• Editorial Policies

    Editorial Policies

    1. Editorial Independence

    The Science, Education and Innovations in the Context of Modern Problems (SEI) journal guarantees full editorial independence.

    • All editorial decisions are based exclusively on the scholarly merit, originality, and relevance of submissions.
    • Decisions are free from commercial, institutional, or political influence.
    • The Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board operate independently of the publisher and sponsors.

    2. Peer Review Policy

    The journal adopts a double-blind peer review system.

    • Authors’ and reviewers’ identities remain confidential throughout the process.
    • Each manuscript is evaluated by at least two independent experts with no conflict of interest.
    • Reviewers assess originality, relevance, methodological rigor, and clarity.
    • The review period typically lasts 4–6 weeks.
    • The final decision rests with the Editor-in-Chief, based on reviewers’ recommendations and editorial evaluation.

    (Full peer review policy available at: https://imcra-az.org/peer-review)

    3. Manuscript Screening

    All submissions are screened by the editorial office prior to peer review. The screening process verifies:

    • Compliance with author guidelines and formatting requirements
    • Originality and absence of plagiarism (using Turnitin or equivalent software)
    • Relevance to the scope of the journal
    • Ethical compliance with international standards

    Submissions failing to meet minimum standards are returned to authors before peer review.

    4. Authorship Policy

    Authorship must reflect substantial intellectual contributions to the research.

    • All listed authors must contribute to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study.
    • Guest, gift, or ghost authorship is strictly prohibited.
    • Changes in authorship (order, addition, or removal) require written consent of all authors and approval by the editorial office.
    • The corresponding author bears full responsibility for submission integrity and communication with the journal.

    5. Publication Ethics and COPE Compliance

    The journal fully adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices.

    • Plagiarism, redundant publication, fabrication, and falsification are strictly prohibited.
    • Allegations of misconduct are handled transparently according to COPE flowcharts.
    • Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to maintain the highest standards of integrity.

    (Full publication ethics policy available at: https://imcra-az.org/journal-policies)

    6. Plagiarism and Academic Misconduct

    • All manuscripts undergo plagiarism screening.
    • Similarity above 15% is grounds for rejection.
    • Confirmed plagiarism or fraud discovered post-publication will result in article retraction, in line with COPE standards.

    7. Conflict of Interest Policy

    All authors, reviewers, and editors must declare potential conflicts of interest.

    • Conflicts may include financial, institutional, personal, or professional relationships.
    • If no conflict exists, authors must state: “The authors declare no conflict of interest.”
    • Failure to disclose conflicts may result in rejection or retraction.

    8. Copyright and Licensing

    • Authors retain copyright of their published work.
    • Articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
    • This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction, provided the original source is credited.

    9. Open Access Policy

    SEI follows a gold open access model:

    • All published content is freely accessible without subscription barriers.
    • There are no paywalls or embargoes.
    • Open access ensures global visibility and knowledge exchange.

    10. Archiving and Preservation

    • The journal uses secure digital repositories and backup systems.
    • Content is preserved through LOCKSS/CLOCKSS and institutional repositories.
    • All published articles are assigned DOIs to guarantee permanent accessibility.

    11. Data Availability and Research Transparency

    • Authors are encouraged to share data, methods, and supplementary materials.
    • Data repositories and DOIs should be cited where applicable.
    • The journal supports reproducible and transparent research practices.

    12. Advertising and Sponsorship Policy

    • Advertising does not influence editorial decisions.
    • Only content relevant to the journal’s scope will be accepted.
    • Sponsorships, if any, are disclosed transparently and never compromise editorial independence.

    13. Corrections and Retractions

    • Errors identified post-publication will be corrected via errata or corrigenda.
    • Articles may be retracted in cases of serious misconduct, fraud, or ethical violations.
    • Retractions are clearly labeled and linked to the original publication.

    14. Complaints and Appeals

    • Authors may appeal editorial decisions with a written justification.
    • Complaints regarding misconduct or editorial process are investigated according to COPE procedures.
    • The editorial office ensures fair and transparent resolution.

    15. Publication Frequency

    • The journal is published monthly (12 issues per year).
    • Each issue includes 10–80 articles, with a maximum limit of 90 articles per issue to maintain editorial quality.
    • The journal does not publish special issues.
    • Articles outside the journal’s scope (e.g., music, painting, medicine) are not accepted.

    16. Languages of Publication

    • The primary language of publication is English.
    • Select articles may also be published in French to broaden international readership.
    • All non-English manuscripts must include a professional English translation of the title, abstract, and keywords.

    17. Author and Publication Standards

    • Submissions must present original research relevant to the journal’s interdisciplinary scope.
    • Abstracts are mandatory and must be available in English.
    • References, author names, and affiliations must be written in Latin script for indexing purposes.
    • Articles should be written in clear, internationally comprehensible English suitable for a global scholarly audience.

