Big news from Indonesia's national journal accreditation system: the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) has cut the SINTA ranking system from six tiers down to just four. This change directly affects thousands of journals previously ranked SINTA 5 and SINTA 6, as well as lecturers who rely on publishing in those journals for promotion and credit-point requirements.
What's Changing in the 2026 SINTA Accreditation System
Previously, the SINTA system grouped accredited journals into six tiers (SINTA 1 through SINTA 6) based on ARJUNA accreditation scores. Under the 2026 restructuring, the two lowest tiers — SINTA 5 and SINTA 6 — have been officially discontinued, leaving the system with only four tiers. This change is part of the government's effort to raise the overall quality standard of national academic journals, while also simplifying a classification system many considered overly granular.
What Happens to Journals Previously Ranked SINTA 5 and 6
For journal managers who previously achieved a SINTA 5 or SINTA 6 ranking, this discontinuation doesn't automatically mean the journal loses accreditation entirely — but it does need to be re-evaluated for placement into one of the four new tiers, or it may no longer meet the adjusted minimum score threshold. Journal managers are advised to monitor official announcements from Kemdiktisaintek and the SINTA portal to determine their journal's accreditation status after the restructuring.
Impact on Lecturers Seeking Promotion
For lecturers, publishing in a SINTA 5 or 6 journal previously still earned credit points, albeit fewer than publishing in a higher-tier journal. With these two lowest tiers gone, lecturers building a publication portfolio for promotion need to confirm that their target journal genuinely falls under one of the four newly recognized tiers, to avoid a publication that no longer counts as an official accreditation achievement.
Steps Journal Managers Should Take
Affected journal managers should promptly review their editorial process quality, publication consistency, and other quality indicators that form the basis of the new accreditation assessment, so the journal can move up to a higher tier in the next re-accreditation cycle. Consulting a journal-publishing support service can also help map out areas needing improvement before submitting for re-accreditation.
Conclusion
The 2026 SINTA restructuring marks a new chapter in efforts to raise national academic publication standards. Both lecturers and journal managers need to proactively understand this change so their publications and journal management stay aligned with the current accreditation system — rather than discovering the impact only after a promotion or re-accreditation process is delayed.
Book & Journal Publishing Division, PT Legalku Multi Digital, Semarang.