Guide for Authors

[Name of Author/s]
[Affiliation with Complete Address]
[Official Email Address]
[ORCID Number]

Introduction

Background

The International Journal of Educational Contemporary Explorations (IJECE) is a peer-reviewed, open-access scholarly journal dedicated to advancing discourse on current trends, challenges, and innovations in education. It welcomes manuscripts that contribute to theoretical, policy, and practical dimensions of education across local and global contexts.

Rationale

IJECE promotes academic excellence by publishing high-quality research that demonstrates originality, relevance, and methodological rigor. The journal encourages contributions from educators, researchers, and practitioners who aim to enhance educational systems and practices through evidence-based inquiry.

Aim

The aim of IJECE is to disseminate contemporary research findings that shape the direction of educational thought, innovation, and reform.

Research Questions or Objectives

All manuscripts must clearly state the research aim, objectives, and questions that guide the study. Objectives should be measurable and aligned with the study design and results.

Theoretical and Conceptual Framework

Authors must clearly identify the theoretical foundation and conceptual framework that underpin the research. The framework should articulate the relationships between key variables or concepts, presented in narrative form and illustrated with a properly labeled diagram (As shown in Figure 1). The figure title should appear below the diagram, and all explanations must follow immediately after it.

Review of Related Literature

The literature review must summarize relevant, recent, and credible scholarly works published within the last five years (except for classic theories). It should identify research gaps, link prior studies to the current research, and justify the study’s significance.
All sources must be real, verifiable, and cited in APA style (7th edition).

Methodology

Authors must provide a clear and detailed description of the research design, participants or respondents, instruments, data collection procedures, and data analysis techniques.
For qualitative research, include the design (e.g., phenomenology, case study), participants, ethical considerations, and analytic approach (thematic analysis).
For quantitative research, specify the research design, sampling, instrument validation, statistical tools, and significance level (tested at 0.05).

Tables must be numbered sequentially (Table 1, Table 2), with titles placed above each table. All tables must have complete borders, aligned properly within the text, and referenced (As shown in Table 1).

Results or Findings

Present the data or emergent themes in a clear and concise manner. Quantitative data should be summarized in tables or figures with accompanying interpretations. Qualitative data should include coded themes, participant statements, or excerpts.

Figures (graphs, models, or diagrams) should be numbered sequentially, with titles below the figure and explanations immediately after. Example: As shown in Figure 2, the respondents indicated…

Tables and figures must be inserted in-text at their appropriate locations—not separated or placed in appendices.

Implications

Authors should discuss how their findings contribute to educational theory, practice, or policy. The implications section must demonstrate how the research can be applied in educational settings or guide future studies.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Summarize the major findings and conclusions, linking them to the study objectives. Provide practical and research-based recommendations for educators, policymakers, and researchers.

Formatting and Technical Guidelines

• Font: Calibri
• Title: Size 14, Bold, Centered
• Author(s): Size 12, Bold, Centered
• Body Text: Size 10, Justified, Single-Spaced
• Headings/Subheadings: Bold
• Margins: 1 inch on all sides
• Paragraph Spacing: Single, with one line between sections
• Tables/Figures: Placed within text, numbered sequentially, with complete borders (for tables)
• Citations and References: APA 7th edition
• Similarity Index: Below 10% (verified via Turnitin or iThenticate)

Example of in-text citation:
(Smith, 2023) or (Garcia & Ahmed, 2021)

Example of table citation:
As shown in Table 1, respondents demonstrated high engagement in…

References

All references must be authentic, verifiable, and traceable to reputable sources such as peer-reviewed journals, books, or official reports.
At least 90% of sources must have been published within the last five years, except for classical theoretical works.
Use APA 7th edition reference format with DOIs where available.

Example:
Smith, J. A., & Lee, M. T. (2022). Innovations in blended learning: A global perspective. Journal of Educational Studies, 45(2), 112–126. https://doi.org/10.1234/jes.2022.456

Submission Process

Open Access and Publication Fees

• Article Processing Charge (APC): USD 100 for up to three authors.
• Additional authors: USD 10 per author.
• Articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.
• Authors retain copyright but grant IJECE first publication rights.

Ethical Standards

• All manuscripts must adhere to ethical standards of research and publication.
• Plagiarism, data fabrication, and duplicate submissions are strictly prohibited.
• Use of AI tools must be disclosed and limited to language assistance only, not exceeding 10% of total content.

Manuscript Preparation Service for Authors

IJECE offers an optional Manuscript Preparation Service for authors who wish to ensure full compliance with the journal’s format and style requirements.
This service includes proofreading, copyediting, APA reference formatting, typesetting, layout alignment, and figure/table standardization.
The service is provided for a reasonable fee and is independent of the peer-review process.
For inquiries and pricing, contact the Editor at ijece-editor@virtualrealia.org.

Peer Review

IJECE follows a single-anonymized peer review process:

• The editor performs an initial evaluation for scope and quality.
• Eligible manuscripts are sent to at least two qualified reviewers.
• The editor makes the final publication decision based on reviewer recommendations.

Proofs

Authors will receive proofs after acceptance. Minor corrections should be returned within two days. Major revisions are not allowed at this stage.

Data Sharing and Transparency

Authors are encouraged to deposit datasets in trusted repositories such as Mendeley Data or Figshare. A Data Availability Statement must be included in the manuscript.

Resources for Authors

• APA Citation Guidelines
• Mendeley Reference Manager
• Zotero
• Turnitin Similarity Report Requirement
• Grammarly AI Tool (for grammar and clarity check)

Contact Information

For submissions, queries, or editorial correspondence:
Editorial Office – IJECE
Email: ijece-editor@virtualrealia.org
Website: http://ijece.virtualrealia.org