Special Issue Guidelines

Special Issue Guidelines – ESTEM Inc.

1. Overview

Special Issues published by ESTEM Inc. are dedicated collections of scholarly articles focused on specific research themes, emerging topics, or interdisciplinary areas within the scope of a journal. Special Issues aim to advance academic discussion and highlight timely research developments while maintaining the same quality and ethical standards as regular issues.

2. Special Issue Proposal

Researchers interested in serving as Guest Editors must submit a Special Issue proposal including:

  • Proposed title of the Special Issue

  • Scientific relevance and objectives

  • Scope and key thematic areas

  • Names, affiliations, and contact information of Guest Editor(s)

  • Estimated timeline for submissions, review, and publication

All proposals are evaluated by the journal’s Editorial Board for academic merit, feasibility, and alignment with the journal’s scope.

3. Appointment of Guest Editors

Guest Editors are selected based on:

  • Subject-matter expertise

  • Publication and editorial experience

  • Institutional affiliation and academic standing

Multiple Guest Editors may be appointed for multidisciplinary Special Issues.

4. Responsibilities of Guest Editors

Guest Editors are responsible for:

  • Drafting and distributing the Call for Papers

  • Recommending qualified, independent peer reviewers

  • Coordinating the peer-review process

  • Ensuring timely communication with authors and reviewers

  • Maintaining confidentiality and ethical standards

Final acceptance or rejection decisions are made by the Editor-in-Chief or designated handling editor.

5. Peer Review and Editorial Independence

All manuscripts submitted to Special Issues undergo the same rigorous peer-review process as regular journal submissions.

  • Peer review is conducted independently and objectively

  • Guest Editors do not make unilateral acceptance decisions

  • Manuscripts submitted by Guest Editors are handled by independent editors

Editorial decisions are based solely on scholarly merit, originality, and relevance.

6. Ethical Standards

Special Issues adhere to international publishing ethics and guidelines consistent with Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

All participants must:

  • Declare conflicts of interest

  • Avoid plagiarism, duplicate submission, and unethical research practices

  • Ensure ethical approvals for studies involving humans or animals

7. Article Types

Special Issues may include the following article types, subject to journal policy:

  • Original Research Articles

  • Review Articles

  • Short Communications

  • Case Studies / Case Reports (where applicable)

  • Editorials and Perspectives

8. Manuscript Submission

  • Authors must follow the Author Guidelines of the respective journal

  • Submissions must be clearly identified as part of the Special Issue

  • Formatting and reference styles remain consistent with regular issues

9. Publication Timeline

Each Special Issue follows a predefined timeline, typically consisting of:

  • Call for Papers release

  • Submission deadline

  • Peer review and revision

  • Final acceptance and publication

Timelines are agreed upon at the proposal approval stage

10. Open Access and APCs

All Special Issue articles are published under ESTEM Inc.’s Open Access Policy.

  • Article Processing Charges (APCs) apply according to journal policy

  • APCs do not influence editorial decisions

  • Waivers or discounts may be available as per APC policy

11. Visibility and Promotion

ESTEM Inc. supports the dissemination of Special Issues through:

  • Journal websites and newsletter announcements

  • Academic and research networks

  • Scholarly search engines and indexing platforms

12. Post-Publication Updates

Any corrections, errata, or retractions related to Special Issue articles are managed according to ESTEM Inc.’s post-publication and ethics policies.

13. Contact Information

For Special Issue proposals or queries:

Special Issues Editorial Office
ESTEM Inc.

📧 Email: specialissues@esteminc.com
🌐 Website: www.esteminc.com