Strengthening Scholarly Publishing at the University of Zambia: Custom OJS Plugins for Metadata Accuracy, DOI Management, and Repository Integration

The growing demand for accurate, interoperable, and easily discoverable scholarly outputs necessitates enhanced publication workflows in institutional repositories and journal management systems. At the University of Zambia, where scholarly publishing is increasingly transitioning to digital platforms, Open Journal Systems (OJS) has emerged as a central tool for journal hosting. However, limitations in automated metadata compliance, DOI integration, and repository deposition pose persistent challenges.​ ​ This research presents the conceptualization, development, and deployment of three interlinked OJS plugins designed to enhance the publication pipeline: (1) an Automated Metadata Verification Plugin that validates journal article metadata against institutional and international standards (2) a DOI Deposition Plugin that streamlines Crossref DOI registration and metadata syncing in real time; and (3) a DSpace Export Plugin that packages OJS-published content into DSpace-ready Simple archive bundles for seamless repository ingestion.​ ​ The proposed system has been implemented and tested within selected UNZA-hosted journals especially under the JABS editorial workflow. Preliminary results show substantial improvements in metadata completeness, cross-platform visibility, and compliance with repository requirements. Additionally, the plugins promote FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles by ensuring structured and verified data flows across platforms.​ ​ By automating routine tasks, reducing human error, and bridging siloed scholarly infrastructure, this plugin suite represents a scalable model for other institutions like the University of Zambia in the Global South seeking to align with international open access standards. 4