Ethical Guidelines and Responsibilities

The Sustain Impact – Journal of Sustainable Innovation and Impact
Last Updated: 22/02/2025

The Journal of Sustainable Innovation and Impact is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct in all aspects of the editorial and publication process. To ensure fairness, transparency, and integrity, we follow the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines, which are widely recognized and respected across academic publishing.

This page outlines the ethical responsibilities of authors, reviewers, and editors. By adhering to these standards, we aim to uphold the integrity of the research we publish and foster trust within the academic community.

Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to the Journal of Sustainable Innovation and Impact are expected to adhere to the following ethical guidelines:

Originality: Manuscripts must be original, and authors should not submit works that have been previously published elsewhere. All sources and previous work used in the manuscript must be properly cited.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism in any form is not tolerated. Authors must ensure that their work is free from any form of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, and must cite all relevant sources.
Data Integrity: Authors should present their research findings accurately and transparently, without any fabrication or falsification of data.
Authorship: All authors listed on the manuscript must have made substantial contributions to the research. The contributions of each author must be clearly defined, and any individuals who do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged in the appropriate section.
Conflicts of Interest: Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the outcome or interpretation of the research. This includes financial, personal, or professional relationships.
Ethical Approval: Authors must ensure that their research complies with ethical standards, including obtaining approval from relevant ethics committees or institutional review boards (IRBs) if the research involves human or animal subjects.
Acknowledgment of Sources: Authors must acknowledge all sources of funding, material support, and contributions from other researchers. They should provide complete and accurate references to prior research that influenced their study.
Correction of Errors: Authors must notify the editorial team promptly if they discover any errors or inaccuracies in their published work. Authors are responsible for correcting errors and withdrawing or correcting manuscripts when necessary.

Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers play a crucial role in ensuring the integrity and quality of the manuscripts published in the Journal of Sustainable Innovation and Impact. The following guidelines apply to reviewers:

Confidentiality: Reviewers must keep all manuscripts and related materials confidential. They must not discuss the manuscript with anyone else, except for the journal editors and other relevant reviewers.
Objectivity: Reviews must be conducted objectively and professionally. Reviewers should avoid personal criticism of the authors and instead offer constructive feedback based on the merits of the manuscript.
Acknowledging Sources: Reviewers should identify any relevant literature that the authors have not cited, and alert the editors to any substantial similarities with other published works.
Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest, including personal, professional, or financial relationships with the authors or institutions associated with the manuscript.
Timeliness: Reviewers must complete their reviews within the specified time frame. If they are unable to meet this deadline, they should inform the editors promptly so another reviewer can be assigned.
No Use of Manuscript Content: Reviewers must not use any unpublished data or findings from a manuscript under review for their own research purposes without the express consent of the authors.

Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for ensuring that the journal maintains high academic standards, fairness, and transparency. The following ethical guidelines apply to editors:

Editorial Independence: Editors must make decisions based on the quality and relevance of the manuscript, without any undue influence from external parties, including funding sources or personal relationships.
Fair and Transparent Peer Review: Editors must ensure that all manuscripts undergo a fair, double-blind peer review process. The reviewers should be impartial and provide constructive feedback.
Conflict of Interest: Editors must disclose any conflicts of interest that may affect their decision-making process and recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have a direct conflict.
Confidentiality: Editors must maintain the confidentiality of all manuscripts and related communications. They should not share manuscript details with anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, or editorial staff.
Publication Integrity: Editors are responsible for addressing issues related to research misconduct, such as plagiarism, fabrication of data, or falsification. They must follow COPE’s procedures for correcting and retracting articles when necessary.
Ethical Approval: Editors must ensure that manuscripts involving human or animal subjects have been approved by relevant ethics committees or IRBs and that authors provide appropriate documentation.

Misconduct and Retractions

In the event of any suspected research or publication misconduct, we adhere to COPE’s guidelines for handling unethical practices. The journal will take appropriate action, which may include:

Retraction: In cases of severe misconduct, such as data fabrication or plagiarism, the journal may retract the article from publication.
Correction: If errors or inaccuracies are found after publication, we will issue corrections in a timely manner.
Investigation: Any allegations of misconduct will be investigated thoroughly in line with COPE’s procedures, and authors, reviewers, and editors must cooperate with the process.

COPE Membership and Compliance

The Journal of Sustainable Innovation and Impact follows the principles and ethical guidelines outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). We are committed to upholding the highest standards in academic publishing and maintaining the trust of our readers, authors, and reviewers. For further information on COPE’s guidelines, please visit their official website: COPE.