private institutions.
As the University prepares for the publication of Volume 1 in January 2027, its priorities will include strengthening editorial quality, attracting high-impact research contributions, expanding international reviewer and editorial networks, and working progressively toward eligibility for recognized international indexing services.
The successful launch of The Impact Journal reflects the University of Hargeisa’s continued dedication to advancing scholarly excellence, supporting research-driven solutions to societal challenges, preserving and developing indigenous knowledge, and strengthening its contribution to the international research community.
Through The Impact Journal, the University of Hargeisa seeks not only to publish research, but also to transform knowledge into meaningful and lasting impact for society.
