Back CEA-APQ Label recognizes quality of eleven collections in 2025

The CEA-APQ Label of Quality in Academic Publishing recognizes the scientific and editorial quality of eleven collections in 2025

  • 16/07/2025

  • THERE ARE NOW 75 PUBLISHING COLLECTIONS THAT HAVE IT
  • THREE OF THEM HAVE RECEIVED INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
  • THE THIRD CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR THE CEA-APQ MONOGRAPHS LABEL WILL OPEN ON SEPTEMBER 8

The CEA-APQ Label of Quality in Academic Publishing has recognized the editorial and scientific quality of eleven collections in the 2025 call for submissions, after they met the requirements for this distinction in terms of informational quality, editorial policy, editorial processes, and reputation and prestige. Three have also received special mentions for internationality, which implies the presence of foreign authors in them.

These eleven collections, seven of which are receiving the distinction for the first time and four of which are renewing it, have had their scientific and editorial quality recognized for the next five years, in addition to the period evaluated.

Following this ninth call for applications, there are now seventy-five collections that have obtained the label, confirming the consolidation of good practices and the commitment of university publishers to the standards set by this system for validating the editorial quality of scientific collections.

The seven collections that have obtained the CEA-APQ label for the first time are:

The four collections that have renewed their certification are:

The three that have received special mention for their internationality are:

What does the CEA-APQ Collections Label evaluate?

The label, which certifies scientific quality, is awarded to collections that meet the requirements in four areas:

  • Informative quality of the collection. The label assesses different aspects of the collection's communication, dissemination, and access, such as the identification of the collection, the inclusion of metadata, and reviews in scientific journals.
  • Quality of the editorial policy. In this case, the requirements analyze the definition of the editorial policy of each collection and the identification and prestige of the collection director and the scientific committee.
  • Quality of the editorial processes. Publishers must demonstrate the existence of detailed instructions for submitting works, information on the manuscript selection process, and reasoned communication of the acceptance or rejection of works.
  • Reputation and prestige of the collection. Finally, the requirements in this section assess the frequent publication of authors from outside the publishing institution and the ability to attract original works from foreign authors, in addition to citations and reviews received.

Recognition of the Label

Since its creation in 2017, the CEA-APQ Label has been recognized as an indication of the quality of publications in the evaluation of research activity, a recognition made by the National Commission for the Evaluation of Research Activity (CNEAI), and in the evaluation criteria for research merits claimed for the various accreditation figures for teaching staff carried out by ANECA (see BOE of December 19, 2024). 

Institutions promoting it

The UNE is responsible for the creation and development of the Academic Publishing Quality Label (CEA-APQ) and coordinates the work together with ANECA and FECYT.

Composition of the evaluation committees

The 2025 Monitoring Committee was composed of: Susana Quicios, director of ANECA's Faculty Evaluation Division; Anabel Bonilla, head of ANECA's international accreditation processes; Pilar Rico Castro, head of FECYT's Open Science Unit; María Ángeles Coslado, technician responsible for the evaluation process of FECYT-certified journals; María Isabel Cabrera, president of UNE; Ana Isabel González, UNE quality advisor; and Joaquín Corbacho, administrator of the CEA-APQ Label.

The members of the Evaluation Committee for this eighth call for applications were: Javier Esparcia, Professor of Geography at the University of Valencia; José María Martínez, Professor of Psychobiology at the University of Murcia; Miguel Cainzos, Professor of Sociology at the University of Santiago de Compostela; Elisa Alonso Jiménez, Professor of Translation and Interpreting at the University of Pablo de Olavide; Diego Pablo Ruiz Padillo, Professor at the University of Granada; Álvaro Gutiérrez, Professor of Procedural Law at the Complutense University of Madrid; Daniel Torres-Salinas, Professor of Information and Communication at the University of Granada; and Enrique Orduña-Malea, Professor of Documentation at the Polytechnic University of Valencia.

75 collections currently own it

Currently, 75 collections have this label, which recognizes best practices in Spanish university publishing, promotes and encourages quality in academic publishing, and is a mark of scientific quality recognized by research evaluation agencies and the university community.

CEA-APQ Monographs 2025 Label

In the coming weeks, the rules and guidelines for the third call for the CEA-APQ Labelfor individual monographs will be published, which will open on September 8.

This label, also promoted by ANECA, FECYT, and UNE in 2023, has already been awarded to 75 monographs.