Submissions

Author Guidelines

Author Guidelines

GiST – Education and Learning Research Journal welcomes original scholarly contributions that advance research, reflection, and innovation in education and learning. The journal places particular emphasis on language education, bilingual education, and teacher education.

Authors must comply with the journal’s editorial, ethical, and formatting standards, as outlined below. More information on ethical conduct, research integrity, and the use of artificial intelligence is available in the Ethical Guidelines section of the journal website.

As part of the submission process, authors are required to check off their submission's compliance with all of the following items. Moreover, submissions that do not adhere to these guidelines may be returned to the authors.

Manuscript Preparation Guidelines

Language: GiST publishes manuscripts only in English. Submissions must use clear, academic English. During the editorial process, the team will prepare additional versions of the abstract and keywords in Spanish and Portuguese. The journal may add or refine keywords to increase the visibility, indexing, and discoverability of articles. These edits will not alter the manuscript’s content or scholarly claims.

Length: Manuscripts must be 15–25 double-spaced pages, including references. Manuscripts outside this range will be returned without review.

Formatting: Manuscripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word (.docx) or in formats fully compatible with .docx.

Writing style: Use the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition.

General requirements:

• Times New Roman, 12-point font
• Double spacing throughout
• Standard margins
• APA-style headings (five levels, unnumbered)
• In-text citations and reference list formatted according to APA 7

Manuscripts must meet these standards at submission; minor formatting changes may occur in copyediting.

We encourage authors to use gender-neutral language in their articles. Gender-specific pronouns such as 'she' and 'he' should be used only when necessary for the research.

Abstract and Keywords: Write abstracts in clear English. Present the purpose, scope, methodological approach (if applicable), main findings or arguments, and key conclusions in one coherent paragraph. Include up to 10 keywords for better discoverability. Consult a thesaurus to select relevant and varied keywords. The editorial team may add or refine keywords to improve visibility.

Tables, Figures, and Graphic Material: Tables, figures, and other visual materials should be clearly labeled, numbered, and directly referenced in the main text, so that their relevance is always apparent to the reader. Each visual element must be introduced and followed by an explanatory narrative that connects it to the overall analysis or argument, helping integrate it smoothly into the manuscript’s flow. Visuals should never appear back-to-back without intervening discussion. Authors are also responsible for ensuring that all visual materials comply with any copyright or licensing requirements, including obtaining and submitting written permission where needed.

Manuscripts Types

GiST accepts the following types of submissions:

Research Articles: Original empirical studies that contribute new knowledge. Include introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusions, and references.

Reflective Articles: Analytical or critical papers based on research or scholarly inquiry, offering theoretically informed reflections on educational issues or practices.

Review Articles: Systematic or integrative reviews analyze and synthesize existing research. These articles should identify trends, advances, and gaps. Review articles must show methodological rigor. They usually include at least 50 references.

Case Studies: In-depth analyses of specific educational contexts, programs, or practices, with a relevant theoretical and methodological framework.

Reflective Notes: Short, critical reflections on contemporary educational issues grounded in scholarly discussion (1,000–1,500 words), with no use of generative AI in the writing process.

Book Reviews: Critical reviews of recent scholarly books relevant to the journal. UNICA's faculty or graduate students may submit Book Reviews. These are evaluated internally by the Editorial Committee or Team.

Ethics, Authorship, and Editorial Policy

Originality, Exclusivity, and Preprints: All submitted manuscripts must be original and not under consideration by another journal. Authors must sign a Publishing Agreement confirming their work’s originality upon submission. Preprints are allowed, but authors remain responsible for providing transparent information about any preprint versions. Authors must declare any preprint version, including its DOI or permanent identifier, at submission.

Use of Artificial Intelligence: GiST has a policy on AI tools. See the Ethical Guidelines section for details. Authors must declare any AI use with the AI Use Declaration Form when submitting. If no declaration is submitted, it means no AI was used. AI tools cannot replace human authorship, scholarly analysis, or academic responsibility—these remain with the authors.

Authorship and Author Information: Authorship is only for individuals who made significant contributions and can fully take responsibility for the manuscript. Once submitted, the author list is final—no additions, removals, or changes are allowed. Artificial intelligence, regardless of its role, cannot be credited as an author.

Upon acceptance, each author must submit a brief biodata, institutional affiliation, ORCID ID, and complete the Author Information Form. These actions ensure transparency and proper attribution.

Diversity of Voices and Editorial Balance: GiST promotes bibliodiversity and fair representation of scholars and perspectives. Each author can publish only one article per issue, including as a co-author, and cannot appear in two consecutive issues. These policies allow more contributors and topics, enrich the journal’s content, and support its mission of inclusion.

WHAT TO EXPECT REGARDING THE TIMELINE?

Once an author submits a manuscript, it takes approximately two weeks to complete the first editorial review. During this stage, the editorial team evaluates whether the article meets the journal’s basic requirements, including:

• Alignment with the journal’s scope.
• Language quality (English).
• Length and formatting requirements.
• General suitability for peer review.
• Originality.

Only 10% of submissions proceed beyond this point.

90% of submitted articles are rejected during the initial editorial screening, primarily because they are out of scope, written in inadequate English, exceed length limits, or fail to meet editorial standards.

Reviewer Identification and Invitation: For manuscripts that pass the initial screening, the editor begins identifying suitable peer reviewers. This step takes 3–4 weeks, depending on the reviewer's availability and expertise.

Peer Review Stage: Once reviewers have agreed to participate, they are given between four and five weeks to evaluate the manuscript and submit their reports. Based on the reviewers’ recommendations, the manuscript may be accepted, rejected, or returned to the authors for revision. Approximately 1% of articles are rejected after peer review.

Editorial Decision and Communication of Reviews: After the reviewers submit their reports, the editor takes approximately five days to compile the feedback and prepare a decision letter.

Authors are then given one month to revise their manuscript and address all reviewer comments and suggestions.

Assessment of Revised Manuscript: Once the revised manuscript is submitted, the editor takes approximately two weeks to verify that all required revisions and reviewer recommendations have been adequately addressed. Approximately 1% of manuscripts are rejected if the revisions are incomplete or do not sufficiently address reviewer feedback.

Copyediting, Layout, and Formatting: Accepted manuscripts proceed to copyediting, layout, and formatting. This production phase takes four to six weeks.

Final Author Corrections and Publication Approval: After formatting is completed, authors are given approximately two weeks to review proofs, make final corrections, approve the final version, and complete all required publication documents. Once this step is completed, the manuscript is cleared for publication.

Notes on Variability

The timelines described above represent an ideal and average scenario. In practice, delays may occur if:

• Reviewers take longer than expected.
• Reviewers do not respond to invitations.
• Additional reviewers need to be identified.

Despite these potential delays, the process described reflects the typical workflow and outcomes observed in 2025.

See more: Peer-Reviewer Guidelines; Ethical Guidelines.