AJESI

For authors

Submissions

Author guidelines, submission checklist, and the AJESI editorial workflow.

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Submission preparation checklist

As part of the submission process, authors are required to confirm their submission's compliance with the following items. Submissions may be returned to authors that do not adhere to these guidelines.

  • The submission has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for consideration (or an explanation has been provided in Comments to the Editor).
  • The submission file is in OpenOffice, Microsoft Word, or RTF document file format.
  • The text is single-spaced; uses a 12-point font; employs italics, rather than underlining (except with URL addresses); and all illustrations, figures, and tables are placed within the text at the appropriate points, rather than at the end.
  • The text adheres to the stylistic and bibliographic requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines (APA 7).
  • The text contains a declaration of interest and AI usage statement.
  • The manuscript is anonymised for double-blind peer review.

Author guidelines

AJESI is an interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed, open-access journal that provides a scholarly platform for research, policy, and practice at the nexus of education, skills development, innovation, and societal transformation. We seek contributions from a broad range of disciplines — including education, public policy, STEM, development studies, economics, entrepreneurship, digital technologies, and organisational studies — particularly as they relate to Africa and the Global South.

We prioritise research articles with clearly articulated objectives, methodological rigour, and strong theoretical insight. We also welcome policy commentaries, analytical essays, case studies, and book reviews. Authors considering alternative formats should consult the editorial team prior to submission.

AJESI operates a double-blind peer review process and publishes under an open access model. There are no submission or publication fees. Submissions are accepted primarily in English; special issues may accommodate other major languages.

Publication model

AJESI follows a continuous publication model, with articles published online individually upon acceptance and formatting. Once accepted, manuscripts are copyedited and typeset. Authors receive proofs for final approval prior to publication. Each article is assigned a DOI and full citation and later compiled into thematic issues.

Duplicate publication

Submissions must be original and not under consideration elsewhere. Prior dissemination in preprint form or as a conference paper is acceptable, but published content must be exclusive to AJESI.

Manuscript format

Submissions must be anonymised for double-blind peer review. Manuscripts should follow APA Style (7th edition), be double-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman, and not exceed 8,000 words including references. Tables and figures should be embedded within the text and clearly labelled.

Style guide & word counts

  • Research articles: 6,000–8,000 words
  • Commentaries / essays: 2,000–4,000 words
  • Book reviews and shorter formats: case-by-case basis

Additional required files

Alongside the main manuscript, authors must submit a cover letter, author bios (up to 100 words each), a disclosure of competing interests, and an AI usage declaration detailing whether and how AI tools were used during writing or analysis.

Submission process

  1. Submission. Submit two versions via the AJESI portal: one anonymised and one with author details. Include an abstract (max 250 words) and 4–6 keywords. Figures and tables should be embedded in the manuscript.
  2. Editorial review. Submissions are screened for fit, quality and readiness for peer review. Authors are notified within 1–2 weeks.
  3. Double-blind peer review. Manuscripts undergo rigorous review by subject experts. We aim to return decisions within 6–8 weeks.
  4. Decision. The editor will issue a decision: accept, request revision, or decline. Major revisions may require re-review.
  5. Final editing & typesetting. Accepted manuscripts must be formatted per AJESI's style guide. Authors are responsible for proofreading.
  6. Publication. Articles are published online with full metadata, page numbers, and DOI, and grouped into themed issues without delay.

Ethical considerations

Authors must adhere to ethical research practices and relevant legal standards, including those concerning data protection and research involving human participants. Ethical approval documentation must be submitted where applicable.

Figures, data and citations

  • Visuals must be accurate, clear, and high-resolution (300 dpi).
  • Figures should not misrepresent data or violate intellectual property rights.
  • DOIs should be included for all cited works where available.

AI usage declaration

Authors must disclose any use of AI tools in manuscript development. Specify the tools used, their purpose (e.g., editing, summarisation), and how they contributed to the manuscript.

Conflicts of interest and funding

All potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed. This includes institutional affiliations, funding sources, and any personal or professional relationships that could influence the research. Funding acknowledgements must specify any financial support received outside institutional salary.

Author responsibilities

  • Ensure the originality and accuracy of submissions.
  • Cite sources properly and ethically.
  • Disclose relevant conflicts of interest and funding.
  • Cooperate with editors to correct any errors post-publication.

AJESI follows COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines for ethical oversight and retractions where necessary.

Post-publication corrections and retractions

Authors are expected to notify the editorial team promptly should they identify any mistakes, inaccuracies, or omissions in their published work. AJESI is committed to upholding the highest standards of research integrity and will work collaboratively with authors to issue corrections, clarifications, or retractions where appropriate, following COPE guidance.

Policy briefs

  • Purpose: Timely, concise analysis to inform policy design and implementation across African contexts.
  • Audience: Policymakers in ministries and agencies, parliamentary committees, donors, multilateral organisations, and senior programme managers.
  • Editorial process: Editorially reviewed for clarity, relevance, and factual accuracy; not anonymously peer reviewed.
  • Length: 1,500–3,000 words.
  • Structure: Title; key messages / executive summary; context; evidence snapshot; policy options and trade-offs; recommendations; implementation notes; monitoring indicators; references; disclaimers.

Copyright

All works in AJESI are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), allowing authors full copyright while enabling reuse, redistribution, sharing, and adaptation with attribution.

Privacy statement

The journal will manage the names and email addresses entered on this site exclusively for the stated purposes of the journal. Personal information will not be made available for any other purpose or to any other party.