Call for special issue proposals

The editors of Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education invite proposals for the journal's 2025 special issue. Special issues are an opportunity to advance and energise the field through featuring topics of current interest and/or highlighting emerging topics, concepts, and voices. A special issue in SGPE comprises approximately 7 high-quality, peer-reviewed papers on a coherent theme; the guest editor/s for the special issue are also encouraged to offer an editorial articulating the importance and contribution of the special issue and its papers. Ultimately, a special issue should advance the field of postgraduate education and the postdoctoral experience and be of interest to the journal's readership.

About the journal

Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education focuses on scholarship and practice related to graduate education, including masters and doctoral level, and postdoctoral experiences. The journal publishes scholarly articles from a range of academic disciplines and research methods that represent issues of interest to the international community. These articles provide research findings and implications for scholars, practitioners, and policy makers.

Areas of emphasis include:

• Masters and doctoral programme development, including issues related to curriculum and financing

• Masters and doctoral student experiences and outcomes before and during enrolment as well as after degree completion

• The role of faculty as doctoral advisers, mentors and supervisors

• The postdoctoral experience, including issues related to career transitions, institutional support, individual decision-making, and outcomes

• Professional graduate degree programmes as well as alternative models of graduate education.

The journal currently publishes three issues each year. One of these may be a special issue. Past special issues may be browsed on the journal website (note: volumes and issues prior to 2018 were published under the name 'International Journal of Researcher Development').

Special issue process

• Proposals for special issues (using the proposal form below) should be submitted to the editors by 31 May 2023.

• One proposal will be selected by the editors, in consultation with the Emerald commissioning editor and the journal's Editorial Advisory Board as necessary

• The outcome will be communicated by 15 July 2023 to all those who submitted proposals.

• The Call for Papers for the selected special issue will be released on 1 August 2023.

• Thereafter, submission and review of both abstracts and full manuscripts will proceed according to the timeline negotiated with the guest editor/s of the special issue and reflected in the special issue proposal form.

• Individual papers will be released on EarlyCite following their acceptance, and the completed special issue will ideally be compiled and published in late 2024 to form the first issue of Volume 16 (2025) of the journal.

• While the guest editor/s will lead the majority of the review process for both abstracts and submitted manuscripts, the SGPE editors will retain final approval of manuscripts that the guest editor/s recommend for publication.

Selection criteria

The editors wish to receive submissions that:

• Reflect the scope of the journal, which encompasses Masters, doctoral, and post-doctoral education (see 'About the Journal' above)

• Incorporate diverse international perspectives and knowledges

• Offer fresh perspectives and/or new voices to the field

• Challenge existing thinking, power dynamics, and patterns of engagement in the research field and/or in graduate and postdoctoral education itself

• Reflect the highest standards of academic integrity, scholarship, and ethical practice

• Are likely to generate broad interest, deep engagement, and both scholarly and social impact

• Support SGPE's position at the leading edge of scholarship and impact

In addition, the editors will seek evidence that the proposed guest editors have the knowledge, skills, and availability to lead a timely, high-quality special issue process. Due diligence research and integrity checks will also be conducted by the publishers (Emerald) before a special issue is approved.

The editors are available to respond to queries or to speak with those considering submitting a special issue proposal. Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

Contact the Commissioning Editor (Charlotte Eagles, [email protected]) for a special issue proposal form.

Completed proposal forms should be submitted to the editors via email ([email protected] and [email protected]) by 31 May 2023.