Editorial Policy

Policy Guidelines of the Ethiopian Journal of Higher Education

 Background

The Ethiopian Journal of Higher Education (EJHE) was founded in 2004. It is a bi-annual publication and dissemination of the Institute of Educational Research, Addis Ababa University. It is devoted to the study and dissemination of educational issues, practices, and problems of Higher Institutes of Learning (HIL) in Ethiopia in particular and that of the world in general. The Journal is interdisciplinary in approach and its purpose is to provide HIL and professional readers with scholarly information on major innovations in higher education, research results and trends. Although its main aim is to publish scholarly articles, the Journal accepts for publication book reviews, short research papers; short notes based on research and experiences, communications synopsis of major research, theoretical approaches, and other relevant issues in the general area of education. Articles to be published in EJHE should satisfy the quality and standard required by a reputable journal. The criteria for an acceptable journal article in EJHE are presented in a separate guideline.

EJHE strives to be a central element among the community of researchers, policymakers, and others who have an interest in higher education, and also help to stimulate additional research on higher education in Ethiopia.

The Editorial Board

The Editorial Board is accountable to IER Advisory Board.

The Editorial Board, which consists of seven members representing relevant faculties, colleges, institutes and organizations, is authorized for processing and deciding articles to be published in the Journal. The Editorial Board is advised by an international Advisory Board which constitutes twelve members drawn from four countries namely: Ethiopia, Germany, Norway, United Kingdom, and USA. The number grows as interested academics show willingness to serve in the Advisory Board.

The Institute of Educational Research nominates staff members with a minimum rank of Assistant Professor for the editorial board membership to be appointed by the Board of Advisors of IER.

A member of the Editorial Board shall serve for a term of two years. However, any member could be re-elected to serve a new term. No more than four new members could be appointed to the Board during any one year.

The Editorial Board shall meet on three-month basis. A quorum is said to have formed when a simple majority of the members are present. All meetings are chaired by the Editor-in-chief and all decisions are made on the basis of a simple majority vote of those present.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Editorial Board

Editorial Board has the following duties and responsibilities.

  1. Facilitates the publication of the journal.
  2. Plans and works out ways and means to increase the number of article contributions and to ensure the regular publication and issuance of the Journal.
  3. Prepares and periodically updates list of referees.
  4. Recommends member to the advisory committee in consultation with the editorial office.
  5. Receives comments on articles from referees and determines whether the article is to be published in EJHE.
  6. Forms committees where necessary and gives assignments with a view of improving the performance of the editorial office.
  7. Nominates new members of the Board at the end of its term.
  8. Provides guidelines for the effective and proper functioning of the editorial office.
  9. Handles issues that rise at periodic sessions.
  10. Handles confidentially matters related to individual contributors of articles and any other issue that may be considered secret.
  11. Responsible for the modification and actualization of the Journal’s layout.
  12. Responsible for overall quality of the intellectual content of the Journal.
  13. Decides on procedures for manuscript submission, review and referee criteria, acceptance, release, and publication.

Privileges of the Editorial Board

  1. The Journal shall be published bearing the name of the Editorial Board Members.
  2. Every issue of the Journal will be distributed to the Editorial Board members free of charge.

Coordination

EJHE is coordinated by the following officers.

  1. The editor, who is the Director of IER,
  2. The editor-in-Chief, Selected by Editorial Board of EJHE,
  3. The Secretary/Associate Editor
  4. Managing Editor, selected by IER

 The Editor-in chief

The Editor- in Chief is responsible for the Editorial Board and shall perform the following functions.

  1. Chairs all meetings of the Editorial Board.
  2. Represents the editorial Board on all matters relating to EJHE.
  3. Maintains the necessary correspondence with article contributors and referees and on the matter pertaining to EJHE publications.
  4. Ensures the proper execution of the decisions made by the Editorial Board

The Editor

The Director of IER shall be the Editor of EJHE who is responsible to the Editorial Board and performs the following functions.

