CALL FOR FULL PAPERS SPECIAL ISSUE: POSTGRADUATE STUDIES RESEARCH PAPERS – 2027 SERIES

2026-10-24

The Dyke, a multidisciplinary scholarly journal published by Midlands State University, invites submissions for its 2027 Special Issue: Postgraduate Studies Research Papers Series. This special issue seeks to provide a scholarly platform for postgraduate researchers to disseminate emerging findings from their ongoing research, contribute to contemporary academic debates and strengthen research collaboration between postgraduate candidates and their supervisors. The special issue welcomes original, theoretically informed and methodologically rigorous research papers drawn from ongoing doctoral (PhD/DBL) and Master's-level research across diverse academic disciplines.

 1.      Scope and Thematic Areas

Submissions are invited from all academic disciplines, including but not limited to:

  •  Arts, Humanities, Languages and Communication Studies
  • Social Sciences, Governance, Politics and Development Studies
  • Business, Economics, Accounting and Management Sciences
  • Education, Curriculum Studies and Educational Technologies
  • Science, Technology, Engineering and Innovation
  • Medicine, Health Sciences and Public Health
  • Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change
  • Law, Human Rights and Public Policy
  • Information Systems, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation
  • Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Research

Papers addressing emerging theoretical debates, methodological innovations, contemporary societal challenges and contextually relevant research problems are particularly encouraged.

  1. Eligibility and Authorship Requirements

The special issue is specifically intended for postgraduate research candidates and their supervisors.

Eligibility conditions:

  1. Manuscripts must be developed from ongoing PhD, DBL, MPhil or other research-based Master's studies.
  2. Authorship must comprise the postgraduate candidate and their research supervisor(s), with authorship reflecting substantive scholarly contributions.
  3. The postgraduate candidate should ordinarily serve as the lead and corresponding author, while supervisors should be included as co-authors where they satisfy recognised academic authorship criteria.
  4. Submissions must present original research that has not been published or submitted simultaneously to another journal.
  5. Manuscripts may present findings from a clearly defined component of an ongoing thesis or dissertation. Completion of the entire research project is not required, provided the paper presents sufficiently developed evidence and a coherent scholarly argument.
  1. Manuscript Requirements 

All submissions must satisfy the following requirements:

ü  Word Limit: 4,000–6,000 words, including the main text, tables and references.

ü  Abstract: A structured or unstructured abstract of 200–250 words outlining the research problem, objectives, methodology, principal findings and contribution to knowledge.

ü  Keywords: Four to six keywords.

ü  Font: Arial, 12 pnt, single spacing

ü  Manuscript Structure: Papers should ordinarily include an introduction, literature review and/or theoretical framework, methodology, findings, discussion, conclusion and references. Appropriate disciplinary variations are acceptable.

ü  Referencing: APA 7th edition

ü  Language: Manuscripts must be written in clear, scholarly British English.

ü  Research Ethics: Authors must demonstrate compliance with applicable research ethics requirements, including ethical clearance where required, informed consent and appropriate management of research data.

  1. PeerReview and Publication Standards

All submissions will undergo initial editorial screening to establish their suitability for the special issue, followed by independent scholarly peer review.  Manuscripts will be evaluated on originality, conceptual and theoretical contribution, methodological rigour, analytical depth, quality of evidence, scholarly presentation and relevance to the discipline. Submission does not guarantee publication. Only manuscripts meeting the journal's editorial and peer-review standards will be considered for acceptance.

  1. Why Publish in this Special Issue?

The 2027 Postgraduate Studies Research Papers Series seeks to:

·        Promote early dissemination of postgraduate research findings.

·        Strengthen scholarly writing, publishing and research communication among postgraduate candidates.

·        Encourage productive research collaboration and co-authorship between candidates and supervisors.

·        Enhance the visibility of emerging postgraduate scholarship.

·        Support multidisciplinary knowledge exchange and research with academic, policy and societal relevance.

  1. Submission and Important Dates

     Call for full Papers Opens:

20 October 2026

     Submission Deadline:

30 January 2027

     Peer Review and Revision Period:

1 February 2027-30 March 2027

     Anticipated Publication:

May 2027

 Manuscripts should be submitted electronically   https://thedyke.msu.ac.zw/ (Register and/or login and submit)

  • Submit two files:
    • Anonymised and the other with author details.
    • All manuscripts submitted for the special issue must have their titles prefixed with DYPGSR_27: to facilitate identification, editorial screening and tracking of submissions.

Required format:

DYPGSR_27: [Full Manuscript Title]

 Example:

DYPGSR_27: Digital Transformation and Public Service Delivery in Zimbabwe: Emerging Evidence from Research  

  1. Editorial Enquiries

 

The Editor-in-Chief

blobid0.png+263 718 238 410 blobid0.png [Strictly WhatsApp only]

 

blobid1.png saidiu@thedyke.msu.ac.zw   blobid2.png https://thedyke.msu.ac.zw/   https://journals.co.za/loi/dyke

                                                                                                          The Dyke Special Issue – Postgraduate Studies Research Papers 2027 Series