    18. Reputation, Accessibility, and Indexing

    • SEI is committed to transparency, accessibility, and compliance with international indexing requirements.
    • The journal website provides comprehensive information on scope, policies, and editorial standards.
    • Navigation features include: Editorial Board, Instructions for Authors, Peer Review Policy, Open Access Model, and Ethical Standards.
    • The journal aligns with COPE, WAME, and the Declaration of Helsinki

    19. Plagiarism Policy

    Effective as of December 2021
    Science, Education and Innovations in the Context of Modern Problems (SEI) is fully committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical publishing. In alignment with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the journal maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism, self-plagiarism, and other forms of unethical academic conduct.

    19.1 Plagiarism Detection and Screening

    • All submissions undergo similarity checks using recognized software tools such as Turnitin and iThenticate.
    • Authors are strongly encouraged to submit a plagiarism report alongside their manuscripts.
    • Screening includes:
      • Full-text analysis of the manuscript
      • Cross-checking against previously published work
      • Identification of self-plagiarism or duplicate submission

    19.2 Acceptable Similarity Thresholds

    • Maximum overall similarity: 15% (excluding references, standard phrases, and bibliography).
    • Any single-source overlap above 5% (excluding properly cited quotations) requires review and possible revision.
    • Manuscripts exceeding these thresholds will be returned prior to peer review.

    19.3 Unacceptable Practices

    • Verbatim text without attribution
    • Paraphrasing ideas or data without acknowledgment
    • Duplicate publication without disclosure
    • Data falsification or fabrication
    • Reusing previously published content (self-plagiarism) without permission or disclosure

    19.4 Actions Upon Detection

    • Pre-publication: Immediate rejection and notification of the corresponding author.
    • Post-publication: Retraction of the article with a formal retraction notice. The author’s institution may also be informed.

    19.5 Author Responsibilities

    Authors must:

    • Submit only original, unpublished work
    • Provide accurate citations and acknowledgments
    • Disclose prior publication or related submissions
      Failure to comply may result in rejection, retraction, or a ban from future submissions.

    19.6 Retraction Process

    In cases of confirmed misconduct:

    • The editorial team conducts an investigation
    • Authors are given an opportunity to respond
    • If misconduct is verified, the article is formally retracted
    • The retraction notice includes the article title, authors, and reasons for retraction
    • The article remains in the journal archive but marked as “Retracted” to preserve the academic record

    20. Ethical Standards for Research Involving Human Subjects

    Science, Education and Innovations in the Context of Modern Problems (SEI) requires that all studies involving human participants adhere to the Declaration of Helsinki (2013 revision) and follow applicable international, national, and institutional ethical standards.

    20.1 Ethical Approval

    Manuscripts reporting research involving human participants must clearly state that:

    • Approval was obtained from a recognized Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee.
    • The approving institution and reference number are reported in the manuscript.
    • Research was conducted in compliance with local laws and international guidelines.

    Example statement:
    “This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of [Institution Name] (Approval No. XXX/202X), and all procedures were conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (2013 revision).”

    20.2 Informed Consent

    • Written informed consent must be obtained from all participants (or guardians for minors).
    • Consent must cover both participation and publication, especially where personal or identifiable data are included.
    • Research involving vulnerable populations must describe additional safeguards.

    20.3 Privacy and Confidentiality

    • Personally identifiable information (names, addresses, ID numbers, images) must not be published.
    • If identifying information is essential, explicit written consent must be obtained.

    Example statement:
    “Written informed consent for publication of this case and any accompanying images was obtained from the patient.”

    20.4 Non-Compliance

    Submissions not meeting ethical standards may be:

    • Rejected before review
    • Returned for revision
    • Retracted post-publication if violations are discovered

    20.5 Commitment to Ethical Research

    SEI, under the International Meetings and Conferences Research Association (IMCRA), is dedicated to protecting the rights, dignity, and welfare of research participants. Authors, editors, and reviewers share responsibility for maintaining the highest ethical standards.

    For reference, authors are encouraged to consult:

    • Declaration of Helsinki (2013 revision)
    • ICMJE Recommendations
    • COPE Guidelines on Research Ethics

    26. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

    26.1 Authorship and Accountability

    Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT or similar generative AI tools do not fulfill the authorship criteria defined by this journal. Authorship requires integrity, accountability, and substantive intellectual contribution, which cannot be attributed to non-human tools. Therefore, AI tools may not be listed as authors under any circumstances.

    26.2 Disclosure of AI Use

    • Any use of AI for text generation, data analysis, summarization, or drafting must be transparently disclosed in the manuscript.
    • Disclosures should appear in the Methods section, or if no such section exists, in the Acknowledgments.

    Example disclosure:
    “Portions of this manuscript were assisted by ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025) to generate initial language drafts, which were subsequently reviewed and revised by the authors.”

