Journal profile
Zeitschrift fur Weiterbildungsforschung Report
ISSN 2364-0014 · eISSN 2364-0022 · SpringerOpen · Germany · 3 issues per year
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Zeitschrift fur Weiterbildungsforschung Report: fully open access; APC about USD 1,990; median 174 days to acceptance (60 articles, last 24 months); 25 articles in 2025.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Zeitschrift fur Weiterbildungsforschung Report is published by SpringerOpen. By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Adult and Continuing Education Topics, Vocational Education and Training and Higher Education Learning Practices, together about 52.9% of its articles. Its main subfields are Education. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Zeitschrift für Weiterbildungsforschung (ZfW) – Journal for Research on Adult Education is a leading academic journal for high-quality original research of adult and continuing education. It was launched in the 1970s as the first and only German academic journal dedicated exclusively to all aspects of adult learning. Since 2015, ZfW has been published as a fully Open Access journal with the editorial infrastructure being provided by German Institute for Adult Education – Leibniz Centre for Lifelong Learning (DIE).Supporting the dialogue between all associated disciplines involved in adult and continuing education, the journal specifically contributes to the integration of German adult education in the international context. All original articles undergo a double-blind peer review process in accordance with international standards. The journal publishes three issues per year.While the journal primarily publishes German-language research, the editorial board explicitly welcomes manuscripts submitted in English by authors from around the world.Article Publication Charges/APCsAs of January 1, 2021, Zeitschrift für Weiterbildungsforschung (ZfW) – Journal for Research on Adult Education as a Fully Open Access journal participates in the German Publish and Read licensing agreement DEAL between Springer Nature and "Projekt DEAL". Over 900 participating German universities and research institutions cover the Article Publication Charge (APC) for the publication of an Open Access Article by their researchers, who are the corresponding authors of the article. German Institute for Adult Education – Leibniz Centre for Lifelong Learning (DIE) provides financial support to aid any authors who require assistance with the APC for their manuscript. If your affiliation does not participate in DEAL or other Open Access Agreements, please confirm the Deutsches Institut für Erwachsenenbildung (DIE) as your institution, and not your primary institution, after acceptance during the publication process. The DIE supports authors from countries or institutions that do not participate in OA Agreements by covering the APC. Please do not hesitate to contact the editorial office if you have any questions about funding opportunities. More information can be found here. No further fees are charged for the submission and processing of articles.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Editorial board by country: none in mainland China; most named Germany 10, Switzerland 2, United States 1, United Kingdom 1, Austria 1 (18 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Adult and Continuing Education TopicsSocial Sciences31.8%
- Vocational Education and TrainingSocial Sciences12%
- Higher Education Learning PracticesSocial Sciences9.2%
- Education Systems and PolicySocial Sciences6.8%
- Innovative Education and Learning PracticesSocial Sciences4%
- Global Educational Policies and ReformsSocial Sciences3.9%
- Human Resource Development and Performance EvaluationPsychology3.3%
- Sociology and Education StudiesSocial Sciences2.8%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Not covered
Not covered by this edition.
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Not covered
Not covered by this edition.
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Not covered
Not covered by this edition.
Database indexing
DOAJLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSSPublisher website
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
- h-index
- 16OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 46OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 0.68OpenAlex ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 0%LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 184,900Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 383 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 35 | 35 | 203 |
| 2025 | 25 | 25 | 194 |
| 2024 | 36 | 36 | 171 |
| 2023 | 32 | 32 | 293 |
| 2022 | 35 | 35 | 143 |
| 2021 | 23 | 23 | 109 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
174 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 151 days – 194 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 31 days (68 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 207 days
- Sample
- 60 articles with submission and acceptance dates (67 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 9 weeksLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 38 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to publication (journal-reported)
- about 9 weeksDOAJ ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewDOAJ
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Fully open accessDOAJ
Every article is open access; authors usually pay an article processing charge (APC).
