Editorial Board Appointment Policy
Editorial Board Appointment Policy
The Journal of Agribusiness and Social Sciences (JASS) appoints its editors through a rigorous and transparent selection process designed to uphold high standards of scholarly integrity, disciplinary expertise, editorial competence, and alignment with the journal's mission and scope. The following criteria and procedures guide the appointment of members of the Editorial Board:
1. Academic Credentials and Scholarly Standing
Candidates should possess recognized academic qualifications, typically a Ph.D. or equivalent, and demonstrate an established publication record in fields relevant to the scope of JASS. Candidates should have recognized expertise and scholarly standing in their respective fields, together with evidence of research leadership, academic service, or previous editorial or peer-review experience.
2. Relevant Disciplinary Expertise
The Editorial Board is composed to reflect the thematic breadth and methodological diversity of JASS. This includes expertise in areas such as agribusiness, agricultural economics, rural development, agricultural policy, food and agri-food systems, entrepreneurship, agricultural markets, rural and social transformation, development studies, and related social sciences and interdisciplinary fields. The composition of the Board should ensure that submitted manuscripts can be evaluated by editors with appropriate subject-matter and methodological expertise.
3. Commitment to Editorial Responsibilities
Editors are expected to manage submitted manuscripts in a timely, fair, impartial, and ethical manner, ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of the peer-review process. They are responsible for upholding the journal's standards regarding originality, research quality, publication ethics, conflicts of interest, and responsible scholarly communication.
Editors are also expected to contribute to the continued development of the journal through activities such as special issues, scholarly outreach, promotion of international collaboration, identification of emerging research areas, and constructive engagement with authors and reviewers.
4. Diversity and Inclusivity
In line with its commitment to promoting inclusive and globally representative scholarship, JASS seeks to maintain an Editorial Board reflecting appropriate diversity across geographic regions, gender, career stages, disciplinary backgrounds, and institutional affiliations. A diverse Editorial Board broadens scholarly perspectives, strengthens international engagement, and supports fair and inclusive representation of research contributions.
5. Professional Integrity and Collegial Collaboration
All editors are required to adhere to high standards of professional and publication ethics, consistent with recognized international principles and guidelines, including those of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), Crossref, and the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), where applicable.
Editors must disclose and appropriately manage any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest, maintain confidentiality throughout the editorial and peer-review processes, and avoid using unpublished information obtained through manuscript handling for personal or professional advantage. Editors are expected to foster constructive and respectful collaboration with authors, reviewers, and fellow editorial team members.
6. Appointment Process
Potential candidates may be identified through nominations by current editors, recommendations from the scholarly community, invitations by the journal, or self-nomination.
Candidates may be required to submit:
- A current curriculum vitae;
- A list of relevant scholarly publications;
- Details of previous editorial, peer-review, or academic service;
- A brief statement of interest and proposed contribution to JASS.
The Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with the Managing Editor and other senior editorial leadership, evaluates candidates based on their academic credentials, disciplinary expertise, scholarly contribution, professional integrity, editorial experience, and commitment to editorial service.
Appointments are made formally with clearly defined terms of service, roles, responsibilities, and expectations. Editorial appointments are normally made for a defined term, typically four to ten years, and may be renewed by mutual agreement. The composition of the Editorial Board is publicly available on the journal's website and is reviewed periodically.
Editors may be rotated, invited to step down, or replaced upon completion of their term or where justified by performance, sustained non-participation, changes in the journal's scope or strategic direction, conflicts of interest, or other legitimate editorial considerations.
7. Review and Renewal
The Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with the Managing Editor and senior editorial leadership, periodically reviews the composition and functioning of the Editorial Board to ensure continued alignment with the journal's objectives, scope, and publishing standards.
New editors may be invited or appointed at any time where necessary to fill gaps in disciplinary or methodological expertise, strengthen geographic or institutional representation, support emerging research areas, or enhance the journal's editorial capacity. Renewal of an editorial appointment is based on continued scholarly relevance, professional conduct, active participation, and the needs of the journal.