    26.3 AI-Assisted Copy Editing

    • Use of AI tools for grammar correction, spelling, punctuation, or clarity improvement does not require formal disclosure.
    • Authors remain fully responsible for verifying that all AI-assisted edits reflect their scholarly intent and maintain accuracy.

    26.4 Ethical and Responsible Use

    Authors must ensure that:

    • No confidential or personal data are shared with public AI platforms.
    • AI use does not compromise originality or mislead readers.
    • Final responsibility for all content lies with human authors.

    26.5 Peer Review and Editorial Use

    Reviewers and editors may use AI tools for language refinement, provided such use:

    • Remains confidential,
    • Does not compromise the independence of peer review,
    • Does not involve unauthorized sharing of manuscripts.

    Final editorial and review decisions remain the sole responsibility of human editors and reviewers.

    27. Advertising Policy

    Science, Education and Innovations in the Context of Modern Problems (SEI) is a non-commercial, peer-reviewed academic journal. To safeguard editorial independence and maintain a neutral scholarly environment, the journal does not accept advertisements in any form.

    This prohibition applies to:

    • The journal’s website
    • All print and digital issues
    • Individual articles and supplementary materials

    The decision reflects the journal’s commitment to impartiality and ensures that editorial decisions are never influenced by commercial interests. Authors, institutions, and sponsors are kindly requested to respect this ad-free model.

    28. Copyright and Licensing Policy

    The journal prioritizes protection of authors’ rights while promoting open scientific communication.

    28.1 Copyright Retention

    • Authors retain copyright of their published work.
    • By submitting to SEI, authors grant the publisher a non-exclusive license to publish, archive, and distribute the work under the terms of the open license.

    28.2 Open Access Licensing

    • All articles are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
    • This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and adaptation for any purpose, including commercial use, provided proper attribution is given.

    License statement example:
    “This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit     http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0.”

    28.3 Rationale for CC BY 4.0

    • Promotes global accessibility and knowledge sharing
    • Increases citation potential and visibility
    • Aligns with funder and repository requirements
    • Supports transparency and academic collaboration

    28.4 Ethical Use and Protection

    The journal and publisher (IMCRA) remain committed to protecting authors against misuse or misattribution of published work. Violations of licensing terms will be addressed in line with COPE guidelines.

    29. Conflict of Interest Policy

    Conflicts of interest (COIs) occur when external interests—financial, institutional, personal, or ideological—may compromise or appear to compromise objectivity and impartiality in research and publication.

    29.1 Disclosure Responsibilities

    • Authors, reviewers, editors, and board members must disclose any potential COIs at submission or review.
    • Failure to disclose may result in rejection, retraction, or editorial sanctions.

    29.2 Types of Conflicts of Interest

    • Financial: Funding, consultancy, stock ownership, patents, grants, honoraria.
    • Personal: Family, friends, or close relationships with authors or reviewers.
    • Professional: Institutional competition, collaboration, or rivalry.
    • Ideological/Political: Strong beliefs that may bias interpretation or judgment.

    29.3 Conflict of Interest in Authorship

    • Authors must declare relevant financial or institutional ties.
    • If no conflict exists, the following statement must be included:
      “The authors declare no conflicts of interest related to this publication.”

    29.4 Conflict of Interest in Peer Review

    Reviewers must decline to evaluate a manuscript if they:

    • Have a financial or personal stake in the research,
    • Are currently collaborating with the authors,
    • Are from the same institution as the authors,
    • Cannot provide an impartial review due to ideological or political beliefs.

    29.5 Conflict of Interest in Editorial Decisions

    Editors and staff must recuse themselves if they:

    • Have personal or professional ties to the authors,
    • Are affiliated with the research project or funding source,
    • Risk bias due to institutional or political associations.

    29.6 Conflict Management Procedures

    The journal manages COIs through:

    • Mandatory disclosure at submission,
    • Transparent records of declared interests,
    • Rotating reviewers/editors to prevent bias,
    • Oversight by the Editor-in-Chief and advisory committee.

    29.7 Importance of COI Management

    Proper management of COIs is critical to ensuring:

    • Integrity of published research
    • Transparency in editorial decisions
    • Trustworthiness of the journal within the global academic community

    References and Useful Weblinks

    1. Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)

    International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)

    • Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals
    • http://www.icmje.org/

    World Medical Association – Declaration of Helsinki (2013 revision)

    World Association of Medical Editors (WAME)

    Creative Commons Licenses

    Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)

    Crossref

    LOCKSS and CLOCKSS

    ORCID

    Turnitin Plagiarism Detection

    iThenticate Plagiarism Detection

    Scopus Content Policy and Guidelines

    Web of Science – Editorial Criteria

    Directory of Open Access Repositories (OpenDOAR)

    SHERPA/RoMEO (Journal copyright and self-archiving policies)

    UNESCO – Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (2005)

    Council of Science Editors (CSE)

    International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers (STM)