Publication Ethics

Overview

The AKSU Journal of Engineering and Technology (AKSUJET) is firmly committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and ethical behavior in all aspects of its publication process.
All parties involved—authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher—are expected to adhere to ethical guidelines consistent with the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), and STM standards.

The journal enforces a zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism, falsification of data, duplicate publication, and other unethical practices that undermine scientific credibility.

1. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to AKSUJET must comply with the following ethical principles:

1. Originality and Authenticity:
   All submissions must represent original research work conducted by the author(s). The manuscript must not have been published elsewhere or under consideration by another journal.

2. Authorship Integrity:
   Authorship is restricted to individuals who have made substantial contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research.
   All co-authors must have reviewed and approved the final version before submission.

3. Acknowledgment of Sources:
   Authors must appropriately cite all sources that have influenced their work and obtain necessary permissions for the use of copyrighted materials, figures, or data.

4. Data Accuracy and Availability:
   Authors may be required to provide the raw data supporting their findings for editorial review. Data should be retained for a reasonable period after publication and, where feasible, made accessible for verification.

5. Conflict of Interest Disclosure:
   Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that might influence their interpretation of the results. Such declarations should appear within the manuscript.

6. Ethical Compliance:
   Research involving human participants or animals must comply with recognized ethical standards and must include approval statements from relevant ethics committees.

7. Prohibition of Plagiarism and Redundant Publication:
   Authors must ensure that their work does not contain plagiarized material or duplicate publications of previously published research.

2. Responsibilities of the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board

The Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board Members are entrusted with ensuring that all editorial decisions are guided by academic merit, objectivity, and fairness. Their responsibilities include:

1. Editorial Decision-Making:
   The Editor-in-Chief has ultimate authority over the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts based on reviewer recommendations and the paper’s academic value.

2. Double-Blind Review Integrity:
   The journal operates a double-blind review system. Editors and reviewers are prohibited from disclosing or using author identities during the review process.

3. Confidentiality:
   Editors must treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential documents and disclose their contents only to individuals directly involved in the review and publication process.

4. Ethical Oversight:
   Editors are responsible for addressing any ethical concerns raised before or after publication and conducting fair investigations into suspected misconduct.

5. Non-Exploitation of Submitted Work:
   Editors and board members must not use unpublished materials from submitted manuscripts in their own research without written permission from the author.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Peer reviewers play a crucial role in maintaining the quality and credibility of the journal’s publications. They are expected to:

1. Maintain Confidentiality:
   Treat all manuscripts as confidential documents and refrain from sharing, copying, or discussing them with unauthorized individuals.

2. Ensure Objectivity:
   Reviews should be conducted impartially, focusing on the quality, clarity, and scientific contribution of the manuscript, without personal or ideological bias.

3. Provide Constructive Feedback:
   Comments should be clear, factual, and intended to assist the author in improving the manuscript.

4. Declare Conflicts of Interest:
   Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts—personal, professional, or financial—that may affect their objectivity and withdraw from the review if necessary.

5. Timeliness:
   Reviewers should complete their evaluations within the stipulated time frame to ensure efficient editorial processing.

4. Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism—defined as presenting another person’s ideas, words, or research as one’s own—is a serious breach of academic ethics. AKSUJET considers both direct plagiarism and self-plagiarism unacceptable.
To uphold originality, all manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin) prior to review.

Authors confirm the following upon submission:

• The manuscript is free from plagiarism and has not been published elsewhere.

• All quotations, figures, and data from other sources are properly cited.

• Any reuse of previously published material by the same author is clearly acknowledged and justified.

Detected plagiarism will result in automatic rejection and may lead to sanctions against the author(s).

5. Ethical Misconduct Handling

Any allegation of unethical behavior before or after publication will be investigated promptly, following COPE’s Core Practices.
Possible outcomes include:

• Rejection or retraction of the article

• Notification of the author’s institution

• Temporary or permanent publication ban

The journal’s editorial board is committed to due process and fairness in resolving all ethical disputes.

6. Correction, Retraction, and Withdrawal Policy

Corrections:

Minor typographical or factual errors may be corrected directly in the online article. Major corrections will result in the publication of a Correction Notice, linked to the original article.

Retractions:

Articles found to contain fabricated data, plagiarism, or other major ethical violations will be retracted following COPE’s retraction guidelines. Both the original and retraction notices remain accessible online to preserve the scholarly record.

Withdrawals:

Authors wishing to withdraw a manuscript under review must notify the Editor-in-Chief within one month of submission. Withdrawal after acceptance is generally not permitted.

7. Licensing and Copyright

All AKSUJET publications are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license.
Authors retain copyright of their articles but grant the Faculty of Engineering, Akwa Ibom State University, non-exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, and archive the work in any format or medium, with appropriate attribution.

This ensures unrestricted dissemination and long-term preservation of scholarly work while maintaining author recognition.