Publication Ethics and Malpractice Policy

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Policy

Policy Statement

The International Journal of Engineering Concepts and Management is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics, research integrity, and academic excellence. The journal recognizes that ethical publishing is fundamental to the advancement of scientific knowledge and expects all participants in the publication process—including authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher—to conduct themselves in accordance with internationally accepted principles of responsible research and scholarly communication.

The journal is dedicated to ensuring that every manuscript is evaluated fairly, objectively, and transparently. Editorial decisions are based exclusively on the scholarly merit, originality, scientific quality, and relevance of the submitted work, without discrimination based on nationality, gender, institutional affiliation, or personal beliefs.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are expected to submit original research that has not been published previously and is not under consideration by another journal. Submitted manuscripts should accurately present the research conducted, the methodology employed, and the findings obtained. Any use of previously published material must be appropriately acknowledged through proper citation, and permission must be obtained where required.

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant intellectual contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research. All listed authors must approve the final version of the manuscript before submission and accept responsibility for the integrity and accuracy of the published work.

Authors are also expected to disclose all sources of financial support, institutional affiliations, and any actual or potential conflicts of interest that could influence the interpretation of the research.

Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for maintaining the integrity, quality, and credibility of the journal. Manuscripts are evaluated solely on their academic merit, originality, methodological rigor, and relevance to the journal's scope. Editors maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and ensure that the peer-review process is conducted impartially and without bias.

Where concerns regarding publication ethics arise, editors are responsible for conducting appropriate investigations and taking corrective action when necessary. Such actions may include requesting revisions, rejecting manuscripts, issuing corrections, publishing expressions of concern, or retracting published articles where serious ethical violations have been established.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Peer reviewers play a vital role in maintaining the quality of published research. Reviewers are expected to evaluate manuscripts objectively, provide constructive and evidence-based feedback, and maintain strict confidentiality throughout the review process. Any potential conflicts of interest should be disclosed before accepting a review assignment.

Reviewers should promptly notify the Editorial Office if they identify plagiarism, duplicate publication, unethical research practices, data inconsistencies, or any other concerns that may affect the scientific integrity of the manuscript.

Publication Misconduct

The journal does not tolerate any form of publication malpractice. Unethical practices include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, duplicate publication, data fabrication, data falsification, image manipulation, citation manipulation, inappropriate authorship, peer-review manipulation, copyright infringement, and the submission of misleading or fraudulent research.

When evidence of misconduct is identified before or after publication, the journal reserves the right to investigate the matter thoroughly and take appropriate editorial action in accordance with established ethical procedures.

Conflicts of Interest

To preserve transparency and public trust in scholarly publishing, authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to disclose any financial, professional, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence, or reasonably appear to influence, the publication process. Where a significant conflict of interest exists, appropriate measures will be taken to ensure an impartial editorial decision.

Research Integrity

Research submitted to the journal should be conducted in accordance with recognized ethical standards and applicable institutional or regulatory requirements. Authors are expected to maintain accurate research records and provide supporting data when requested during editorial evaluation. Studies involving human participants or animals should have received approval from the appropriate ethics committee or institutional review board before the research was undertaken.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Scholarly Writing

The journal recognizes that artificial intelligence tools may assist authors in improving language, grammar, or readability. However, AI tools cannot be credited as authors because they cannot assume responsibility for the accuracy, originality, or integrity of scholarly work. Authors remain fully accountable for all content submitted to the journal and should disclose any substantial use of AI technologies where appropriate.

Corrections and Retractions

When significant errors or ethical concerns are identified after publication, the journal will take appropriate action to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record. Depending on the nature of the issue, this may include publishing a correction, issuing an expression of concern, or retracting the article. Such decisions are made following a careful editorial assessment and, where appropriate, consultation with the authors and relevant institutions.

Policy Review

The International Journal of Engineering Concepts and Management periodically reviews its publication ethics policies to ensure alignment with internationally recognized standards and evolving best practices in scholarly publishing. Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to comply with the most current version of this policy available on the journal's website.