Publishing Ethics

Publication Ethics Statement and Prevention of Academic Misconduct

Al-Huda Journal for Applied Sciences (HJAS) is committed to the highest ethical standards in academic publishing. As part of this commitment, the journal follows the Code of Conduct and Guidelines issued by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) for editors and publishers. Below is a summary of the key ethical principles:

Responsibilities of Editors

Independence and Fair Evaluation
Editors evaluate submitted manuscripts solely on their academic merit—originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope—without regard to authors’ personal characteristics such as race, gender, beliefs, or institutional affiliation. Publication decisions are made independently and are subject only to the Editor-in-Chief’s judgment, free from external influence.

Confidentiality
Editors and editorial staff must maintain the confidentiality of all information related to submitted manuscripts, sharing it only with the corresponding author, reviewers, and relevant staff.

Conflicts of Interest and Disclosure
Editors must not use unpublished information from submitted manuscripts for personal purposes without the authors’ written consent. Editors with conflicts of interest involving authors, institutions, or funding sources must recuse themselves from the review process.

Publication Decisions
All manuscripts undergo peer review by at least two independent reviewers. The Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision regarding publication, based on scientific merit, relevance, and compliance with legal and ethical standards.

Handling Ethical Concerns
In cases where ethical concerns arise regarding submitted or published paper, editors cooperate with the publisher to investigate and take appropriate action in line with COPE guidelines. Such actions may include corrections, retractions, or the publication of clarifications.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Contribution to Editorial Decisions
Reviewers assist in editorial decision-making through scientific evaluation, and their feedback helps authors improve their manuscripts.

Timeliness
Reviewers must promptly inform the journal if they are unable to complete the review within the allotted time or feel unqualified to assess the manuscript.

Confidentiality
All manuscripts under review must be treated as strictly confidential and not discussed with third parties without the Editor-in-Chief’s authorization.

Objectivity and Constructive Feedback
Reviews must be objective, supported by clear evidence, and free of personal criticism.

Acknowledgment of Sources
Reviewers should identify any relevant sources not cited by the authors and notify the editors of any substantial similarity with other published works.

Conflicts of Interest and Disclosure
Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest and withdraw from the review if such conflicts exist. Information obtained during peer review must not be used for personal advantage.

Responsibilities of Authors

Accuracy and Integrity
Authors must provide an accurate and honest account of their paper, including sufficient detail and references to allow replication. Data fabrication, falsification, or misrepresentation is strictly prohibited.

Transparency and Data Retention
Authors may be asked to provide raw data for editorial review and should be prepared to make it publicly available if necessary. Data should be retained for at least ten years in accordance with ethical and legal standards.

Originality and Plagiarism
Submitted manuscripts must be original. All sources must be properly cited. Any form of plagiarism is unacceptable.

Avoidance of Redundant Publication
Authors must not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously, nor publish substantially similar paper without prior agreement and proper acknowledgment of the original publication.

Authorship Criteria
Only individuals who have made a significant contribution to the paper should be listed as authors. All co-authors must approve the final version and consent to submission. Others who contributed but do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged.

Ethical Compliance
Paper involving humans or animals must comply with recognized ethical standards. Ethical approval and informed consent must be documented, and potential risks must be disclosed.

Correction of Errors
If significant errors are discovered in a published work, authors must promptly notify the editors and cooperate in issuing corrections or retractions.

Responsibilities of the Publisher

Ethical Oversight
The publisher collaborates with editors to address complaints or allegations of academic misconduct and takes appropriate action, including corrections or retractions when necessary.

Archiving and Accessibility
The publisher ensures permanent access to published paper by maintaining digital archives and cooperating with specialized archiving organizations.

By adhering to these principles, Al-Huda Journal for Applied Sciences safeguards the integrity and quality of its academic publications and fosters a responsible and ethical paper environment