Peer-review Journal

Phase 1: Conceptualization & Scope Definition

1. Identify Scope & Unique Value Proposition

  • Focus Area: Define precise domain boundaries (e.g., Marine & Naval Engineering, Renewable Offshore Tech, AI in Civil Infrastructure).
  • Niche & Need: Ensure the journal addresses an existing gap in current academic literature.
  • Target Audience: Identify prospective authors, reviewers, and institutions.

2. Formulate Editorial & Publication Policies

  • Peer-Review Model: Select your model (e.g., Double-Blind, Single-Blind, or Open Peer Review).
  • Publishing Model:
    • Diamond Open Access (Free for authors & readers—often grant/university-funded)
    • Gold Open Access (Author/Institution pays an Article Processing Charge - APC)
    • Subscription/Hybrid
  • Ethics & Guidelines: Draft COPE-compliant policies covering plagiarism limits, AI usage, author contributions, and conflict of interest disclosures.

 

Phase 2: Editorial Board & Governance

1. Recruiter Team & Board Members

  • Editor-in-Chief (EiC): Establish a recognized researcher with a strong publication record and network.
  • Associate Editors & Editorial Board: Recruit a diverse international panel covering all sub-disciplines within your scope.

2. Define Roles

Editor-in-Chief ──► Associate Editors ──► Managing/Technical Editors ──► Reviewer Pool

 

Phase 3: Technical Infrastructure & Branding

1. Journal Management System (JMS)

Set up a management platform to handle submissions, peer review, and publication:

  • Open Journal Systems (OJS): Free, open-source, and widely used by academic publishers.
  • Commercial Alternatives: ScholarOne, Editorial Manager, or Janeway.

2. Branding & Domain Setup

  • Secure a dedicated domain (e.g., baitaengineering.org).
  • Design a clean, responsive website with clear navigation for:
    • About the Journal
    • Editorial Board
    • Author Guidelines
    • Current & Archive Issues
    • Ethics & Malpractice Statement

 

Phase 4: Legal Registration & Identifiers

1. ISSN (International Standard Serial Number)

Apply via your national ISSN centre or ISSN International Centre after publishing your first issue or setting up the initial platform:

  • e-ISSN: For online publication.
  • p-ISSN: For print publication (if applicable).

2. DOI Registration

Partner with a registration agency to assign unique DOIs to every published paper:

  • Crossref: Standard for academic articles.
  • DataCite: Ideal for data-heavy repositories.

 

Phase 5: Call for Papers & Launching the First Issue

1. Call for Papers (CFP)

  • Invite founding articles via direct outreach to reputable researchers, conferences, and academic networks.
  • Consider publishing an initial Inaugural Issue or Special Issue with 5–8 high-quality papers to set the academic bar.

2. Review & Publishing Process

  1. Desk Review: Initial screening for scope, formatting, and plagiarism (e.g., Turnitin).
  2. Peer Review: Assign to at least 2 independent external reviewers.
  3. Copyediting & Typesetting: Layout XML/PDF proofs using standard templates.
  4. Publication: Assign DOIs and publish online under a Creative Commons license (e.g., CC BY 4.0).

 

Phase 6: Indexing & Sustainability

To gain visibility and impact, apply to academic databases after establishing a consistent publishing record (usually 1–2 years / minimum 10–20 papers published on time):

 

Target Database

Requirement Highlights

Google Scholar

Automatic indexing via properly structured metadata on your web platform.

DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals)

Strict Open Access guidelines, transparent fees, licensing, and ethical policies.

Scopus / Web of Science (ESCI)

Requires consistent publication history, peer-review transparency, international board, and citations.