Author Guidelines

Högskolepedagogisk debatt (Journal of Higher Education Pedagogy) is an open-access journal. It is free for everyone to read, download, copy, and share. Each author retains copyright and publishing rights for their contributions and agrees to publish them under the terms of the Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license. No submission or publication fees are charged.

Sections

As an author, you can choose which section you wish to write for. If you are uncertain or would like to discuss your ideas, feel free to contact the editorial team. For inspiration, we recommend browsing our previous issues, where you will find many useful examples.

Research Article (peer-reviewed): 1,500–5,000 words.
The paper should adopt a scholarly approach, with a clearly defined research question and an appropriate methodological description. It should engage with relevant academic literature and contribute to the development of knowledge in higher education. Examples include empirical studies, literature reviews, and theoretical or conceptual papers. We recommend following the IMRaD structure (Introduction, Method, Results, and Discussion). Articles are first reviewed by the editors and then undergo peer review. For more details, see the Editorial Guidelines.

Best practice: 500–3,000 words.
This type of contribution might describe successful teaching, tutoring or examination practices. The results should be evaluated and relevant to higher education.

Pedagogical reflection: 500–3,000 words.
This contribution starts from a specific challenge in teaching practice. The challenge is formulated as a research question, which is addressed through existing literature (typically 6–10 scholarly articles). The text may also include a small empirical investigation. The article should discuss the implications of the findings for teaching practice.

Dissemination of current research: 500–3,000 words.
This contribution is based on your own or others’ research related to higher education; for example, a summary of one or several research articles or a conference paper. The aim is to make new research on teaching and learning accessible to a broader audience.

Book Review: Maximum 800 words.
The review should summarize the book’s content, strengths and weaknesses, and explain its relevance for readers of Högskolepedagogisk debatt. Please contact the editors with your proposed book before writing your review.

Opinion piece: Maximum 800 words.
Opinion pieces should address current issues in higher education. Contributions with local, national, or international perspectives are welcome. The editors encourage responses to previously published opinion pieces.

Language, Format, and References

Manuscripts may be written in Swedish or English and should follow the format outlined in the journal’s template. References follow APA 7th edition. The word count excludes references.

For research articles, include an abstract (max. 300 characters) and 3–5 keywords at the beginning of the document.

Use of AI

If AI tools have been used in producing written, visual, or graphic elements, authors must disclose where and how these tools were used. For more information, see the Committee on Publication Ethics guidelines: Authorship and AI tools | COPE.

Acceptance Criteria

Högskolepedagogisk debatt publishes both peer-reviewed articles and other types of contributions. All submissions are reviewed and commented on by the editorial team. Research articles are sent for external peer review.

The editors will review the submission based on the following premises:

  • Potential to support pedagogical development in higher education
  • Clearly stated, and relevant, research question
  • Clearly written and well-organized text
  • Clear conclusions and/or reflective analysis

Assessment is based on the chosen type of contribution. Please remember to format your manuscript according to the journal’s template.