Special Issue Policy

Special Issue Policy 

1. Definition of a Special Issue

A Special Issue of the BTTN Journal is a focused collection of scholarly articles aligned with the Journal’s aims and scope. These issues highlight emerging themes, promote academic dialogue, and support research that contributes to informed policy, governance, socio-economic development, and strategic understanding. Special Issues allow for in-depth exploration of important themes while fostering collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and policy experts.

2. Abstract Submission and Procedures

The Call for Abstracts will be announced on:
• The BTTN Journal website
• BTTN official social media platforms

All abstracts must be submitted through the Journal’s OJS system. Once an abstract is reviewed and approved by the Editor-in-Chief, the author will be invited to submit the full paper and present the work at the official BTTN Conference associated with the Special Issue.

Required Abstract Format (Title Page)

Each Special Issue abstract must include:

  • Author’s Full Name
  • Affiliation(s)
  • Email Address
  • Phone Number (Optional if you want to add it)
  • Paper Title
  • Abstract (150–300 words)

3. Content Relevance

The Editor must ensure that all accepted papers align with the approved theme and the Journal’s aims and scope. The Editor and Managing Editor may return or reject manuscripts that do not fit the Special Issue theme.

4. Conference Presentation Requirement

For all BTTN-organized Special Issues, authors are required to present their accepted papers at the official BTTN Conference linked to the Special Issue. Only papers that are both accepted through peer review and presented at the conference will be included in the Special Issue.

Accepted Special Issue papers will be published in the Journal’s July or December issue, depending on the timeline and announcement period.

5. Peer Review Process

All Special Issue submissions undergo the Journal’s standard double-blind peer-review process, which includes:
• Initial quality and relevance screening
• Double-blind review by independent experts
• Editorial decisions based on reviewer reports

Editorial Board members and Advisory Board members may submit papers, but:
• Their papers must not exceed 25% of total Special Issue content
• They will not be involved in reviewing or making decisions about their own manuscripts
• An independent editorial process will be applied
• A transparency statement will be included in such published articles

6. Timeline

The timeline for each Special Issue, including abstract deadlines, full paper deadlines, and conference dates, will be finalized in collaboration between the Editors and the Editorial Office. All dates will be published on the Journal’s website.

7. Conflicts of Interest

All editors, reviewers, and contributors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest. Individuals with conflicts must recuse themselves. Editors must declare conflicts before appointment and update disclosures if circumstances change.

8. Open Access Policy

The BTTN Journal is fully open access. All Special Issue articles will be freely accessible to readers worldwide.

9. Review and Editorial Procedures

All submissions undergo strict quality screening. Only high-quality, original research will proceed to peer review. Editors may recommend decisions, but the Editor-in-Chief retains final decision-making authority.

A typical Special Issue includes 5 to 20 full-length articles and an editorial. If fewer than four papers meet the publication criteria, the Journal may publish them in regular issues instead of as a Special Issue.

The Journal reserves the right to reject any manuscript, or an entire Special Issue, that does not meet quality, ethical, or academic standards.