Author Guidelines

1. About the Journal

The Bhutan Journal of Research and Development (BJRD) is a peer-reviewed academic journal published twice a year by the Royal University of Bhutan through the Office of the Vice Chancellor. Since its establishment in 2012, the journal has served as a platform for promoting scholarly research and intellectual discourse related to Bhutan and broader regional and global issues.

BJRD encourages the publication of original and high-quality research across diverse disciplines, including the social sciences, humanities, education, natural sciences, biological sciences, environmental studies, governance, development studies, and interdisciplinary fields. The journal seeks to support knowledge creation, informed policymaking, and academic engagement that contribute to national and global development.

2. Scope of the Journal

Bhutan Journal of Research and Development is an open-access, print, and peer-reviewed journal published biannually, in May and November, by the Royal University of Bhutan through the Office of the Vice Chancellor. The journal is abbreviated as BJRD.

BJRD offers a platform to publish a wide range of papers in English across education, humanities, social and natural sciences. The journal welcomes a diverse range of scholarly contributions, including theoretical and empirical research papers, review articles, research notes, short communications, and book reviews that contribute to knowledge generation, inform policy, and support national and regional development.

The journal follows a double blind peer review process. Its primary, but not exclusive, audience includes scholars, academicians, policymakers, graduate students, and others interested in research and scholarship relevant to Bhutan.

3. Categories of Manuscripts

The journal accepts the following types of submissions:

Original Research Articles: These include empirical, conceptual, theoretical, qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods studies that offer a meaningful contribution to existing scholarship.

Review Articles: Critical reviews, systematic reviews, scoping reviews, and literature-based analyses that synthesise existing knowledge and identify future research directions.

Short Communications and Research Notes: Brief scholarly reports presenting preliminary findings, innovative ideas, methodological reflections, or emerging research issues.

Book Reviews: Analytical and scholarly reviews of recently published books relevant to the journal’s focus and readership.

4. Submission Conditions

Authors submitting manuscripts to BJRD must ensure that:

  • the work is original and has not been published previously;
  • the manuscript is not under consideration by another journal;
  • all authors have reviewed and approved the submission;
  • all information and data presented are accurate and ethically obtained; and
  • the manuscript follows the journal’s formatting and referencing requirements.
  • All submissions should be made through the official BJRD submission portal.

    The Editorial Board reserves the right to decline manuscripts that fall outside the journal’s scope or fail to meet academic, ethical, or formatting expectations.
  1. Manuscript Preparation

  Authors should prepare manuscripts in accordance with the most recent edition of the American Psychological Association (APA) Publication Manual.

  1. Formatting Requirements
  2. Manuscripts should:
  • be submitted in Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx);
  • use Times New Roman font, size 12;
  • be double-spaced throughout;
  • maintain one-inch margins on all sides;
  • include line number;
  • include page numbers in the bottom-right corner; and
  • use clear and consistent headings and subheadings.
  1. Research articles should normally range between 4,500 to 5,000 words, excluding the abstract, references, appendices, and title pages.
  2. Components of the Manuscript
  3. Title Page

The title page must be submitted separately to maintain anonymity during peer review. It should include:

  • title of the manuscript;
  • name(s) of author(s);
  • institutional affiliation(s);
  • mailing address;
  • email address;
  • contact number;
  • ORCID for all authors; and
  • acknowledgement or funding information where applicable.

The corresponding author should be clearly identified.

  1. Author Biography
  • Authors should provide a brief biography of no more than 80 to 100 words. The biography should be submitted separately from the anonymised manuscript.
  • Abstract

Each manuscript must include an abstract between 150 to 200 words summarising the purpose, methodology, key findings, and significance of the study.

  1. Keywords

Authors should provide five keywords right next to the abstract, arranged in alphabetical order.

  1. Main Text

The organisation of the manuscript may vary according to the nature of the study. However, research articles generally include:

  • Introduction
  • Literature Review
  • Methodology
  • Findings or Results
  • Discussion
  • Conclusion
  • Recommendations or Implications
  • References
  1. Peer Review Process

BJRD follows a double-blind peer review system. Both authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the review process.

