DEVELOPMENT: Journal of Community Engagement implements an electronic manuscript submission process to facilitate the efficient, transparent, and organized handling of scholarly manuscripts in the field of community engagement and community service. The electronic submission system is designed to simplify communication between authors and the editorial team, support the management of submitted documents, and ensure that manuscripts are processed systematically throughout the editorial and publication workflow.
Authors are encouraged to submit their manuscripts electronically through the journal's official Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform in accordance with the journal's submission guidelines. Authors must provide the required manuscript files, author information, supporting documents, and relevant declarations through the designated submission system.
1. Electronic Submission of Manuscripts
Authors must prepare their manuscripts according to the author guidelines of DEVELOPMENT: Journal of Community Engagement before submission. Manuscripts should be complete, clearly structured, and prepared in the required file format. The title, abstract, keywords, introduction, method of community engagement or community service, results and discussion, conclusion, acknowledgments where applicable, references, tables, figures, and other necessary components must be included according to the manuscript type.
During submission, authors must provide accurate information, including the manuscript title, author names, institutional affiliations, corresponding author's contact details, and other information requested by the submission system. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all submitted files are complete and that the information provided is accurate and consistent with the manuscript.
Where applicable, authors must also provide supplementary materials, ethical approval statements, informed consent declarations, funding disclosures, conflict-of-interest statements, and other supporting documents relevant to the community engagement activities reported in the manuscript.
2. File Preparation and Formatting
All submitted files must comply with the technical and formatting requirements established by DEVELOPMENT: Journal of Community Engagement. Manuscripts should be prepared using an accepted word-processing format, such as Microsoft Word, unless otherwise specified in the author guidelines.
Authors should ensure that manuscripts are readable, properly organized, and free from unnecessary formatting inconsistencies. Tables and figures must be clearly labeled, numbered consecutively, and accompanied by appropriate titles, captions, and source acknowledgments where applicable.
To support the journal's peer-review process, authors should prepare manuscripts in accordance with the journal's review policy. Where anonymized manuscripts are required, information that directly identifies the authors or their institutions should be removed from the manuscript and document metadata.
3. Submission Confirmation and Initial Screening
After completing an electronic submission, authors should retain the submission confirmation or reference number provided by the OJS platform, where available. This information may be used for subsequent correspondence and inquiries regarding manuscript status.
The editorial team conducts an initial screening to assess whether the manuscript falls within the focus and scope of DEVELOPMENT: Journal of Community Engagement and complies with the journal's basic submission requirements. The screening may include checking manuscript completeness, formatting, originality, ethical declarations, relevance to community engagement or community service, and suitability for further editorial consideration.
Manuscripts that do not meet the journal's requirements may be returned to the authors for correction or additional information. Submissions that fall outside the journal's focus and scope or fail to satisfy essential editorial or ethical requirements may be declined at this stage.
4. Editorial Processing and Peer Review
Manuscripts that pass the initial screening may be assigned to an editor for further assessment and, where appropriate, peer review. The electronic submission system supports the organized management of manuscripts, reviewer reports, editorial decisions, and revised submissions.
Authors may be requested to revise their manuscripts in response to editorial comments or reviewer recommendations. Revised manuscripts and accompanying response letters must be submitted through the designated OJS workflow within the specified deadline.
Authors are expected to address reviewer comments carefully and professionally. Where requested, authors should provide a point-by-point response explaining how each reviewer or editor comment has been addressed in the revised manuscript.
All communications concerning manuscript evaluation, revision requests, acceptance, or rejection should be handled through the journal's official communication channels.
5. Communication with the Editorial Office
Electronic submission facilitates communication between authors and the editorial office throughout the submission and review process. The corresponding author is responsible for monitoring official communications and ensuring that requests for additional information, document corrections, or manuscript revisions are addressed promptly.
Authors should use the communication facilities or contact information provided on the official website of DEVELOPMENT: Journal of Community Engagement when requesting clarification or assistance.
Inquiries concerning submitted manuscripts should include the manuscript title and submission reference number, where available, to assist the editorial team in identifying the relevant submission.
