Guidelines for Special Issues

Introduction

Special issues are important sections in all the journals published under Peertechz Publications Private Limited. Special Issue tempts the authors to write articles of high quality within the scope of the journal.

In order to make the concept of special issue easily understandable by the interested group of authors, we have segregated it in different stages:

Stage 1- Initial proposal and manuscripts assortment

While submitting the proposals for Special Issues, the Editors must oversee that the proposal is focusing on the aims and scope and an important area of existing journal.

The sequence and format for Special Issue Proposal is as follows:

1. Journal Name on which the Special Issue Title is coined
2. Special Issue Title
3. Guest Editors details (names, degrees, affiliations, contact information, topics they will advance)
4. Submission Deadline
5. Issue release Deadline
6. Potential Authors list (names, degrees, affiliations, contact information, topics they will advance)
7. Overview of proposed Special Issue title

Upon designation as a Special Issue Editor, editors, may formally invite colleagues or other authors to submit their manuscripts. For this purpose, authors may request an official e-mail ID from the editorial office. The Editor may seek assistance from the editorial office in contacting and inviting  authors on his or her behalf.

Stage 2- Review and Revision of the Special Issue

Once a manuscript is submitted to a Special Issue, it will be reviewed by the Special Issue Editors/ Guest Editors/ Journal Quality Team.  This process ensures that manuscripts are of academic value, subject oriented and suitable for the peer review process.

After checking the suitability of the manuscript, the Lead Guest Editor determines any potential conflict of interest before evaluating the manuscript.  The manuscript is then assigned to guest editors and external referees’ for review and revision of the manuscript.

On the basis of the report submitted by the guest editors, Special Issue Editor is authorized to take any one of the following decisions:

• The manuscript is appropriate for the publication without any modifications.
• The manuscript requires minor reviewer requested modifications before going for publication.
• The manuscript requires major reviewer requested modifications before going for publication.
• The manuscript is not appropriate or does not meet the Journal standards for publication and is rejected.

Stage 3- Final Decision-making after Peer review process

Peertechz confers authority to the Guest Editors to make decisions in all stages of the review and revision process.  However, such decisions must be consistent with established Peertechz guidelines including the Statement of Editorial Policy, Code of Ethics, Instructions for Contributors, Guidelines for Reviewers and style guide. Ours editors work with the Guest Editors for providing assistance in helping to further develop the proposal and the Call for Papers, and to agree upon a consolidated editorial team for the special issue.

Stage 4- Special Issue publication or rejection

When manuscripts are initially accepted, it is on sole discretion of Peertechz whether the manuscript will be considered for Special Issue or regular issue of the journal. The final decision as to which manuscripts appear in the Special Issue, how and when the manuscripts will be published or the reasons for the rejection of the manuscripts is conveyed to the authors.

Additional Responsibilities of Special Issue Editor/Guest Editor

• The Special Issue Editors are required to provide the following details to the editorial office, such as Name, University, Country, photograph, active Email ID, Contact Number and FAX number.
• You are required to provide an URL where your professional details and photograph is displayed, other than any other publication websites.
• You are expected to submit at least one manuscript for this special issue.
• You are expected to provide the potential authors list. If it is not available, you need to make a blue print (plan) for releasing the issue and forward the same to us for further consideration.
• You should plan to release the Special Issue with minimum number of ten articles.
• You need to assume responsibility for the entire peer-review process. If you face any problem in finding the qualified expert reviewers,  you may contact the editorial office for further assistance.
• If you change your job location or any other details submitted to the editorial office, you need to inform this change within 24 hours to the editorial office so that we may update your contact information in our database.
• The deadline for the submissions and release of the Special Issue is determined by the Special Issue Editor and finalized with editorial office approval. Once the deadline is finalized it cannot be modified and all work must be completed on schedule.
• The maximum timeline you should consider for the release of one Special Issue should less than 60 days.
• As a Special Issue Editor you are expected to assist in promoting your Special issue among your colleagues, including potential future guest editors.
• Special Issue Editor should perform rigorous cross-checking of all manuscripts to ensure the highest quality publications appear under your name and the journal.

Benefits to the Special Issue Editor/Guest Editor

• You can publish one article free of publication fees (if you lack funding resources). Peertechz will provide you with reasonably publication fee discounts going forward.
• As a Special Editor, you will be entitled to get Scientific Credits and Certificates for special issue handling.
• If you recommend articles to be submitted to Peertechz, any article is submitted with your reference, the article will be eligible for a publication fee discount.
• You will be entitled to additional incentives on successful release of Special Issue, provided the articles in the special issue have generated revenue.
• As a Special Issue Editor you will receive one hard copy of published Special Issue, on request.
• The Lead Guest Editors are typically promoted to Editor-in-Chief after successful completion of the special issue.
• Peertechz provides the flexibility to the Lead Guest Editor to personalize his/her space on website in their own way.

Article Processing Charges

The charges for publishing a special issue article cover the costs of processing and production of the manuscripts. This becomes a necessity for the journal as it operates in Open Access platform and does not request the funding agencies for support. Regardless of economic restraints, the journal is committed to publish valuable works to advance scientific research. The journal believes that scholars will see the quality and commitment of our work and product, and will contribute Article Processing Charges willingly to offset publishing costs.

The recommended charges for publishing a Special Issue article is 1849 USD. This will include all the processing charges along with designing, archiving and promotional charges.

The journal understands that majority of authors have funding issues at various points in time and therefore offers substantial discounts to Special Issue Editors, guest editors and authors in need of support. The discounts are as follows:

• The Special Issue Editors can publish one article free of publication fees, if he/she is the corresponding author for the article. From second article onwards, Special Issue Editors are eligible for 20% discount on publication fees.
• If any author is referred to Peertechz by the Special Issue Editor, that author will get 30% discount on the publication fees for articles accepted for publication.  
• The Guest Editors are eligible for 20% discount in the articles where they are corresponding authors.
• The authors who have not been referred by the Special Issue Editor are also eligible for a 20% discount on the publication fees.  

Our commitment is to ethical and valuable publishing. Monetary issues will never be a barrier to fulfilling our commitment to publishing good research. We hope our commitment will earn your long-term support for this endeavour.