About the Journal

Galvanising Innovative Learning Ecosystems (GILE)

The GILE Journal of Skills Development (GJSD) is a leading international, interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary journal on skills development for young adults. It is also a Diamond Open Access (OA) journal that does not charge authors an article processing charge (APC): in other words, there is no publication fee or any other fee. Authors retain the copyright and full publishing rights without restrictions (CC BY 4.0). Our team is committed to providing an efficient service for both authors and readers. We make rapid and fair decisions via a robust double-blind peer review process. Besides welcoming submissions from seasoned researchers, we also offer growth-oriented expert reviewer support for those at an early stage in their careers who specially request it.

The GJSD was originally published by the GiLE Foundation based in Hungary, but since November 2023, it has been operating under the stewardship of the Pact4Youth Association, Hungary. This non-profit organisation fully aligns with our journal's ongoing dedication to fostering empowerment and nurturing transferable skills among young adults aged 18-30.

Aims & Scope

‘Personal’ or ‘transferable’ skills (also variously known as ‘soft skills’, ‘21st century skills’ and ‘employability competences’) and the capacity to develop them in others are crucial to success over an individual’s working lifetime. This has never been more true as the revolution spearheaded by Artificial Intelligence now spreads throughout society. The empowerment of adaptable and resilient young adults capable of thriving in any environment is now of undeniable importance.

To that end, the GJSD aims to be an essential resource for all those whose work contributes to this global effort. Our open-access published content can be utilised directly by educators, researchers, coaches, corporate learning and development practitioners, and anyone with a stake in the journal’s mission who seeks high-quality, thought-provoking content and strong, actionable insights.

We welcome high-quality, relevant submissions from academics, researchers, young people at the start of their careers, employers, training specialists, career counsellors, citizen scientists, activists, social entrepreneurs, business people who are interested in social issues affecting young adults, and policy makers. We champion contributions that yield insights into the world of ‘Skills Development’ affecting young adults in both educational and human resources domains. We also support early career researchers whose research interests align with our mission with the option to request a review that takes their needs into special consideration. Master’s and PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and young professionals may all submit papers this way, and can expect a speedy, fair and constructive review process that focuses on coaching the writer.

Main Sections

GJSD features two main sections: Research and Perspectives. Under these sections, Authors can choose from various sub-sections.

Research:

Skills Development (Education)’ features research papers relating to Ensuring Ongoing Employability; Cultivating a Reflective Mindset; Training Leaders of the Future; Innovative Skills Assessment Methods; Emotional Intelligence and Positive Psychology; Relationship Skills and Social Capital Formation; Intercultural Awareness; Teacher and Lecturer Professional Development; and any other topic deemed relevant.

Under the ‘Skills Development (HR)’ section, we seek research papers relating to Career Development & Career Sustainability; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Employability and Learning; Skills Assessment; Workforce Talent Management; Learning and Development; Leadership Development; Emotional Intelligence and Positive Psychology; Interpersonal Skills and Employability Capital Formation; Intercultural Awareness; and any other topic deemed relevant.

Relevant contributions from any academic or professional discipline are welcome. We accept submissions of empirical papers adopting quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. We also encourage submissions of full-length theoretical, literature review, and citation networking mapping papers.

Quality data-based essays that document an attempt to solve a skills development problem and case studies - both real and conceptual - that relate to the journal’s broad remit are also welcomed in a Case Studies section. Meanwhile, under the section ‘Action Research’, we welcome accounts of ‘learning by doing’ which provide practical insights for improvement in a particular setting.

The GJSD aims to bring together academics, industry, citizen scientists, and society as a whole. Our Citizen Science section thus features articles written by members of the general public who have worked alongside professional researchers on a collaborative project touching on areas where young adults are important stakeholders from a skills perspective.

Perspectives:

Food for Thought’ (where contributions may come from anyone) and ‘Guest Column’ (where contributors are invited) sections feature informed - and not necessarily academic - commentary from writers who wish to educate and engage our journal’s readership with their opinions.

A section called ‘Practical Proposals for Social Impact’ meanwhile invites submissions from activists, social entrepreneurs, socially aware members of the business community, and others with an academic or policy background with a keen interest in social or environmental issues where young people can be viewed as important stakeholders from a skills perspective. We encourage authors to identify and discuss an existing policy or social challenge affecting young people and either describe the results of an innovative attempt to solve it (even if only partially), or offer new directions that may be taken towards addressing it.

Under the section ‘Extended Essays’, the GJSD provides a more diverse and engaging mix of longer articles. The pieces should be able to make a significant contribution to the field of skill development and the ideas presented should be new and innovative.

Special review option: Early-career researchers

The GJSD also welcomes quality, relevant research articles from Master’s and PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and young professionals, who may request an ‘early career researcher review’ if it is desired. We offer such contributors an efficient and free-of-charge route to publication. They can also expect to receive constructive and detailed expert reviewer feedback that aims to grow them.

Journal statistics

2023

Number of submissions: 47

Number of reviews
– Requested: 52
– Received: 48

Acceptance rate: 53%

The average time between submission and publication for articles published in 2023: 82 days

2022

Number of submissions: 38

Number of reviews
– Requested: 55
– Received: 46

Acceptance rate: 57%

The average time between submission and publication for articles published in 2022: 78 days

2021

Number of submissions: 18

Number of reviews
– Requested: 31
– Received: 32

Acceptance rate: 61%

The average time between submission and publication for articles published in 2021: 112 days

2020

Number of submissions: 9

Number of reviews
– Requested: 9
– Received: 6

Acceptance rate: 89%

The average time between submission and publication for articles published in 2020: no article published