Becoming an Effective Peer Reviewer for Doctoral Students and Emerging Researchers

A seminar was held on December 1 to equip students with the foundational skills necessary for conducting rigorous and constructive academic peer reviews. Dr Maxwell Ho Chun Sing from EdUHK’s Department of Education Policy and Leadership began the session by stressing that peer review is integral to scholarly publishing, as it safeguards the quality of research before its dissemination.

Dr Ho introduced the core principles of good reviewing, including timeliness, confidentiality, and expertise alignment. He then unpacked the review process step by step, from the initial read-through to decision guidance and writing professional reviews.

Participants gained a clear understanding of what makes a high-quality review, from aligning with the journal’s scope and ethical standards to providing feedback that is specific, actionable, and respectful.

The seminar concluded with practical takeaways, including reviewer checklists and journal resources to support students’ academic growth, as well as an open invitation to join the EISFL Journal reviewer community.

Dr HO Chun Sing Maxwell Associate Co-Director,

Academy for Educational Development and Innovation Assistant Professor,

Department of Education Policy and Leadership

The Education University of Hong Kong