Editorial Policies
The International Review of Education and Learning Sciences (IRELS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of editorial integrity, independence, and transparency. The following policies define the roles, responsibilities, and ethical procedures that govern our evaluation and publication process.
Editorial Independence
All editorial decisions at IRELS are made independently and are based solely on the academic merit of submitted work. Editorial decisions are never influenced by commercial interests, institutional affiliations, funding sources, or personal relationships. The Editor-in-Chief has full authority over the editorial content and final publication decisions.
Roles and Responsibilities
Editor-in-Chief
Oversees the overall strategic direction of the journal. Ensures adherence to editorial standards and policies, and holds the final responsibility for manuscript acceptance or rejection.
Section Editors
Manage submissions within specific disciplinary areas. They conduct initial assessments, coordinate the peer review process, and make recommendations to the Editor-in-Chief based on reviewer reports.
Associate / Managing Editors
Support the daily editorial workflow, coordinate submission logistics, and assist in editorial decision-making under the guidance of the Editor-in-Chief.
Editorial Board Members
Provide high-level subject-matter expertise, advise on editorial policy development, and contribute to the peer review process as adjudicators when necessary.
Decision-Making & Ethics
Editorial Decision-Making
Editorial decisions are based on a synthesis of peer reviewers’ evaluations, the editor's own assessment, and the manuscript's alignment with the journal’s aims.
Note: Editors reserve the right to reject manuscripts without external review if the submission falls entirely outside the journal’s scope or fails to meet basic scholarly standards.
Confidentiality
Editors are strictly required to maintain the confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts and related communications. Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used in an editor's own research without the express written consent of the author.
Conflict of Interest
Editors must recuse themselves from considering manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships or connections with any of the authors, companies, or (possibly) institutions connected to the papers. In such cases, editorial responsibility is reassigned to another editor to ensure impartiality.
