“A decade of excellence in parliamentary studies”
To mark the 10th anniversary of the Hellenic OCR Team and the School of Politics, Government and International Relations of the Universidad Austral (2015–2025), we invite the national and international academic community to the presentation of papers for publication in the first, inaugural issue of the new Austral Journal of Parliamentary Studies (REPA), on the occasion of celebrating a decade of innovation, collaboration, and research in parliamentary studies. The motto for this first edition is “a decade of excellence in parliamentary studies.”
El Hellenic OCR Team The Hellenic OCR Team is a crowdsourcing scientific initiative that brings together researchers, professionals, and enthusiasts with a shared interest in parliamentary data and digital innovation. Founded in Greece, the team focuses on the digitization, processing, and computational analysis of parliamentary documents, aiming to unlock new possibilities for open data, transparency, and evidence-based research. As a multidisciplinary network, it combines expertise from fields such as political science, computer science, law, and information science, developing methodologies, tools, and best practices for the digital transformation of parliamentary work. Beyond its technical contributions, the Hellenic OCR Team also functions as an active knowledge-sharing community, fostering collaboration between academia, civil society, and international institutions, and establishing itself as a pioneer in applying emerging technologies to parliamentary studies.
La School of Politics, Government and International Relations of the Universidad Austral Since its creation, it has constituted a leading academic space in Latin America for training, research and practical articulation in public affairs.
Its mission is to strengthen the institutional capacity of the State and its organizations, promoting professional, transparent, and evidence-based public management. Over the past decade, the School has consolidated a comprehensive academic offering—including undergraduate, graduate, executive education, and doctoral programs—characterized by an interdisciplinary approach, a comparative perspective, and strong collaboration with national and international institutions. Its main areas of focus include democratic governance, public innovation, parliamentary diplomacy, integrity and transparency, legislative studies, and decision-making in complex contexts.
In the field of parliamentary studies, the School has promoted pioneering initiatives in the region, fostering specialized training programs, cooperation networks with national parliaments and multilateral organizations, and applied research projects on legislative modernization, citizen participation, digitalization, artificial intelligence, and institutional quality. These initiatives have contributed to enriching a field of study that is increasingly relevant for contemporary democracies and for the consolidation of more open, effective parliaments adapted to the challenges of the 21st century. Thanks to its growing academic community—comprised of professors, researchers, public sector professionals, and international specialists—the School has become a regional hub for rigorous analysis, regulatory innovation, and capacity building in parliamentary matters. Its connections with global networks, scientific associations, and comparative research centers have enhanced knowledge production and the exchange of best practices among institutions with diverse political and institutional traditions.
In this context, the creation of the new Austral Journal of Parliamentary Studies (REPA) It is presented as a natural and strategic milestone: a robust, open and scientifically rigorous publishing space intended to promote original research, foster interdisciplinary dialogue and project internationally the advances of the community dedicated to the study of parliaments and democratic governance.
The initiative is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation from Argentina.
Axes and themes
We invite submissions that reflect the intersection of parliamentary studies, digital transformation, open data, and institutional reform, in line with the documented work of the team and editors.
Suggested subject areas:
Schedule
Editorial team
This special issue will be co-published by:
Presentation guidelines
Authors are invited to submit original research articles, case studies, or reflective essays of approximately 5.000–6.000 words (including references in APA, 7th edition format). The volume will accept contributions in English and Spanish, ensuring broader participation from researchers in diverse linguistic backgrounds.
The guidelines for participation are the same as those of the Austral Political Magazine: https://ojs.austral.edu.ar/index.php/revistapoliticaaustral/about/submissions
Expression of interest
Expressions of interest and inquiries related to this special issue can be directed to the editorial team at: info@hellenicOCRteam.gr
Interested parties are cordially invited to submit the title of their proposal along with a summary of up to 150 words.
