1. The development of the Rankings, based on individual and collective performance contracts, had to be delayed, but publication is forthcoming; it seemed appropriate, for this first season, to give a little time to a few colleagues who were rushing around as the submission deadline approached. As you know, the deliverables to be evaluated as part of these performance contracts include, among other things, articles published in magazines … INDEXED. Any scientist, any researcher who is comfortable in their own skin, or in their vocation, should feel reassured at the mention of this term. It is a guarantee of quality since it is based on pre-established, consensual and constantly verified criteria, testifying to the scientific value of the published "product". It is for this reason that it is part of the December 2015 Decree of the Minister of Higher and University Education (ESU), that it was rehabilitated and integrated into the resolutions of the ESU General Assembly of September 2021 in Lubumbashi, by no less than 500 experts from all over the country and elsewhere, before being ratified at the Council of Ministers in October 2021, that it was recently recalled by the Board of Directors of Universities. We really need to ask ourselves questions about the true motivations of these few colleagues who are striving to oppose the evidence. This complacency with the status quo, which is dragging us down year after year, is a cause for concern!
2. Week 22 started well, with the announcement of INDEXING (on a platform of international renown) of the "African Notebooks of Human Rights and Democracy as well as Sustainable Development", dear to Professor Kalindje. The shower of congratulations that followed was totally deserved, as he, after a short period of hesitation, very quickly grasped the interest of this collective approach;
3. This excellent news was relayed by several scientific publications in INDEXED JOURNALS ; publications from different teams at our alma mater. You may have seen this simulation by Professor Memvanga, who predicted a doubling of the volume, increasingly visible, of publications (in indexed journals) at Unikin, by the end of this second current semester;
4. Indexing! indexing! Indexing! It's not enough to give us nightmares; many of us have now become accustomed to it, except for a few who find it difficult to hide, sometimes, a personal interest, to the detriment or not of the community, of the general interest. I still have a lot of trouble understanding why so much energy is deployed to fight against improvement, against excellence. Sometimes using unnecessarily excessive, even aggressive, arguments. Our current position, in several Rankings, in several areas of our country, is far from honorable; and each of us must be aware of our share of responsibility. As much as it is normal to denounce it, to criticize it, it is surprising that many of us shrink from the first measures of change, from the first reforms.

It is really time that we combine our efforts, for our collective success, for the success of our country.

• Briefs:
  • Anti-plagiarism software (an essential tool in a policy indexing) : A team of experts from the General Secretariat for Research held a Zoom meeting with the customer service department of Compilatio, a French company specializing in plagiarism prevention and detection. The meeting focused on the implementation and educational use of Compilatio anti-plagiarism software at the University of Kinshasa;
  • Considerations are underway for the establishment of a platform indexing UNIKIN…
• Remember
  • A little patience, the Rankings are coming...

Proud to be from Unikin, the eldest daughter!

Have a good weekend everyone.

Done in Kinshasa, Saturday 04 06 2022

For the Lions Management Committee: Prof JM Kayembe, Rector; Prof E Banza, SGAC; Prof A Tshimpi, SGR; Prof B Lapika, SGADM; Prof Y Duagani, AB.

Prof. Antoine Tshimpi, SGR.