To support anonymous review, authors must ensure that:

  • names and affiliations are removed from the main manuscript;
  • acknowledgements are excluded from the review copy; and
  • identifying details are removed from document properties and metadata.
  • All submissions undergo an initial editorial screening before being sent for peer review.
  1. Publication Ethics

BJRD is committed to maintaining high standards of academic integrity and ethical publishing practices.

Authors are expected to:

  • present original work honestly and accurately;
  • avoid plagiarism, fabrication, and falsification of data;
  • acknowledge all sources appropriately;
  • obtain ethical approval where necessary; and
  • protect the confidentiality and rights of research participants.

For research involving human participants, authors should clearly indicate that informed consent was obtained and that appropriate ethical procedures were followed.

  1. Similarity and Plagiarism Screening

Submitted manuscripts will be checked for plagiarism using plagiarism detection software. Manuscripts showing substantial similarity with previously published work or evidence of unethical publication practices may be rejected without review.

  1. Authorship

Only individuals who have made substantial scholarly contributions to the study should be listed as authors.

All authors should have participated in:

  • the development or design of the study;
  • data collection, analysis, or interpretation;
  • drafting or revising the manuscript; and
  • approval of the final version.

The corresponding author is responsible for communication with the journal throughout the submission and publication process.

  1. Conflict of Interest

Authors should disclose any financial, institutional, professional, or personal relationships that could influence the research or interpretation of findings.

Where no conflict exists, authors may state:

“The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.”

  1. Funding Information

Any financial support, grants, sponsorships, or institutional assistance received for the research should be acknowledged clearly in the manuscript.

 

  1. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

Authors who use artificial intelligence tools for purposes such as language editing, transcription, translation, or formatting assistance should disclose this appropriately where relevant.

AI tools cannot be recognised as authors. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, interpretation, and integrity of the manuscript.

  1. Data Availability

Authors are encouraged to include a statement explaining the availability of research data. Examples include:

  • data available upon reasonable request;
  • publicly accessible datasets and repositories; or
  • restrictions due to ethical or confidentiality considerations.
  1. Tables, Figures, and Illustrations

Tables and figures should be clear, appropriately labelled, and directly relevant to the manuscript.

Authors should ensure that:

  • tables and figures are numbered consecutively;
  • titles for tables appear above the table;
  • captions for figures appear above the figure;
  • all visuals are referred to in the text; and
  • sources are acknowledged where necessary.

Images and graphics should be submitted in high-quality formats such as JPG or PNG.

  1. Referencing Style

BJRD uses APA referencing style. Authors must, therefore, ensure that:

  • every in-text citation appears in the reference list;
  • all references are complete and accurate; and
  • DOI information is included where available.

 

  1. Language and Writing Quality

Manuscripts should be written in clear, professional, and academically appropriate English. Authors are encouraged to proofread their work carefully before submission to ensure clarity, coherence, grammatical accuracy, and consistency in formatting and referencing.

Poorly prepared manuscripts may be returned to authors before review.

 

  1. Revision Process

Authors may be requested to revise their manuscripts following peer review. Revised submissions should include:

  • a clean revised manuscript; and
  • a response document explaining how reviewer comments were addressed.

 

Failure to submit revisions within the specified timeframe may result in withdrawal of the manuscript from consideration.

 

  1. Copyright and Permissions

Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce copyrighted materials, including images, tables, figures, and lengthy quotations where necessary.

 

Submission to BJRD indicates that authors agree to comply with the journal’s publication policies.

 

  1. Disclaimer

The opinions and interpretations expressed in published articles are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Editorial Board, the Office of the Vice Chancellor, or the Royal University of Bhutan.

 

  1. Submission Checklist

Before submission, authors should ensure that:

  • the manuscript aligns with the scope of BJRD;
  • the manuscript is original and unpublished;
  • APA formatting and referencing guidelines have been followed;
  • the review copy is anonymised;
  • the abstract and keywords are included;
  • tables and figures are properly formatted;
  • ethical approval information is included where relevant;
  • conflict of interest and funding statements are provided;
  • a cover letter is included;
  • author biography of 80 to 100 words is included;
  • ORCID for all authors is provided; and
  • the manuscript has been carefully proofread.