Submitting a paper to an EI-indexed conference is a competitive process that involves stringent peer review. Understanding the workflow and criteria used in the evaluation process can help authors improve their chances of acceptance.

This guide provides a detailed overview of the typical paper review process for EI conferences, from submission to final decision.

1. The EI Conference Paper Review Workflow

A. Paper Submission

Authors submit their manuscripts via the conference's official submission platform (e.g., EasyChair, Microsoft CMT).

• Key Elements Submitted:
  • Manuscript in the required format (PDF or Word).
  • Abstract, title, keywords, and author details.
  • Supporting documents (e.g., copyright forms).

B. Preliminary Screening

The conference committee conducts an initial review to ensure compliance with submission guidelines.

• Criteria:
  • Formatting and template adherence.
  • Relevance to the conference themes and scope.
  • Plagiarism check using tools like Turnitin.
• Outcome: Papers failing to meet requirements are desk-rejected.

C. Assignment to Reviewers

Papers that pass the preliminary screening are assigned to expert reviewers within the field.

• Reviewer Selection: Based on expertise and familiarity with the paper's topic.
• Number of Reviewers: Typically, each paper is reviewed by 2–3 reviewers.

D. Peer Review

The core of the evaluation process involves detailed assessment by reviewers.

• Review Criteria:
  • Originality: Novelty of the research contribution.
  • Relevance: Alignment with conference topics and EI standards.
  • Methodology: Soundness and clarity of research methods.
  • Significance: Potential impact and importance of findings.
  • Clarity: Quality of writing, organization, and presentation.
• Feedback Provided:
  • Comments on strengths and weaknesses.
  • Suggestions for improvement or major revisions.
  • Final recommendation (accept, minor revision, major revision, or reject).

E. Reviewer Meeting or Consensus Building

In some conferences, reviewers discuss papers to resolve conflicting recommendations.

• Goal: Achieve consensus on the paper’s overall quality and suitability for acceptance.

F. Decision Notification

Authors receive official notification regarding the status of their submission.

• Possible Outcomes:
  1. Accepted: Paper is accepted as-is or with minor edits.
  2. Conditional Acceptance: Revisions are required before final acceptance.
  3. Rejected: Paper does not meet the standards for publication.

2. Post-Acceptance Steps

A. Camera-Ready Submission

Accepted authors must submit the final, revised version of their manuscript.

• Requirements:
  • Incorporation of reviewer feedback.
  • Compliance with formatting and quality standards.

B. Registration Confirmation

Authors need to register for the conference to present their paper.

C. Inclusion in Proceedings

After successful presentation, the paper is published in the conference proceedings and indexed in EI Compendex.

3. Tips to Succeed in the Review Process

A. Write a Strong Manuscript

• Ensure your paper has a clear research question, solid methodology, and impactful results.

B. Follow Guidelines Strictly

• Adhere to formatting and submission rules outlined by the conference.

C. Address Reviewers’ Feedback

• Take reviewer comments seriously and revise your paper thoroughly.

D. Proofread and Edit

• Ensure your paper is free from grammatical errors, typos, and formatting issues.

Conclusion

The EI conference paper review process is designed to ensure high-quality research contributions. By understanding this workflow and meeting the outlined expectations, you can increase the likelihood of your paper being accepted.

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