Educational Dimension journal editorial activity report (2024)

Executive summary

The journal has experienced significant changes in submission patterns and editorial decisions during 2024. Most notably, the acceptance rate has decreased to 15% compared to the historical average of 28%, while the rejection rate has surged to 85% from the historical 24%. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of submission trends, decision timelines, and publication outcomes.

Submission volume and processing

For the period January 1 - December 31, 2024, the journal received 74 submissions, projecting to approximately 245 submissions annually (compared to the historical rate of 40/year). This represents a substantial increase in submission volume. Of these:

• Accepted submissions: 30 (46% of decided manuscripts)
• Declined submissions: 35 (54% of decided manuscripts)
  • Desk rejections: 15 (43% of all rejections)
  • Rejections after review: 20 (57% of all rejections)
• Published submissions: 32
• In progress/imported submissions: 0

The total number of decisions (65) relative to submissions (74) indicates efficient processing with few manuscripts remaining in the review pipeline at year's end.

Decision efficiency

The editorial process shows marked improvement in initial decision speed, though with longer timelines for final decisions:

• Days to the first editorial decision: 7 days (down from the historical 165 days)
• Days to accept: 167 days (down from historical 315 days)
• Days to reject: 167 days (down slightly from historical 174 days)

The dramatic reduction in time to the first decision (96% faster than the historical average) demonstrates a substantially improved initial screening process. Both acceptance and rejection decisions now occur within similar timeframes, suggesting standardized review cycles regardless of outcome.

Acceptance and rejection analysis

The current acceptance rate of 15% represents a significant decrease from the historical rate of 28%. Correspondingly, the rejection rate has increased dramatically from 24% to 85%. This shift appears across both initial and post-review stages:

• Desk reject rate: 34% (up from historical 12%)
• After review reject rate: 51% (up from historical 12%)

The higher rejection rates at both stages suggest the implementation of more stringent quality standards throughout the editorial process. The after-review rejection rate has seen the most dramatic increase, indicating tighter criteria applied by reviewers and editors.

Publication output

With 32 submissions published during this period compared to 30 acceptances, the journal has effectively managed its publication pipeline, potentially including some manuscripts accepted in the previous year.

Comparative metrics analysis

Several metrics warrant particular attention:

1. Submission volume: The nearly 6-fold increase in annual submissions (from 40/year to a projected 245/year) represents a dramatic change in journal visibility or positioning.

2. Processing efficiency: Despite the increased volume, first decisions are now made 96% faster (7 days vs. 165 days).

3. Overall selectivity: The combined rejection rate has more than tripled (85% vs. 24%), placing the journal among highly selective publications in its field.

Conclusion

The 2024 data reveals a journal in significant transition, with dramatically increased submission volumes, substantially faster initial processing, and much higher selectivity at all decision stages. These changes suggest a strategic repositioning toward a more competitive model. While impressive efficiency gains have been achieved, the sustainability of these improvements with continued high submission volumes should be closely monitored. The coming year will be critical in determining whether these trends represent a new equilibrium or a continuing evolution of the journal's profile.