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOAJ | EUR 1,460 / USD 1,990 / GBP 1,190 | Yes | CC BY | |
| OpenAlex | USD 1,890 / EUR 1,390 / GBP 1,140 | — | — | |
| LetPub | GBP 1,090 / USD 1,790 / EUR 1,340 | Yes | — | |
| Publisher website | Yes, amount not published | — | — |
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers4, by deadline
- Political Education / Politische BildungDeadline
- Research Methods and Methodology - Adult Education Research between Innovation & Continuity / Forschungsmethoden und -methodologie - Weiterbildungsforschung zwischen Innovation & KontinuitätDeadline
- Science Studies in Adult Education / Wissenschaftsforschung zur ErwachsenenbildungDeadline
- Open CallDeadline
What to prepare4 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Reference style
- APA
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
Article types accepted8
- book reviewSchwerpunkt: double-blind peer-reviewed Original Papers commissioned by the editorial board. Includes an introductory contribution "Im Fokus". Max. 50,000 chara…Length not stated
- editorialSchwerpunkt: double-blind peer-reviewed Original Papers commissioned by the editorial board. Includes an introductory contribution "Im Fokus". Max. 50,000 chara…Length not stated
- forumForum: unsolicited double-blind peer-reviewed Original Papers. Max. 50,000 characters (incl. spaces and bibliography).Length not stated
- hypothesisSchwerpunkt: double-blind peer-reviewed Original Papers commissioned by the editorial board. Includes an introductory contribution "Im Fokus". Max. 50,000 chara…Length not stated
- neue bücher aus der weiterbildungsforschungNeue Bücher aus der Weiterbildungsforschung: book reviews commissioned by the editorial board. Max. 4.000 characters.Length not stated
- original paperSchwerpunkt: double-blind peer-reviewed Original Papers commissioned by the editorial board. Includes an introductory contribution "Im Fokus". Max. 50,000 chara…Length not stated
- reviewSchwerpunkt: double-blind peer-reviewed Original Papers commissioned by the editorial board. Includes an introductory contribution "Im Fokus". Max. 50,000 chara…Length not stated
- schwerpunktSchwerpunkt: double-blind peer-reviewed Original Papers commissioned by the editorial board. Includes an introductory contribution "Im Fokus". Max. 50,000 chara…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review
- AI use Generative AI Images
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Illustration must be enclosed in separate files (possible formats: jpg, eps, tif). Please mark the designated position in the text. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship principles
4 to 6 keywords Model summary
These guidelines describe authorship principles and good authorship practices to which prospective authors should adhere to. Authorship clarified The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Competing Interests
Authors are requested to disclose interests that are directly or indirectly related to the work submitted for publication. Interests within the last 3 years of beginning the work (conducting the research and preparing the work for submission) should be reported. Interests outside the 3-year time frame must be disclosed if they could reasonably be perceived as influencing the submitted work. Disclo…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability
Research data policy Model summary
We encourage research data to be archived in data repositories wherever possible.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics
Originality and co-author approval Model summary
Submission of a manuscript implies: that the work described has not been published before; that it is not under consideration for publication anywhere else; that its publication has been approved by all co-authors, if any, as well as by the responsible authorities – tacitly or explicitly – at the institute where the work has been carried out.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright Transfer
Copyright/licensing Model summary
Mit der Annahme des Artikels wird der Autor um Übertragung des Copyrights (bzw. das ausschließliche, räumlich und zeitlich uneingeschränkte Recht zur Publikation und zum Vertrieb) an den Verlag gebeten. Die Zeitschrift sowie alle in ihr enthaltenen einzelnen Beiträge und Abbildungen sind urheberrechtlich geschützt. Für Open Choice Artikel bleibt das Copyright beim Autor, wobei die Bedingungen der …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
DEAL agreement participation Model summary
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Zeitschrift für Weiterbildungsforschung, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Double-blind peer review
Double-blind peer review Model summary
This journal follows a double-blind reviewing procedure. This means that the author will remain anonymous to the reviewers throughout peer review. It is the responsibility of the author to anonymize the manuscript and any associated materials. Author names, affiliations and any other potentially identifying information should be removed from the manuscript text and any accompanying files (such as …
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Before you submit
Five checks before submitting to Zeitschrift fur Weiterbildungsforschung Report
- 1ScopeRecent output centres on Adult and Continuing Education Topics, Vocational Education and Training.Check scope
- 2Article type and formatAbstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Reference style: APA.Author guidelines ↗
- 3English languagePolish grammar and academic style before you submit: it lowers the risk of rejection for language and improves your chances of acceptance.
- 4FeesEUR 1,460 (DOAJ), waivers availableFee details
- 5Expected review time174 days · Median, submission to acceptance · 60 articles, last 24 months · CrossrefReview data
The checks are built from this page's data.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- SpringerOpen
- Country or region
- Germany
- Language
- English, German
- Frequency
- 3 issues per year
- ISSN
- 2364-0014
- Electronic ISSN
- 2364-0022
- Latest issue on the website
- Volume 49, Issue 1 (April 2026)
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Author guidelines ↗DOAJ
- Aims & Scope ↗DOAJ
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
- APC information ↗DOAJ
- Fee waivers ↗DOAJ
- Open access statement ↗DOAJ
- License & copyright ↗DOAJ
- Peer review process ↗DOAJ
- Editorial board ↗DOAJ
- Plagiarism policy ↗DOAJ
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Zeitschrift fur Weiterbildungsforschung Report
How long does peer review take at Zeitschrift fur Weiterbildungsforschung Report?
Based on the dates recorded on 60 articles published between November 2024 and November 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 174 days (interquartile range 151–194 days); authors report an average review time of about 9 weeks. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Zeitschrift fur Weiterbildungsforschung Report?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Reference style: APA; Suggested reviewers: Optional. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Zeitschrift fur Weiterbildungsforschung Report based?
Of the 18 board members whose country the journal's board page names, none are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Germany (10), Switzerland (2) and United States (1). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Zeitschrift fur Weiterbildungsforschung Report?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Zeitschrift fur Weiterbildungsforschung Report is indexed in DOAJ.
Is Zeitschrift fur Weiterbildungsforschung Report open access, and what is the APC?
Zeitschrift fur Weiterbildungsforschung Report is a fully open-access journal. APC about USD 1,990.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, DOAJ, Publisher website; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .