IJBEMP aims to contribute to current debates in its field by publishing special issues focused on specific scholarly themes. Although special issues follow a different structure from the journal’s regular publication process, they are subject to the same rules as regular issues with regard to scholarly evaluation, ethical principles, and publication standards.
Special Issue Proposal
Proposals for special issues may be submitted by academics with expertise in the relevant field or by editorial board members. The proposal file includes the following information:
· Title and scope of the special issue,
· Scholarly significance and timeliness of the topic,
· Proposed guest editors and their short biographies,
· List of potential authors and contributions,
· Planned publication schedule,
· Explanation of how the evaluation process will be conducted.
Evaluation and Approval
Proposals are evaluated by the editor-in-chief and the editorial board in terms of scholarly originality, scope suitability, and compliance with the journal’s publication policies. The editorial board may accept the proposal as submitted, request revisions, or reject it with justification. Approved special issues are announced on the journal’s website.
Responsibilities of Guest Editors
Guest editors are responsible for safeguarding the scholarly quality of the special issue, adhering to the schedule, and ensuring compliance with ethical principles. Guest editors may not act as decision-makers in the evaluation of their own work or of work by authors with whom they have a conflict of interest. Such manuscripts are handled by the editor-in-chief or an independent editor.
Peer Review
All manuscripts submitted to special issues undergo double-blind peer review, as is the case for regular issues. All requirements — including similarity screening, ethics committee approval, authorship and contribution statements, and conflict of interest declarations — apply equally to special issues. Guest editors may not assign reviewers or finalise the evaluation process without the approval of the journal’s editorial office.
Publication Process and Schedule
The submission, evaluation, and publication schedule determined for special issues is announced in advance. Guest editors are obliged to adhere to this schedule. The journal’s editorial office may update the schedule where deemed necessary and announces such changes to authors.
Cancellation and Postponement
Where there are insufficient qualified submissions, a finding of ethical misconduct, or failure to adhere to the schedule, the journal’s editorial office reserves the right to postpone or cancel the special issue. In such a case, manuscripts under evaluation may be transferred to the regular issue evaluation process.
Open Access
Articles published in special issues are made available to readers free of charge in line with the journal’s open access principles.