Bahir Dar Journal of Education is an Ethiopian peer-reviewed no-fee (Diamond) open access (OA) journal. Published twice a year by Bahir Dar University College of Education, the journal accepts submissions focused on education in general, and teaching and learning practices in particular, from all corners of the world. The journal has been accredited by the Ministry of Education and indexed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ).

In 2024 EIFL awarded Bahir Dar University a grant for a project  to strengthen the operations of the journal and raise its visibility; build editorial and review capacity; improve its technical base and develop and strengthen strategic partnerships. 

Timeline

October 2024 - September 2025

Project results

Strengthened editorial and peer review capacity

• Targeted training provided to 12 editors and 84 reviewers on topics such as editing, peer review and publishing ethics. Positive feedback after the training included appreciation for the improved quality of published articles, streamlined peer-review processes, and enhanced editorial support. 
• The journal’s editor-in-chief was also able to enhance his expertise by participating in workshops and conferences organized by other institutions in Ethiopia. 
• Expanded the journal’s pool of peer reviewers. 
  • The journal organized consultation forums with academic staff from different universities and recruited voluntary experts from diverse disciplines, expanding its reviewer pool and ensuring a broader range of perspectives and expertise.
  • Organized in-person and online workshops for peer reviewers that covered peer reviewing processes and criteria, research integrity, publication ethics and guidelines. The workshops attracted 84 participants.

Improved operational efficiency

The journal is now equipped with hardware and software, including  editing and plagiarism detection software, and has a reliable internet connection.  

Established partnerships with other Ethiopian educational institutions

The journal now has stronger and mutually beneficial partnerships with other educational institutions, for example - 

• The journal has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Kotebe Education University to collaborate on joint research and publications related to education and educational research
• The College of Education and Social Sciences at the University of Gondar has agreed to collaborate in reviewing BDJE journal articles, and BDJE will assist in establishing a new education journal for the University of Gondar’s department of education. 

Raised visibility and profile

In 2025 Bahir Dar Journal of Education became the first Ethiopian journal in the education field to be officially graded as an A-level national journal under a revised accreditation system introduced by the Ministry of Education. 

The journal received submissions from a more diverse range of African countries. “Specifically, for the first time, we received submissions from countries such as Ghana, Rwanda, and Tanzania, which suggests that outreach by the editorial team, including participation in conferences and workshops, and engagement with academic networks has begun to resonate across the continent,” said Mulugeta Yayeh Worku, project coordinator. 

Further information about the Bahir Dar Journal of Education.  OA-AFRICA-GRANTEE

The Bahir Dar University project is one of 33 that have received grant support through a three-year project to strengthen Diamond open access publishing in Africa implemented by EIFL, AJOL (African Journals Online) and WACREN (the West and Central African Research and Education Network), with funding from Wellcome.