  1. Coordinates and supervise the activities of preparation and distribution of EJHE.
  2. Systematizes the editorial activities of the Journal.
  3. Prepares annual reports of the Editorial Office in collaboration with the secretary.
  4. Carries out the preliminary assessment of articles.
  5. Presents annual report to the Editorial Board

The secretary/Associate Editor

  1. Records minutes of the Editorial Board.
  2. Edits each manuscript for grammar, organization, and coherence of its contents.
  3. Reviews all typesetting of manuscripts;

Managing Editor

  1. Follows up the day-to-day activities of the Journal
  2. Maintains routine correspondences with contributors of manuscripts
  3. Makes preliminary reading of articles and presents suggestions for the Editorial Board
  4. Prepares agenda for the meetings of the Editorial Board in consultation with the Editor-in-chief and the Editor
  5. Systematizes the processing of the Journal
  6. Keeps confidential information related to manuscripts to be published in the Journal.

Style and Format of EJE

EJHE has adopted the styles and formats which are widely used in the academic journals in education, psychology and social sciences, and by a number of national and international agencies. Some of the styles and formats may be slightly modified to fit the particular needs of EJHE. The authors should refer “Notes for Contributors” which is published in the Journal or supplied on demand for length, format, and citation.

Processing Procedures

In line with the objectives of the journal, the editors seek articles and research papers; short notes based on research and experiences, communications and book reviews for publication. The Editorial Board refers all articles and research papers for independent review. Before its acceptance for publication in EJHE, an article should pass two stages of assessment: Preliminary Assessment and Main Assessment. The Board provides “Peer Review Guidelines” to the Assessors at both stages. An article gets published in EJHE only if referees at the preliminary and main assessment stages favorably assess it. The authors are required to amend their work or to accept the amendments made by the referees and editors. If an article fails to meet the requirements of a preliminary stage, it is immediately returned to the author with a letter of regret and acknowledgment. If the preliminary assessment is favorable, the article shall be sent to two independent reviewers for further scholarly assessment.

EJHE uses a double blind, peer review process in which two reviewers will be selected to perform an anonymous and in-depth evaluation of the submitted manuscript. If both reviewers provide contradictory recommendations, the Editorial Board may assign an additional reviewer to “break the tie” and/or make the final decision on acceptance. The Board communicates the final decision to the author(s) in writing generally based on the reviewers’ recommendations.

Submission Procedures

Authors are required to submit their article in 3.5 inch PC compatible word floppy diskette (with the file name) and in hard copy, with an understanding that the contribution is exclusively for EJHE. Manuscripts should not exceed 30 pages, typewritten on one side of the paper, double-spaced; with the left margin of 1.5 inch and with top, bottom and right margins of 1 inch each in one copy (original and three copies). Commentaries book reviews, case studies, communications and the like should not exceed 15 pages.

Subscription Information 

EJHE is published biannually in June and December. Copies of the Journal are sent to the subscribers by mail. Institutions and individuals can subscribe the Journal. The subscription rate for institutions is Birr 15 and for individuals is Birr 6 per issue plus postage cost in Ethiopia. Overseas subscription rate is USD $20.00 for institutions and $16.00 for individuals per issue plus postage cost to the address of the subscriber.

EDITORIAL BOARD

Prof. Tesema Ta’a, Editor-in-chief

Dr. Belay Hagos, Editor

Dr. Wossenu Yimam, Managing Editor,

Prof. Amare Asgedom, Associate Editor

Prof. Afework Kassu, Associate Editor

Dr. Daniel Desta, Associate Editor

Dr. Amanuel Alemayehu, Associate Editor

Ato Girma Awaki, Assistant Managing Editor

Editorial Correspondence 

All articles, research papers, notes and short communication should be addressed to:

        Girma Awaki

The EJHE Assistant Managing Editor

Institute of Educational Research

Addis Ababa University

P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tel. (251)-01-23-96-56/23-97-14

E-mail: ejhe@aau.edu.et

Fax: 0251(1) 239744