Ownership and Governance
OWNERSHIP
Sinología Hispánioca - China Studies Review is a biannual, open-access academic publication created by the Confucius Institute of the University of León. It is open to all research work in the area of China studies and the New Sinology (linguistics, literature, translation, teaching, culture, history, etc.) with the aim of strengthening an academic and interdisciplinary space for inquiry, discussion, and debate on the New Sinology.
Its ownership and governance structure is designed to guarantee editorial independence and transparency in management.
The Publications Service of the University of León is responsible for its strategic development and is recognized as the owner of the title and assigned ISSN - ISSNe.
The ownership of the journal does not interfere with editorial decisions, guaranteeing the academic and scientific freedom of its authors, reviewers, and editors. The intellectual property rights over the published content belong to the authors, who grant non-exclusive exploitation rights (reproduction, distribution, public communication, and transformation) to the University of León. Therefore, they may separately establish additional agreements for the non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in the journal (for example, hosting it in an institutional repository or publishing it in a book), with acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
The University of León is a Spanish public academic institution, and among the services it provides is the publication of scientific journals. The selection and operation of this journal are governed by Article 34 of the Publications Service Regulations.
GOVERNANCE
The governance of the journal is exercised based on the structure declared in the Editorial Team section and aims to establish its strategy, coordinate and supervise its proper functioning, and ensure its correct development under principles of scientific integrity (See Code of Ethics).
Transparency and Accountability
The journal operates under an open access policy/Creative Commons License (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License) and is committed to providing clear information about its publication criteria, funding (if any), and any institutional relationships that may influence its content. Any changes in the ownership or governance structure will be communicated to authors, reviewers, and readers to maintain the trust and integrity of the journal.
Protocol for Editorial Board Selection & Renewal
The editorial board of Sinologia Hispanica, China Studies Review includes 39 members from 9 countries, with 49% female representation (consists of 19 women and 20 men).
1.Composition Criteria
Members are selected based on:
- Academic expertise (e.g., H-index, publications in the journal’s field);
- Geographic/institutional diversity (balanced representation across regions);
- Editorial experience (prior roles in peer-reviewed journals);
2.Nomination & Appointment
1) Open call for nominations (via journal website) + direct invitations by the Editor-in-Chief.
2) Candidates reviewed by the current Editorial Board, with final approval by the Publisher.
3) Formal appointment letter specifying roles/term length.
3.Term Length
Initial term: 3 years (renewable once upon mutual agreement).
Maximum continuous service: 6 years (after which a 2-year hiatus is required).
4.Renewal Process
Assessment criteria:
Active participation (e.g., reviewing ≥2 manuscripts/year, attending board meetings).
Continued academic relevance (recent publications in the field).
Decision: Renewal proposed by Editor-in-Chief, voted by the board.
5. Dissolution/Termination
Voluntary resignation (with 3-month notice).
Automatic removal if: Inactivity for 12 months; ethical violations (COPE guidelines apply).
