kernpublicaties

Kernpublicaties, literally core publications, is a Dutch term used to refer to a defined subset of a researcher’s scholarly outputs that are considered central or representative for evaluation, assessment, or reporting purposes. The concept serves to focus attention on quality and impact rather than sheer output volume, and it is often used in the context of institutional performance reviews, funding decisions, and national or institutional research information management.

The list of kernpublicaties is usually created by the researcher in collaboration with their department or institute, sometimes guided by formal criteria set by universities or funding bodies. Typical criteria prioritize peer-reviewed journal articles and other high-quality scholarly works such as book chapters or monographs, especially those published in recognized venues and within a specified time frame. Outputs are commonly required to be accessible in some form of public record, such as open access repositories or journals.

In practice, kernpublicaties form a curated subset of a researcher’s complete publication record. They are used to document and communicate key contributions in performance reviews, doctoral evaluations, and funding applications. The selection is often revisited periodically to reflect changes in research focus, venue prestige, or policy updates.

Criticism of the concept notes that kernpublicaties can be influenced by disciplinary norms, publication language, or journal prestige, potentially underrepresenting non-traditional or collaborative outputs. Nevertheless, the notion remains a practical tool for organizing and reporting research outputs within the Dutch academic system.