Journal History

Historical Milestones of Dynamics of Rural Society Journal

Period 2023: Laying the Foundation of the Journal

  • Vol. 1, Issue 1, January 2023 and Vol. 1, Issue 2, July 2023)
    - In its inaugural issue, The Dynamics of Rural Society Journal focused on rural studies and societal dynamics in Indonesia.
    - With the publication of the first and second editions, we acknowledge that the management of this journal was far from perfect. We were still in the learning process and adjusting, much like a newborn taking its first steps. We recognize that there are many aspects that need improvement and refinement as we strive to ensure the journal's growth and development in the future.
    - During this period, all the articles were written by Indonesian authors from our university. Given that we were still in the early stages, there weren’t many authors from outside our university who were interested in or aware of this journal. This situation was challenging for us, and we realized that in order to build a quality journal, we needed to make significant efforts. Thus, we reached out and tried to persuade friends and colleagues from outside our university to submit their articles. Unfortunately, none of those we contacted were willing to submit their work. In the end, we had to rely on articles from friends and colleagues within our university. We acknowledge that achieving our ambitious goals requires much more effort and perseverance.

  • Editorial Process (Vol. 1, Issue 1, January 2023 and Vol. 1, Issue 2, July 2023)
    We must be honest that the editorial process during this period required considerable effort. We reached out to friends and colleagues from outside our university to invite them to serve as editors and reviewers, but out of those contacted, only two to three people agreed. As a result, we had to rely on reviewers and editors from within our university. Despite this, we are confident that these significant efforts, though challenging, will pay off in the future as the journal's reputation and credibility grow.

  • Indexing Achievements in 2023
    Through relentless effort and perseverance, throughout 2023, this journal successfully achieved indexing in several prominent databases, marking a significant milestone in our journey. This achievement is a testament to our commitment and dedication to enhancing the quality of the journal, as well as an important step in expanding its reach and recognition among academics and researchers. As a result of these efforts, the journal has been indexed in several renowned platforms, including:

  • Foundation for Academic Recognition (2023)
    These achievements laid the foundation for the growing recognition of the journal within academic circles.

Period 2024: Reaching a Major Milestone in International Recognition

  • New Leadership in 2024
    In 2024, Sahrain Bumulo assumed the role of Editor-in-Chief, succeeding Dondick Wicaksono Wiroto. Under this new leadership, the journal intensified its focus on international collaboration and scholarly excellence.

  • Minimum Reference Policy (January 2024)
    In Volume 2, Issue 1 (January 2024), the journal introduced a minimum reference policy, requiring each article to have at least 15 references to ensure robust and comprehensive scholarship.

  • Volume 2, Issue 1 (January 2024)
    This issue introduced a revamped article template to enhance visual appeal, readability, and overall design quality.

  • Efforts towards Internationalization and Global Collaboration in the Review Process
    In early 2024, we made efforts to expand our international collaboration network by reaching out to a number of academics and experts in the fields of Sociology and rural community studies from various countries. Approximately 20 academics and experts were contacted via email, and we are extremely proud and excited that three of them, from Australia, Malaysia, and Nigeria, agreed to serve as reviewers and assess our articles for publication in Volume 2, Issue 2, July 2024.

  • Vol. 2, Issue 2, July 2024
    In Volume 2, Issue 2, July 2024, our journal began involving international reviewers from various countries, including Australia, Nigeria, and Malaysia. This marked an important step in our efforts to improve the quality of the journal and broaden the international perspective in the peer-review process, ensuring that the articles published meet high academic standards.

  • Indexing in DOAJ (October 29, 2024)
    With unwavering determination and consistent efforts to continuously develop the journal, our hard work began to yield results. One milestone after another was achieved, and on October 29, 2024, the journal we managed reached a significant achievement. On that date, our journal was accepted and indexed by the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). This accomplishment is not only the result of the tireless efforts of our editorial team but also a clear demonstration that our dedication, commitment, and continuous efforts to enhance the quality of the journal have produced tangible and meaningful outcomes.

  • MoU Signing with APSSI (November 22, 2024)
    On November 22, 2024, the journal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of Sociology Study Programs in Indonesia (APSSI), facilitating the journal’s inclusion in the APSSI Journal Network.

