Digital Object Identifier (DOI) service

The Scholarly Communications team has successfully implemented the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) functionality on our repository, SOAS Research Online. We can now create DOIs for publications, reports, PhD theses, SOAS journals, working papers etc.

The DOI is a persistent and direct link to research outputs - a key metadata element that will increase the discoverability of SOAS research. DOIs are preferred over URLs which can change over time or stop working. In comparison, a DOI will persistently link to the research output throughout its lifetime. Also, DOIs help track discussion or sharing of the item on social media, policy documents and news sources which can then be reflected in an Altmetric badge.

We automatically assign DOIs to SOAS theses including the archive of over 2,000 digital historical theses. We have also provided DOIs to 'Pratu' and 'Law, Environment and Development Journal' as well as the 'SOAS Journal of Postgraduate Research'. This is a service that will benefit both staff as well as doctoral researchers at SOAS and go a long way in showcasing and making our research visible to wider audiences across the world.

If you would like to have DOIs assigned to your research, please get in touch with outputs@soas.ac.uk.