Scotland’s Tertiary Enhancement Programme (STEP) is pleased to support this special College Edition of the Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice (JPAAP).
STEPping over the threshold and beyond – supporting diverse learner journeys across colleges and universities
Nearly two years on from the launch of Scotland’s Tertiary Enhancement Programme, we are delighted (alongside CDN and QAA Scotland) to invite contributions to a new Special Issue.
We are particularly keen to hear from colleagues working in Further Education colleges, where innovative, relationship-centred, and practice-led work are central to supporting diverse learner journeys. Whether your work is based in the classroom, support services, partnership projects, or community engagement, your experiences and insights are highly valued.
This Special Issue offers an opportunity to showcase on the rich, collaborative work happening across colleges and universities, deepening our shared understanding of diverse learner journeys across the tertiary sector.
We welcome a wide range of contribution styles
We recognise that valuable insights don’t always sit neatly within traditional academic papers. We therefore strongly encourage submissions in accessible and practice-focused formats, including:
- Reflective pieces or practitioner stories
- Case studies from your own context
- Practice reports or project evaluations
- Storytelling approaches grounded in experience
- Digital or creative artefacts (e.g. multimedia, visual or narrative formats)
- Collaborative pieces with students or partners
If you have something to share about what works, what you’ve learned, or what you are still exploring, we would love to hear from you.
Themes of interest
Contributions might explore (but are not limited to):
- Supporting diverse learner journeys in FE and across transitions
- Building inclusive and welcoming learning environments
- Curriculum and assessment approaches that work in practice
- Student–staff partnerships and co-creation
- Staff collaboration, engagement, and professional learning
- Social justice and widening participation in education
Above all, we are interested in real-world practice, partnership working, and impact on learners.
Submitting your proposal
- Proposals should be up to 300 words
- Include 5 keywords
- Tell us clearly what you did, what you learned, and why it matters
- You do not need to write in a highly academic style—clarity and authenticity are encouraged
Submit by: 24 June 2026
Email: C.Cunningham@napier.ac.uk
Use the proposal form available here: https://jpaap.ac.uk/JPAAP/information/authors
Please also include a short bio (50 words) for each author.
Key dates
- Notification of outcome: 8 July 2026
- Full submission deadline: 31 October 2026
- Publication: May 2027
Got a question or want to talk through an idea?
We warmly welcome informal conversations, especially from colleagues who may be new to publishing or unsure if their work ‘fits.’
Contact: Catriona Cunningham (JPAAP Editorial Team) C.Cunningham@napier.ac.uk
Your voice matters and we look forward to hearing your story.