  • Building Global Collaboration in the Review and Editorial Process
    Since being indexed in the DOAJ database in October 2024, we have made concerted efforts to expand our international collaboration network by reaching out to a number of academics and experts in the fields of Sociology and rural community studies from various countries. We invited these scholars, experts, and researchers to become part of the international editorial team and reviewer board. On a daily basis, we sent 100 emails to academics, experts, and researchers in the fields of Sociology and Rural Community Studies. Within a span of two months, approximately 15 academics, experts, and researchers from various countries agreed to join as editors, and 9 agreed to serve as reviewers (Malaysia, Australia, India, Philippines, Nigeria, Portugal, Spain, Sri Lanka, France, United Kingdom, Tanzania, Netherlands, Republic of Macedonia, United States, China, Canada).

Period 2025: Transformation Towards Global Standards in Publishing and Geographical Diversification

  • Vol. 3, Issue 1 (January 2025)

    • The journal began involving international reviewers from countries such as Australia, the Netherlands, the Republic of Macedonia, Nigeria, India, and Malaysia.
    • An international editorial board was established, consisting of members from Malaysia, Indonesia, Nigeria, and India.

  • Vol. 3, Issue 1 (January 2025)
    In this issue, the journal achieved significant geographical diversity among its contributors, who are writers and researchers from Indonesia, Nigeria, India, and China.

  • Volume 3, Issue 1 (January 2025)
    In this issue, further minor updates were made to maintain the journal's high standards and reader comfort.

  • Adoption of English as the Primary Language (January 2025)
    Starting from Volume 3, Issue 1 (January 2025), the journal transitioned to English as the primary language for publication, aligning with global academic standards and expanding its readership.

  • Volume 3, Issue 2 (In-Press July 2025)
    In this issue, the journal's geographical diversity among its writers has significantly increased, with contributors from Indonesia, Nigeria, Malaysia, and the Czech Republic.

Period 2026: Strengthening National Accreditation while Expanding Global Authorship and International Reputation

Sinta 2 Accreditation (March 2026)
In March 2026, Dynamics of Rural Society Journal was, for the first time, awarded the prestigious National Sinta 2 accreditation. This achievement represents a significant milestone in the journal’s journey, marking its recognition within Indonesia's academic community. The Sinta 2 accreditation, granted by Indonesia's Ministry of Education, Technology, and Research, acknowledges the journal’s sustained progress in adhering to national academic standards, including improvements in editorial processes, publishing practices, and the quality and diversity of its contributors.

The Sinta 2 recognition is a testament to the journal's hard work and commitment over the years, particularly during 2025, when international collaborations were intensified, and efforts to meet global standards in publishing and peer review were realized. This accreditation not only validates the journal's credibility within Indonesia but also enhances its standing in the global academic community, reflecting the journal’s reputation for high academic standards.

Expanding Global Author Diversity (2026)
Since its inception with Volume 1, Issue 1 (January 2023), the Dynamics of Rural Society Journal has made remarkable strides in broadening its international scope. As of the present Volume 4, Issue 2 (July 2026), the journal has attracted contributions from authors across 12 different countries: Netherlands, Czechia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Niger, Philippines, People’s Republic of China, South Africa, Sierra Leone, India, Nigeria, and Hungary. This geographical diversity reflects the journal’s growing appeal to scholars from different regions, enriching the discourse on rural society dynamics with a range of perspectives and research contexts.

The journal’s expanding global authorship is a direct result of the concerted efforts to foster international collaborations, particularly with experts and academics from various countries. This accomplishment underscores the journal's commitment to becoming a globally recognized platform for rural studies and community research.

Building a Stronger International Reputation
The awarding of the Sinta 2 accreditation in March 2026, alongside the increasing diversity of international contributors, has further bolstered the Dynamics of Rural Society Journal's reputation. As the journal continues to develop its editorial process, the involvement of scholars from various countries strengthens its international standing and academic influence. With over 76 international experts serving as part of the editorial and review boards from 28 different countries, the journal’s commitment to excellence and global collaboration is clearer than ever.

By embracing international authors and reviewers, the journal continues to refine its processes and enhance its academic integrity, ensuring that the articles published are of the highest quality and relevance to global academic discussions on rural society and its dynamics.