There’s a moment that changes how a student sees themselves. 

It’s not when they pass an exam, or even when they graduate.

It’s when they realise: “I’ve created knowledge that others can learn from”.

That’s the purpose behind the IDEA Journal of Applied Research (IDEA JAR), our in-house, multidisciplinary, international, peer-reviewed, open-access scientific journal (ISSN 2958-3691), issued both in print and online formats.

A journal built for applied research, not just theory

IDEA JAR exists for one reason: to push research beyond the classroom and into the real world.

Its stated aim is clear: to advance and disseminate research that supports high-level science while promoting the intersection between academia and practice for human progress. The journal particularly emphasises application-oriented work in sustainability, emerging technologies, innovation and social responsibility. This is the kind of research that can influence practice and strategic decision-making.

This matters greatly as Malta doesn’t need more “research for shelf space”. It needs research that can be used by organisations, professionals, educators and policy makers.

A multidisciplinary platform that reflects how the world actually works

Real problems don’t show up neatly labelled as “health”, “technology” or “management”; they overlap, collide and demand interdisciplinary thinking.

IDEA JAR embraces research across a broad scope, including education, economy, management, finance, digital technologies, health, engineering, information sciences, earth sciences and social & humanitarian sciences.

I invite you to look through the published volumes and see this diversity in action: studies spanning healthcare practice, education systems, technology in care settings, community well-being, and decision-making under pressure.

A journal that is recognised in Index Copernicus

For any academic journal, visibility is part of credibility; it signals that the publication is operating in the wider research ecosystem. IDEA JAR is listed within Index Copernicus’ journal system, where published articles and journal details are searchable and associated with the journal’s ISSN (2958-3691), country/language and publisher. https://journals.indexcopernicus.com/search/details?id=130359 

Free to publish for IDEA students & faculty

One of the biggest barriers in publishing is cost. Many open-access journals charge authors substantial fees, making publishing feel out of reach unless you have institutional backing.

IDEA JAR flips that: publication is free for IDEA College students and faculty, with an article processing fee applying to external authors and institutions.

The real pride: giving high-performing students a platform

This is the heart of it.

IDEA JAR is where our high-performing students move from being consumers of knowledge to contributors. They learn what it means to defend a methodology, structure an argument, engage with literature and write for a real academic audience. That capability doesn’t just help in academia; it makes graduates sharper in the workplace. They become better at evidence, making decisions and thinking under uncertainty.

“A high-performing education isn’t only about passing assessments; it’s about producing people who can question, investigate and build new knowledge responsibly. The IDEA Journal of Applied Research exists to give our top students that platform and to make their work visible beyond the classroom”-- Alexei De Bono, COO, IDEA College

A growing body of work, volume by volume

IDEA JAR has built momentum through consistent publication, with six volumes released from 2022 through 2025, each publicly accessible through the IDEA College site and academic databases.

This consistency is not cosmetic. It signals a research culture taking root; one where applied inquiry is not a side project, but part of the institution’s identity.