Before submitting a manuscript to The International Journal of Distance Education and Lifelong Learning, authors must ensure that their manuscript adheres to the journal’s academic, ethical, and technical requirements. The following checklist should be carefully reviewed and completed before the online submission process.
Submission Checklist
Authors must confirm that:
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The manuscript is original, unpublished, and not under consideration by another journal or publisher.
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The manuscript is written in clear academic English.
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The manuscript is relevant to distance education, lifelong learning, online learning, blended learning, or other related fields.
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The manuscript follows the journal template and formatting guidelines.
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The title is concise, specific, and clearly reflects the main focus of the study.
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The abstract provides a brief summary of the research background, objectives, methodology, key findings, and contributions.
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The manuscript includes 3–6 relevant keywords.
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The introduction provides a clear explanation of the research background, problem statement, objectives, and contribution to the field of distance education and lifelong learning.
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The literature review discusses relevant theories, concepts, and previous studies that support the research.
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The research design, data sources, data collection methods, instruments, and data analysis techniques are clearly described.
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The results are presented clearly and supported by relevant evidence (tables, figures, or statistical outputs).
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The discussion interprets the results and relates them to existing research and theories.
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The conclusion summarizes the key findings, contributions, limitations, and provides suggestions for future research.
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All tables, figures, charts, and supplementary materials are numbered, titled, and properly cited in the manuscript.
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All references follow APA 7th edition style and are accurate and complete.
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The manuscript has been checked for grammar, spelling, and consistency.
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The manuscript has been checked for plagiarism or excessive similarity.
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Ethical approval, informed consent, and data protection procedures (if applicable) are included.
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Authors disclose any potential conflicts of interest and funding sources.
Required Files
Authors should prepare the following files before submission:
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Manuscript file in Microsoft Word format, adhering to the journal’s formatting guidelines.
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Title page containing author names, institutional affiliations, email addresses, and ORCID IDs (where applicable).
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Main manuscript prepared according to the journal template.
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Supplementary files such as datasets, interview guides, questionnaires, or supplementary materials where necessary.
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Ethical approval document (if required) for research involving human participants or sensitive data.
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Permission letters for any third-party content, such as images, tables, charts, or datasets that require permission for use.
Author Information
Authors must provide complete and accurate information, including:
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Full name
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Institutional affiliation
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Email address
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ORCID ID (if available)
The corresponding author must ensure that all co-authors approve the final version of the manuscript and agree to its submission.
Ethical Considerations
Authors must ensure that the research is conducted ethically and in compliance with relevant ethical standards. For studies involving human participants or sensitive data, authors must obtain appropriate ethical approval and informed consent. The manuscript should include a statement outlining ethical considerations, including how participants' confidentiality and privacy were maintained.
Final Check Before Submission
Before submitting the manuscript, authors should ensure that:
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The manuscript adheres to the journal’s formatting guidelines.
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All required sections (title, abstract, keywords, introduction, methods, results, discussion, conclusion, references) are included.
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Tables, figures, and other visual elements are clearly numbered and titled.
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All in-text citations match the reference list and are properly formatted.
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Ethical approval, informed consent, and funding statements (if applicable) are provided.
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Authors have checked for grammar, spelling, and clarity.
Plagiarism and Similarity Check
All manuscripts will undergo a plagiarism check. Manuscripts with excessive similarity or plagiarism will be rejected immediately. Authors are encouraged to check their work for plagiarism prior to submission.
Submission Process
Manuscripts should be submitted through the journal’s online submission system. Authors must complete the necessary submission forms, including:
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Author and manuscript details
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Ethical approval and conflict of interest disclosure
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Confirmation that the manuscript is original and not under consideration elsewhere
Review Process
Once submitted, manuscripts will undergo an editorial screening followed by peer review. The editorial team will assess the manuscript's relevance, originality, clarity, and suitability for the journal’s focus. Following peer review, authors may be required to make revisions before the manuscript is accepted for publication.
Revision Policy
If revisions are requested, authors must revise the manuscript in line with reviewer and editor comments. A response letter explaining how each comment was addressed should be submitted with the revised manuscript.
Copyright and Licensing
Authors retain copyright of their work but grant the journal a license to publish, distribute, and archive the article. Authors must ensure that they have the right to use all third-party content included in their manuscript.
Final Proof
Before publication, authors will receive a final proof for checking. Authors are responsible for reviewing the proof and ensuring that no errors remain. Major changes to the content are not allowed at this stage.
By following these submission guidelines, authors help ensure a smooth and efficient publication process for their work in The International Journal of Distance Education and Lifelong Learning.