Aims and Scope

The GILE Journal of Skills Development (GJSD) is an international, interdisciplinary journal examining skills development among young people and early-career adults (typically aged 18–35). Drawing on education, psychology, sociology, economics, talent management and policy studies, it explores how young people develop capabilities for sustainable careers and employability, responsible leadership, and engaged citizenship in a rapidly changing world.

Areas of Interest

• Skills development & assessment in education, training, and the workplace
• Youth competence development (knowledge–skills–attitudes–values–agency)
• Employability, sustainable careers, talent management (HR & L&D), and organisational capability development
• Inclusive, sustainable, and future-oriented skills development, including competence development under conditions of transition, uncertainty, and crisis
• Coaching, mentoring, workplace learning, and communities of practice supporting early-career and professional transitions
• Inner development, wellbeing, resilience, ethics of care, and human-centred leadership
• Learning design, pedagogy, curriculum, and educator competencies in higher education, VET, and professional learning
• Digital, technological, and AI-related skills, including human–AI collaboration, governance and ethics

GJSD welcomes submissions from scholars and practitioners (e.g. educators, trainers, HR and career development professionals) across all disciplines, provided the central focus of the contribution is skills development.

GJSD publishes interdisciplinary scholarship addressing skills development among learners, educators, professionals, and organisations, with particular attention to transitions across education, employment, and lifelong learning.

A rigorous double-blind peer review process provides fair, timely decisions to authors. While welcoming contributions from scholars at all career stages, GJSD provides optional developmental reviewer support for early-career researchers, reflecting the journal’s commitment to capacity building and inclusive academic participation.

For an overview of the types of contributions and methodological approaches welcomed by GJSD, please see the Appendix below.

1. Types of Contributions

GJSD welcomes a range of scholarly contributions relevant to youth skills development, including:

• Empirical research articles
• Conceptual and theoretical papers
• Practice-based and applied studies
• Case studies and comparative analyses
• Policy-oriented and evaluative contributions
• Reflective or integrative reviews

Additional formats include:

• Food for Thought: Open forum for informed and thought-provoking commentary (Peer-reviewed)
• Applied Contributions: Theory-informed, evidence-based designs addressing real-world skills challenges for young adults (Peer-reviewed)
• Guest Column: Invited expert contributions (Editorially reviewed)

2. Research Approaches

• Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research
• Design-based and action research
• Longitudinal, cross-sectional, or comparative studies
• Interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches

3. Who Should Submit?

GJSD is open to authors from any disciplinary or professional background. Submissions may originate from fields such as education, psychology, sociology, economics, engineering, medicine, information technology, or other domains, as long as the manuscript makes an explicit and meaningful contribution to the understanding of skills development.

Authors do not need to be based in education as a discipline; contributions grounded in professional practice, organisational contexts, or applied skills development initiatives are equally welcome. Contributions are evaluated based on their relevance to skills development, not on the author’s disciplinary background.

Indicative Topics

The topics listed below are indicative rather than exhaustive and highlight areas of particular relevance to GJSD. Submissions that align with the journal’s aims but fall outside these categories are also welcome. (Depending on your screen size, please scroll horizontally to see the whole table.)

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