Open Access Statement

The UM Policy Briefs is a fully open access publication. All briefs are freely available online immediately upon publication – no subscriptions, no registration, no paywalls. Authors retain copyright under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. The journal charges no article processing fees. Open access is supported by the University of Mindanao in furtherance of its commitment to public interest scholarship and evidence-based governance. 

Publishing Fees

UM Policy Briefs operates as a fully free, open access journal. There are no costs to authors at any stage.

Article Types

All submissions are policy briefs by nature. The following categories distinguish the primary orientation and format of each brief.

Standard Policy Brief
1,500 – 3,000 words

The core format of the journal. A focused, front-loaded brief presenting a clearly defined policy problem, a critique of current approaches, and specific actionable recommendations for a named decision-maker audience. Must include an executive summary of 1–2 paragraphs covering the problem, the case for change, and the recommended course of action (Tsai, 2006).

Issue Brief/ Situation Brief
1,000 – 2,000 words

A neutral synthesis of what is currently known about an emerging or rapidly evolving policy issue. Distils complex detail for a knowledgeable but time-constrained audience — including decision-makers, diplomats, journalists, and administrators. May include tables, graphs, or maps. Focuses on background, stakeholders, and likely future directions rather than a single recommended solution.

Advocacy Brief
1,500 – 2,000 words

A brief oriented toward broader advocacy initiatives targeting a wide but knowledgeable audience. Presents a clear position backed by evidence, identifies key actors and their interests, and provides a "how-to" argument for building public or institutional support for a policy recommendation. Must demonstrate practical and political feasibility.

Rapid Response Brief
800 – 1,500 words

A shorter, time-sensitive brief addressing an urgent policy development — a new law, a crisis event, a significant governance failure, or a major policy announcement. Eligible for expedited review (target: 3-week turnaround). Must establish urgency clearly and provide at least one concrete, immediately actionable recommendation.