Special Issue Guidelines
Special Issues are curated collections of high-quality articles dedicated to emerging themes, innovative ideas, and rapidly developing areas of research. They are designed to stimulate focused academic discussion, promote interdisciplinary exchange, and highlight cutting-edge developments within a specific field.
The journal welcomes proposals for Special Issues from members of the Editorial Board, established researchers, and scholars with recognized expertise in relevant subject areas. Researchers interested in organizing a Special Issue with the journal are kindly invited to review the following guidelines. Scilight Press adheres strictly to the guidelines and core principles set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
1. Proposal Submission
Scholars wishing to organize a Special Issue should submit a formal proposal to the Editorial Office. A complete proposal should include:
- Proposed title of the Special Issue;
- A brief introduction (approximately 200–300 words) outlining the background, significance, scope, and timeliness of the topic;
- 3–8 keywords that reflect the core themes of the Special Issue;
- A proposed timeline, including key dates such as the opening date, submission deadline, review period, and expected publication schedule;
- A preliminary list of potential contributors or target authors, where applicable;
- The names, affiliations, and brief academic profiles of the proposed Guest Editor(s).
All Special Issue proposals will be assessed by the Editorial Office and may also be reviewed by the journal’s Editor-in-Chief and/or Editorial Board. Approval will be based on the academic value, relevance, originality, and feasibility of the proposed topic, as well as the qualifications of the proposed Guest Editor(s).
Only approved proposals will be officially launched as Special Issues by the journal.
2. Role and Responsibilities of Guest Editors
Guest Editors are responsible for supporting the academic development and successful completion of a Special Issue. They are expected to work closely with the Editorial Office and uphold the journal’s editorial and ethical standards throughout the process.
Guest Editors are generally expected to:
- Provide a short introduction and other required information for the Special Issue webpage;
- Suggest a representative image or visual material, where appropriate;
- Assist in preparing or refining the Call for Papers;
- Recommend and/or invite suitable authors and contributors;
- Help promote the Special Issue within the relevant academic community;
- Support the journal in maintaining the scientific quality, thematic consistency, and academic relevance of the Special Issue;
- Recommend suitable peer reviewers, where appropriate;
- Provide editorial recommendations on submitted manuscripts based on the peer-review reports;
- Contribute an Editorial article summarizing the rationale, scope, and key contributions of the Special Issue upon completion.
Guest Editors are expected to act with professionalism, impartiality, confidentiality, and academic integrity at all times.
3. Submission Guidelines for Authors
Authors who are invited to contribute to, or who wish to submit to, a Special Issue should note the following:
- All manuscripts must be prepared in accordance with the journal’s Instructions for Authors and Editorial Policies;
- Manuscripts should be submitted through the journal’s Online Submission System;
- Authors should clearly indicate in the cover letter that the submission is intended for a particular Special Issue, for example:
“This manuscript is submitted for consideration in the Special Issue entitled ‘XXXX’.” - Manuscripts should be submitted before the stated deadline for the Special Issue. Submissions received after the deadline may be considered for publication as regular articles rather than as part of the Special Issue;
- An invitation to submit to a Special Issue does not guarantee acceptance or publication.
All submissions to Special Issues are subject to the same standards of originality, scientific quality, and editorial assessment as regular submissions.
4. Editorial Process for Special Issue Submissions
All manuscripts submitted to a Special Issue are evaluated according to the journal’s standard editorial and peer review procedures, ensuring fairness, academic quality, and publishing integrity.
Initial Screening
Each submission is first assessed by the Editorial Office and/or the Guest Editor(s) to determine whether it:
- fits the scope of the journal and the theme of the Special Issue;
- meets the journal’s standards for scientific quality and research integrity;
- is suitable for external peer review.
Only manuscripts that pass this stage will proceed to peer review.
Peer Review
Eligible submissions are sent to independent expert reviewers for evaluation. Reviewers are selected based on their subject expertise to ensure a thorough and balanced assessment.
Editorial Decision
After peer review, the Guest Editor(s) may recommend one of the following decisions:
- Accept in Present Form
- Accept after Minor Revision
- Reconsider afterMajor Revision
- Reject
In making a recommendation, the Guest Editor(s) will consider the quality of the reviewer reports, the authors’ responses to reviewer comments, and the overall scientific merit of the manuscript.
Ethics and Similarity Check
To uphold publication ethics, all manuscripts may be screened for originality and potential overlap. If concerns arise, the journal may conduct further checks using professional plagiarism-detection tools and editorial review.
Editorial Oversight
All editorial recommendations made by Guest Editor(s) are subject to the journal’s editorial oversight. The Editor-in-Chief and/or Editorial Board Members may be involved in the evaluation of manuscripts when necessary to ensure consistency, objectivity, and quality control.
Conflict of Interest and Independent Handling
To maintain an impartial editorial process:
- manuscripts involving a potential conflict of interest with a Guest Editor will be reassigned for independent handling;
- if a Guest Editor is unavailable or unable to provide a timely recommendation, another qualified editor may be appointed;
- manuscripts submitted by Guest Editor(s) will be handled by an independent member of the Editorial Board.
In cases where additional editorial assessment is needed, the Editor-in-Chief or an Editorial Board Member may be invited to provide an independent evaluation before a final decision is made.
5. Contact Information
For Special Issue proposals, editorial collaboration, or related inquiries, please contact the Editorial Office of the journal.