ATHENS INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

 

ABSTRACT AND PAPER ACCEPTANCE POLICY

 

  1. ATINER’s conference organization, book publications, abstract acceptance policy and paper acceptance for publications in one of our books is consistent and aspires to serve our MISSION statement. Our mission is to make ATHENS a place where academics and researchers from all over the world meet to discuss the developments of their discipline and present their work. To serve this purpose, conferences are organized along the lines of well established and well defined scientific disciplines.  In addition, cross discipline conferences are also organized because they serve the mission statement of the Institute.
  2. We never organize conferences that emphasize a specific theme within one discipline. Our constitution does not permit the organization of such conferences. There are many such excellent conferences, most of them rotated around the world and around cities of the same geographical area. However, there are two exceptions to this policy. First, we can help other associations and organizations that want to organize a conference in Athens but this cannot be an annual permanent event. A good example is the conference on Brand Management we organized in 2009 on behalf of The Centre for Research in Brand Marketing with a leading role played by our Academic Member and Senior Lecturer at the University of Glasgow Dr. Cleopatra Veloutsou. Second, academic members can take the lead and organize a specific mini-conference as part of one of our general conferences. Successful examples are the mini conference on history as part of the Politics Conference organized by Nick Pappas, Professor of Sam Houston State University and the mini conference on the violence against women as part of the Sociology conference organized by Dr. Susan Caringella, Professor of Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA. Academic members of ATINER are welcome to take the lead and organize such mini conferences.
  3. Our abstract acceptance policy is based on three criteria (one is sufficient to be accepted):  (a) the academic credentials of the scholar (b) his/her institutional affiliation and (c) Ph.D. Students wishing to present part of their doctoral thesis. An effort is made to keep a weighted balance of all three categories, both countries and level of academic career of the contributor (Ph.D. Students, Researchers, Lecturers, Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, Professors, etc). If none of these conditions are met, then a proposal is evaluated based on the entire paper. In the latter case, we ask for paper submission. In this case, the paper is accepted for presentation NOT for publication. An effort is made to have researchers from as many countries as possible. Preferences are given to non-Greek institutional affiliates. The Institute organizes a number of events and conferences in the Greek language where Greeks from Greece can present their work. Greeks from Greece are more than welcome to chair sessions and help us with editing and reviewing the papers to be presented and published, pending that they have the academic credentials to do so.
  4. Acceptance to present DOES NOT guarantee publication. All papers submitted are evaluated according to standard methods of independent blind review process by two referees. It is then up to the editor to decide what paper will be included in his/her volume. Rejection by a specific editor is not the final word. Another editor might find the work of interest and suitable for his/her book. We do not publish conference proceedings as such. Books are published based on papers presented at any of our conferences, if they form a common theme. Conferences are not thematic but books can be drawn from a very specific area of research.
  5. All papers presented at our conferences are blindly peer reviewed by at least two independent reviewers. Reviewers are selected among the academic members of the Institute and non-related to Institute academics and researchers. An attempt is made to homogenize the review process and reviewers decisions are based on (a) Research Design, (b) Theoretical Background (c) Review of the Relevant Literature (d) Significance of Themes (e) Relevance of Themes (f) Clarity and Communication of Arguments Presented (g) Clarity of Conclusions and (h) Overall Quality of Analysis. In cases that the 2 referees have different opinions, the editor decides whether the paper is accepted or rejected.
  6. All our books are produced after the conference and they can take from a few weeks up to two years to appear. Contributors receive an electronic version of their paper. Each editor receives one complimentary copy of the book.
  7. Rarely do we publish book-length manuscripts. In this case part of the cost must be covered by the author(s). Upon receipt of proposals or manuscripts, the materials may be sent to two external referees, and their comments are then consulted, and a decision is arrived at, for publication. If a work is approved for publication, we begin the publishing process by producing proofs. When proofs are approved by the author, we send the book to press. Printing takes from one to three months. The book is listed in a number of databases including Bibliographic Data Services which offers the Greek national Library cataloguing in publication service. Flyers are sent to all major and specialised libraries as well as to specialist bookshops.

 

If you have any inquiries, suggestions or need further information please send us and email at atiner@atiner.gr

 

 

Return to ATINER’s Homepage

Return to Book Publications Catalogue

Return to Research Divisions & Units