Special Issues Policy

The Journal of Virtual Exchange may publish themed Special Issues that fall within the
aims and scope of the journal and contribute to current research and practice in virtual
exchange, telecollaboration, and online intercultural exchange.

All Special Issues are subject to the same editorial standards, ethical requirements, and
quality-control procedures as regular submissions. The Editors-in-Chief retain
responsibility for the content of the entire journal, including all Special Issues. Guest
Editors work under the oversight of the Editors-in-Chief and/or a designated Special
Issue Editor or Associate Editor appointed by the journal.

Special Issue proposals are reviewed and approved by the journal before any call for
papers is issued. Proposals must include the proposed theme, rationale, relevance to
the journal’s scope, names and affiliations of the Guest Editor(s), their relevant
academic and editorial experience, a proposed timeline, and details of the planned call
for papers and review process. Guest Editor credentials are checked and approved by
the Editors-in-Chief before a proposal is accepted.

Special Issue submissions must undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process.
Manuscripts that pass preliminary editorial screening are reviewed by at least two
independent peer reviewers using the journal’s double-anonymous review procedure.
Guest Editors may assist with the organisation of the Special Issue, identification of
potential reviewers, and communication with authors, but final editorial decisions are
made by the Editors-in-Chief or by a designated journal editor with no conflict of
interest.

Articles published in Special Issues are clearly identified as belonging to the relevant
Special Issue. Acceptance for presentation at a conference, invitation to submit, or
inclusion in a Special Issue proposal does not guarantee publication. Conference
proceedings are not published as Special Issues. Where a Special Issue is linked to the
International Virtual Exchange Conference or another scholarly event, submissions
must be developed as original journal articles and must undergo the same independent
peer-review process as all other JVE submissions.

Guest Editors may submit manuscripts to a Special Issue only where an independent
editorial process can be guaranteed. Any manuscript submitted by a Guest Editor is
handled by the Editors-in-Chief or another designated journal editor who is not involved
as an author and has no conflict of interest. Guest Editor-authored papers must not
constitute more than 25% of the total content of the Special Issue.

All conflicts of interest involving Guest Editors, authors, reviewers, or journal editors
must be declared and managed in accordance with the journal’s ethical and peer-review
policies.