Authors must promptly inform the editorial office of significant errors discovered after submission, changes to author information, or other circumstances that may affect the editorial evaluation or publication of the manuscript.
6. Data Accuracy, Confidentiality, and Security
Authors are responsible for ensuring that all information and documents submitted electronically are accurate, complete, and appropriate for editorial assessment. Personal details, institutional affiliations, funding information, ethical declarations, author contribution statements, and other relevant information must be provided truthfully and consistently.
DEVELOPMENT: Journal of Community Engagement handles submitted manuscripts and associated materials in accordance with the journal's confidentiality and publication ethics policies. Access to submitted manuscripts should be restricted to authorized individuals involved in editorial assessment, peer review, and publication processes.
Authors must not submit confidential information belonging to third parties without appropriate authorization. Research data, photographs, community documentation, figures, tables, and other materials included in a submission must comply with applicable ethical, legal, privacy, and copyright requirements.
Where photographs or identifiable information concerning community participants are included, authors are responsible for obtaining appropriate permission or consent where required.
7. Revised Manuscripts and Additional Documents
When revisions or supplementary documents are requested, authors must submit the required materials electronically according to the instructions provided by the editorial office.
- a revised manuscript;
- a response to reviewers;
- updated figures or tables;
- supplementary community engagement documentation;
- ethical approval or informed consent documentation where applicable;
- corrected author declarations; and
- other supporting documents requested by the editor.
Authors should clearly identify the changes made to the manuscript and ensure that the revised version addresses relevant editorial and reviewer comments.
Only the latest intended version of the manuscript should be submitted for further consideration. Authors should avoid uploading duplicate or conflicting versions that may cause confusion during editorial processing.
8. Technical Problems and Submission Assistance
If authors experience difficulties with the electronic submission system, encounter problems uploading files, or are unable to complete the submission process, they should contact the editorial office through the official contact details provided on the journal's website.
Authors should describe the technical issue clearly and provide the manuscript title, submission reference number where available, and relevant error information.
If the electronic platform is temporarily unavailable, authors should follow any alternative submission instructions officially provided by the editorial office rather than submitting multiple duplicate manuscripts.
DEVELOPMENT: Journal of Community Engagement aims to provide reasonable assistance to authors to support a smooth, accessible, and efficient submission process.
9. Author Responsibility and Final Verification
Before completing an electronic submission, authors should verify that all required files have been uploaded successfully and that all information entered into the submission system is accurate.
The corresponding author must ensure that all co-authors have reviewed and approved the manuscript and agreed to its submission to DEVELOPMENT: Journal of Community Engagement.
Authors must confirm that:
- the manuscript represents original work;
- the manuscript has not been published previously;
- the manuscript is not simultaneously under consideration by another journal;
- all listed authors have made appropriate contributions;
- all necessary permissions have been obtained;
- relevant ethical requirements have been fulfilled;
- sources have been properly acknowledged and cited; and
- all required declarations have been provided.
Submitting a manuscript electronically does not guarantee acceptance or publication. Every submission remains subject to editorial assessment, applicable peer-review procedures, publication ethics requirements, and the journal's final publication decision.
10. Commitment to an Efficient Submission Process
Through electronic submission, DEVELOPMENT: Journal of Community Engagement seeks to improve the efficiency, accessibility, accountability, and transparency of scholarly communication in the field of community engagement and community service.
The submission process is intended to support timely manuscript handling, facilitate effective communication between authors, editors, and reviewers, and maintain appropriate records throughout the evaluation and publication process.
The journal encourages all authors to follow the established submission procedures and cooperate with the editorial team to ensure that manuscripts are processed accurately and efficiently.
By promoting responsible electronic submission practices, DEVELOPMENT: Journal of Community Engagement aims to uphold academic integrity, strengthen the quality of community engagement publications, and contribute to the dissemination of high-quality scholarly works related to Education for Sustainable Development; community services; local food security, nutrition and public health; training and marketing; appropriate technology and design; community empowerment and social access; student community services; and community development in border and less-developed regions.
