Ethical Policies

Commitment to Research Integrity

The University of Zawia Journal of Engineering Sciences and Technology (UZJEST) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and research integrity. The journal follows the principles and best practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to promote transparency, fairness, accountability, and ethical conduct throughout the publication process.

  1. Authorship and Contributorship

Authorship Criteria

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial intellectual contributions to the research and manuscript. All listed authors must meet the following criteria:

  • Make substantial contributions to the conception, design, implementation, analysis, or interpretation of the research.
  • Draft the manuscript or critically revise it for important intellectual content.
  • Approve the final version of the manuscript for publication.
  • Agree to be accountable for the accuracy and integrity of the work.

Corresponding Author Responsibilities

The corresponding author is responsible for:

  • Ensuring that all listed authors have approved the manuscript before submission.
  • Managing communication between the journal and all co-authors.
  • Confirming that the manuscript is not under consideration by another journal.
  • Providing information about ethical approvals, funding, and conflicts of interest.
  • Ensuring that all contributors receive appropriate acknowledgment.

Any proposed changes to authorship after submission must be justified and approved by all authors and the journal.

  1. Research Integrity and Originality

Originality and Plagiarism

All manuscripts submitted to UZJEST must represent original scholarly work. Authors must appropriately acknowledge and cite the ideas, methods, data, figures, tables, and text obtained from other sources. Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism and the unattributed reuse of published material, is unacceptable.

Data Fabrication and Falsification

Fabrication, falsification, manipulation, or selective reporting of research data intended to mislead readers constitutes serious research misconduct. Authors must ensure that their findings are accurately reported and retain relevant research data and records. The journal may request supporting data or documentation when necessary to verify the validity of the research.

Multiple Submission

A manuscript submitted to UZJEST must not be under consideration by another journal at the same time. Duplicate publication and redundant publication are not permitted. Any substantial overlap with previously published work, including conference papers or preprints, must be disclosed clearly at submission.

  1. Plagiarism

UZJEST is committed to ensuring the originality and proper attribution of all published research.

  • Screening: Submitted manuscripts may be checked using plagiarism-detection software before peer review.
  • Similarity threshold: The journal may apply a maximum similarity index of 25%, subject to editorial assessment and the journal's approved screening policy.
  • Editorial assessment: Similarity reports will be evaluated in context. Properly cited material, references, standard technical terminology, and unavoidable similarities may be considered separately.
  • Excessive similarity: Manuscripts containing substantial unattributed overlap may be returned for revision or rejected before peer review.
  • Further checks: Additional similarity checks may be conducted during peer review or before publication if significant revisions have been made.

A similarity percentage alone does not establish plagiarism. The editorial team will examine the nature, source, and extent of the overlap before making a decision. Confirmed plagiarism or other serious breaches of research integrity may result in rejection or further action in accordance with the journal's ethical procedures.

  1. Peer Review Process

Double-Blind Peer Review

UZJEST uses a double-blind peer-review process in which the identities of authors and reviewers are concealed from one another, to the extent practicable. Manuscripts are evaluated according to their originality, technical quality, methodological soundness, relevance to engineering and technology, clarity, and contribution to the field.

Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Provide objective, constructive, evidence-based, and timely assessments.
  • Maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts and associated materials.
  • Declare any conflicts of interest and decline review when impartiality may be compromised.
  • Identify relevant published work that has not been cited.
  • Inform the editor of suspected plagiarism, data manipulation, or other ethical concerns.
  • Refrain from using unpublished information obtained through peer review for personal or professional advantage.

Editor Responsibilities

Editors are expected to:

  • Ensure a fair, impartial, and confidential review process.
  • Select qualified reviewers with relevant expertise.
  • Make editorial decisions based on scholarly merit, relevance, and the quality of the research.
  • Manage conflicts of interest and investigate ethical concerns appropriately.
  • Protect the identities and confidential information of authors and reviewers.
  • Communicate editorial decisions and the reasons for them clearly.

The final publication decision rests with the responsible editor.

