The journal will accept contributions that address topics such as the following:

• distance-learning students' needs and justification of support services in open and distance education
• innovative services to promote student retention, performance, and occupational guidance
• the role of technologies for student support services - possibilities and limits
• successful and relevant experiences of student-support services in distance-learning higher-education institutions.

Research articles (approx. 5,000 words) may focus on theoretical foundations, concepts, analysis, and results of studies regarding student-support services in open and distance education. Topics areas include students' needs in distance education; need for student-support services; overview or comparative analysis of services with a focus on innovative and effective ones; evaluation of student support services; support services for entry and first-year students; services for after completion of distance-learning programs; use of technologies for students' support; etc.

Innovative practice articles (approx. 3,000 words) may provide a description and analysis of concrete innovative and effective experiences of student-support services in open and distance education. Among topic areas of interest are information services, guidance and counseling, library services, retention programs, student-support services based on technologies, e-mentoring, peer-to-peer support services, etc.

Papers must comprise a section devoted to analysis and evaluation of difficulties, opportunities, outcomes, limits, benefits, etc. of experiences and research projects related to student-support services in open, distance, and flexible education.

In addition to the articles for the special theme, contributions are also invited on other topics that fall within the sphere of interest of the journal, i.e. research and innovation in open, distance, and flexible education.

Deadline for submission is 30 October 2013.