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COLLEGIA: Journal of Higher Education Quality and Innovation

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Submissions

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Author Guidelines

All submissions are first assessed by an editor for fit with the journal’s aims and scope. Submissions that fit are sent for double-blind peer review. Please read these guidelines carefully: COLLEGIA does not use a copy editor, so the file you submit becomes the basis of the published article.

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Contribution Types and Word Limits

  • Research Article: up to 6,000 words; abstract of 150 to 250 words
  • Practice and Innovation Report: up to 2,500 words; abstract of 150 to 250 words
  • Case Study: up to 4,000 words; abstract of 150 to 250 words
  • Policy and Sector Analysis: up to 4,000 words; abstract of 150 to 250 words
  • Invited Commentary: up to 1,500 words; summary of 50 to 100 words
  • Book Review: 800 to 1,200 words; no abstract

Word limits exclude the abstract, tables, and references.

Preparing Your Manuscript

  • Use the template and apply its built-in styles from Word’s Styles pane. Do not change fonts, sizes, margins, the header, the footer, or the “For editorial use” sidebar.
  • Change the green label above the title to your contribution type, in capitals.
  • Title: no more than 20 words. Abstract: a single paragraph with no references. Keywords: four to six, separated by commas.
  • Use Heading 1, Heading 2, and Heading 3 only, without numbering. Use Australian or British English spelling consistently.
  • Tables: build with Word’s table tool, with the caption above (for example, “Table 1.”). Figures: at least 300 dpi, inserted in line with the text, with the caption below (for example, “Figure 1.”). Obtain permission for any material you did not create.
  • References: APA 7th edition, with DOIs where available. Convert reference manager fields to plain text before submitting.
  • Declarations: complete conflict of interest, funding, ethics, and acknowledgements at the end of the article.

Identified and Deidentified Versions

COLLEGIA uses double-blind peer review, so prepare two versions of your manuscript:

  • Identified version: the complete manuscript, with all author details
  • Deidentified version: a copy with author names, affiliations, identifying funding details and acknowledgements, and self-citations that reveal your identity removed, and personal information cleared from the file properties. This is the version sent to reviewers.

Cover Letters

Submit the Initial Cover Letter with every new manuscript. It explains how your manuscript fits COLLEGIA’s aims and scope, confirms originality, discloses any preprint, and declares any use of generative AI, naming the tool and version and how it was used, or stating that none was used. Submit the Revision Cover Letter with every revised manuscript, responding to each editor and reviewer comment.

Submitting

Upload three .docx files through the Submit an article button: the identified version, the deidentified version, and the cover letter. Name each file with a short title only, for example “Short title_identified.docx”. Enter every author, with affiliation, email address, and ORCID iD, in the submission form.

Book Reviews

Book reviews use the Book Review Template, have no abstract or keywords, and are reviewed by the editors rather than through double-blind peer review. Submit one identified file with an Initial Cover Letter.

Questions are welcome: contact the Editor-in-Chief at harold.culala@excelsia.edu.au.

Submission Preparation Checklist

All submissions must meet the following requirements.

  • The manuscript is prepared in the COLLEGIA template and meets the word limit for its contribution type.
  • The submission has not been previously published and is not under consideration by another journal.
  • Both an identified and a deidentified version are included, and the deidentified version contains no identifying information (not required for book reviews).
  • An Initial or Revision Cover Letter is included, with a declaration on the use of generative AI.
  • All references follow APA 7th edition and have been checked for accuracy.
  • All tables and figures are numbered, captioned, and cited in the text, and permission has been obtained for any material not created by the authors.
  • Conflict of interest, funding, and ethics declarations are complete.

Research Articles

Empirical or conceptual studies of up to 6,000 words in higher education governance, quality, teaching and learning, and leadership. Abstract of 150 to 250 words. Double-blind peer review.

Practice and Innovation Reports

Scholarly accounts of up to 2,500 words of institutional initiatives that enhance governance, teaching and learning, or student success. Abstract of 150 to 250 words. Double-blind peer review.

Case Studies

In-depth examinations of up to 4,000 words of institutional policies, reforms, or strategic initiatives. Abstract of 150 to 250 words. Double-blind peer review.

Policy and Sector Analyses

Analyses of up to 4,000 words of developments in higher education policy, regulation, and system-level reform. Abstract of 150 to 250 words. Double-blind peer review.

Book Review

Reviews of 800 to 1,200 words of books relevant to higher education governance, quality, or teaching and learning. No abstract. Reviewed by the editors.

Privacy Statement

The names and email addresses entered in this journal site will be used exclusively for the stated purposes of this journal and will not be made available for any other purpose or to any other party.