  1. Conflicts of Interest

All authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial, professional, personal, or other interests that could improperly influence their judgment or the presentation or interpretation of research findings.

Financial Conflicts

Examples include:

  • Employment, consultancy, or other financial relationships.
  • Ownership of shares or financial interests in relevant companies.
  • Patents, patent applications, or commercial rights related to the research.
  • Research funding, sponsorship, or support from organizations that may benefit from the findings.

Non-Financial Conflicts

Examples include:

  • Personal relationships or professional affiliations.
  • Academic competition or collaboration.
  • Intellectual or professional commitments that could affect impartiality.
  • Other personal or institutional interests that may influence judgment.

Authors must include a conflict-of-interest statement in their submission, even when no conflicts exist. Reviewers and editors must disclose relevant conflicts and withdraw from the evaluation or decision-making process when necessary to preserve impartiality.

  1. Research Involving Human and Animal Subjects

Human Subjects Research

Research involving human participants, identifiable personal information, surveys, interviews, or human-derived materials must comply with applicable ethical standards and institutional requirements.

Authors must, where applicable:

  • Obtain approval from an appropriate research ethics committee or institutional review board before conducting the research.
  • State the name of the approving committee and provide the approval reference or number in the manuscript.
  • Confirm that informed consent was obtained from participants when required.
  • Protect participants' privacy, confidentiality, and personal data.
  • Explain any applicable exemption from ethical review and provide supporting justification when requested.

Engineering and Technology Research

Research in engineering and technology must comply with relevant safety requirements, professional standards, environmental regulations, and applicable legal and ethical obligations. Studies involving hazardous materials, human data, experimental devices, or other potentially harmful procedures must include appropriate information about risk assessment and safeguards where relevant.

  1. Post-Publication Issues

Corrections

If significant errors are identified in a published article, UZJEST will assess the matter and publish a correction when appropriate. Corrections will be linked to the original article to maintain the accuracy and transparency of the scholarly record.

Retractions

An article may be retracted when there is reliable evidence of serious research misconduct, plagiarism, fabricated or falsified data, unethical research, duplicate publication, or substantial errors that invalidate its findings. Retractions will be clearly identified and linked to the original publication, with an explanation of the reason for the action.

Appeals

Authors may appeal an editorial decision by submitting a reasoned explanation to the editorial office. Appeals should address the specific grounds for the decision and, where relevant, provide evidence of factual errors, misunderstandings, or procedural irregularities. Appeals will be considered fairly by the editor or an appropriate independent editorial representative. The decision following the appeal will be communicated to the corresponding author.

  1. Complaints and Misconduct Handling

UZJEST takes allegations of research or publication misconduct seriously. Complaints concerning plagiarism, authorship disputes, conflicts of interest, data fabrication or falsification, peer-review misconduct, or editorial conduct should be submitted to the Editor-in-Chief with a clear description of the concern and any supporting evidence.

Investigation Process

The journal will normally follow these steps:

  1. Initial assessment: Determine whether the complaint falls within the journal's responsibility and whether sufficient information has been provided.
  2. Evidence gathering: Review the manuscript, publication records, similarity reports, correspondence, or other relevant documentation.
  3. Consultation: Seek explanations from the relevant parties and, where necessary, consult independent experts or the appropriate institution.
  4. Decision and action: Determine an appropriate response, which may include requesting clarification, correcting the record, rejecting a manuscript, retracting an article, or referring the matter to an institution or other relevant body.
  5. Communication: Inform the complainant of the outcome to the extent permitted by confidentiality and applicable requirements.

All complaints will be handled fairly and confidentially, with due consideration for the rights of the parties involved. The journal will seek to avoid premature conclusions and will take appropriate action to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

Questions or Concerns?

For questions about these ethical policies or to report a concern, please contact:

Editor-in-Chief
University of Zawia Journal of Engineering Sciences and Technology (UZJEST)
University of Zawia, Libya
Email: jet@zu.edu.ly

UZJEST reserves the right to update these policies as necessary to reflect recognized standards and developments in publication ethics.