UACES publishes the JCER | Journal for Contemporary European Research, an online, free to access journal. The JCER is devoted to promoting original research and insightful debate in European Studies by publishing academic articles, research comments, policy analysis and book reviews across a number of disciplines (Law, Public Policy, International Relations, Economics, Sociology and the History of Integration).

The JCER also aims to provide a forum for post-graduates and early career researchers to learn about the publishing process and to see their work published alongside some of the top European Studies academics. All submitted articles are fully peer-reviewed by at least two academics within a relevant field of study.

Visit the JCER website
www.jcer.net

The JCER and UACES Student Forum are pleased to announce the 2nd Annual Research Article Competition. The competition is open to any postgraduate presenting a paper at the Annual UACES Student Forum Conference which is held each April (University of Salford, 2009). All submissions will have the opportunity to be published in the JCER and the top article will win a prize of £100.

The competition is intended to provide UACES Student Forum members with the opportunity to experience the publication process, including having their article undergo formal anonymous peer review.

 

Rules

 

1) Competition entrants must be a postgraduate student presenting at the UACES Student Forum Annual Conference in Salford on 27th-28th April 2009.

 

2) Competition entrants can be nominated by a panel chair or self nominate their paper.

 

3) Competition entrants should inform the JCER editor by email (eamonn.butler@jcer.net) no later than Monday 4th May 2009 that they will be entering the competition. This will allow the JCER to begin the process of obtaining referees for the articles.

 

4) Articles must be formally submitted to the JCER no later than Monday 1st June 2009 (this will give competition entrants/authors 5 weeks to refine their articles based on comments received at the UACES Student Forum Annual Conference). Submitted articles should adhere to the JCER stylistic requirements available at http://www.jcer.net.

 

5) All submitted papers will undergo standard JCER peer review with two anonymous referees providing comments. The JCER will aim to return these comments to the authors by Monday 13th July 2009. This will allow authors to undertake any necessary revisions based on the comments of the referees.

 

6) Participants should resubmit articles (should any changes be necessary) no later than Friday 18th September 2009. These articles will be officially entered into the final selection process where a panel made up of JCER Editorial Board, UACES Student Forum and UACES members will select the winning articles. Prizes will be announced/presented at the UACES European Studies Research Students’ Conference to be held in London on Monday 9 November 2009. The winning paper will be published in the March 2010 issue of the JCER. All other successfully reviewed articles (subject to the final decision of the JCER Editorial Board) will be published in either the March 2010 issue or the subsequent issue with a special mention of their highly commended status.

 

The winning article for the First Annual Research Article Competition was:

David J. Lutton – “The European Union, Financial Crises and the Regulation of Hedge Funds: A Policy Cul-de-Sac or Policy Window?”

David’s article was published in Volume 4: Issue 3 (2008) of the JCER and can be downloaded from the JCER website.

The UACES Student Forum encourages its members to consider contributing to the JCER. You can do this in a number of ways. The most important way is to submit a research article or a book review. Submissions for the JCER's general issues (March and September) are accepted all year round. The JCER also publishes two Special Issues each year (June and December). Individuals should check the announcements page of the JCER website for themes and deadlines for any current Call for Papers (CfP) for these special issues. Full details about submitting an article can be found on the JCER website. If you have an idea for a Special Issue or even a Special Section (3-4 articles on a single theme) of a JCER general issue then please contact the JCER Editor.

You can also get involved with the JCER by writing a book review. If you would like to join the JCER’s Book Reviewers list please send an email containing your name, institutional affiliation, contact details and three areas of research interest to the JCER Book Reviews Editor. The JCER is also currently looking for individuals with exceptional English language skills to help with proof-reading and copy-editing. If you would like to help with these essential tasks please contact the JCER Editor.

The JCER is a free resource and the UACES Student Forum hopes to keep it free for all of its members for the foreseeable future. You can help keep the JCER free by making sure that any books, CDs, DVDs or other goods that you buy from Amazon.co.uk are bought via the JCER Bookshop or by clicking on any Amazon link on the JCER Website. Every purchase that you make in this way means that the JCER will benefit from a small referral fee received from Amazon. This money is used to support the journal in terms of web-hosting, advertising and sponsorship of student events such as the UACES Student Forum’s Annual Conference.