Publishing an EI paper is a critical milestone for researchers and graduate students in engineering and technology fields. However, a common dilemma arises when selecting a publication venue: Should you submit to an EI conference or an EI journal?

Both are indexed by Engineering Village (Compendex), but they serve different academic purposes and have distinct publication timelines. In this guide, we break down the key differences to help you make the right choice for your research.

What is EI Indexing?

Before diving into the comparison, it is essential to understand that "EI" stands for Engineering Index (now known as Compendex). It is the most comprehensive bibliographic database of scientific and technical engineering research available.

• EI (CA): Typically refers to Conference Articles.
• EI (JA): Typically refers to Journal Articles.

Whether you choose a conference or a journal, ensuring your work is "EI indexed" guarantees global visibility in the engineering community.

Key Differences Between EI Conferences and EI Journals

When deciding where to submit your EI paper, consider the following four factors:

 1. Publication Speed

• EI Conference: Speed is the primary advantage. Conferences have fixed dates. From submission to the actual conference and subsequent indexing, the process usually takes 3 to 6 months. This is ideal for rapidly evolving fields like Computer Science (CS) or AI.
• EI Journal: Journals are generally slower. The peer-review process involves multiple rounds of revisions. It can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years for an article to be published and indexed.

2. Acceptance Rate and Difficulty

• EI Conference: generally has a higher acceptance rate compared to top-tier journals. They are excellent venues for presenting preliminary results, work-in-progress, or novel ideas that need community feedback. Note: Top-tier CS conferences are an exception and can be harder to get into than journals.
• EI Journal: Journals require fully developed, rigorous, and validated research. The rejection rate is higher, and the review process is more stringent regarding methodology and completeness.

3. Content Length and Format

• EI Conference: Papers are usually shorter (often 4–6 pages) and focus on a specific contribution or idea.
• EI Journal: Papers are longer (often 10+ pages), requiring comprehensive literature reviews, detailed methodology, and extensive data analysis.

4. Academic Recognition and Value

• EI Conference: Great for networking and visibility. In many institutions, conference papers are weighted less than journal papers for PhD graduation or tenure, except in the field of Computer Science.
• EI Journal: Often perceived as having higher academic prestige and "impact factor." They are crucial for long-term academic reputation and citations.

To help you visualize the choice, here is a quick comparison:

Which One Should You Choose?

The decision ultimately depends on your current needs:

• Choose an EI Conference if: You need to publish quickly (e.g., for graduation requirements), you want to share a novel idea before anyone else, or you want to network with other scholars.
• Choose an EI Journal if: You have a complete, validated study, you are aiming for high academic impact, or your university requires journal publications for tenure.

Both EI conferences and EI journals play vital roles in the academic ecosystem. If you are looking to publish your EI paper efficiently, assess the maturity of your research and your timeline.

For the latest list of upcoming EI conferences and submission guidelines, check our Conference List to start your publication journey today.