Publication Ethics

Maulana Advances in Inclusive Education is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and takes guidance from the principles set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). All stakeholders—authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher—are expected to adhere to these ethical guidelines to maintain the integrity of the research and publication process.

1. Duties of Authors

• Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that their work is original and free of plagiarism. Proper citations and acknowledgments should be made for all sources, including data, figures, and intellectual property. Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently is prohibited.

• Data Integrity: Authors are responsible for the accuracy and authenticity of data presented in their manuscript. Raw data should be retained for a reasonable period after publication and be available upon request to ensure transparency and reproducibility.

• Authorship and Contribution: Authorship should reflect substantial contributions to the research, including study design, data collection, data interpretation, and manuscript writing. All co-authors should approve the final manuscript version and agree to its submission.

• Conflicts of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could influence the research or interpretation of findings. This includes funding sources and potential conflicts with affiliations or personal relationships.

• Ethics Approval: Research involving human participants or animals must have approval from relevant ethics committees and comply with local and international standards for ethical research practices.

2. Duties of Editors

• Fair and Impartial Decision-Making: Editors are responsible for deciding which manuscripts to publish based on intellectual merit, relevance to the journal’s scope, and adherence to ethical guidelines. Decisions should not be influenced by the authors' race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or institutional affiliations.

• Confidentiality: Editors must maintain the confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts and related communications. Information must not be disclosed to anyone other than those directly involved in the publishing process, including authors, reviewers, and the editorial board.

• Conflict of Interest: Editors must avoid handling manuscripts where a potential conflict of interest exists due to relationships or affiliations with authors, institutions, or funders. Such manuscripts should be reassigned to another editor when possible.

• Addressing Ethical Concerns: Editors are responsible for investigating ethical complaints, including allegations of misconduct, plagiarism, or fraudulent research. In cases where ethical concerns are confirmed, corrective measures, such as retraction or issuing corrections, will be taken as per COPE guidelines.

3. Duties of Reviewers

• Contribution to Editorial Decisions: Reviewers play a critical role in assisting editorial decisions and improving manuscript quality through constructive feedback. Reviews should be objective, fair, and focused on the content and scientific merit of the manuscript.

• Timeliness: Reviewers should complete their reviews within the assigned time to support a timely editorial process. If they are unable to meet the deadline or feel unqualified, they should notify the editor promptly.

• Confidentiality: All materials under review are confidential and should not be shared with or discussed with others unless authorized by the editor. Privileged information obtained through peer review must not be used for personal or professional advantage.

• Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest related to the manuscript, including financial, institutional, or personal connections to the authors or subject matter. They should decline to review in cases where a conflict of interest may impair objectivity.

4. Duties of the Publisher

• Maintaining Academic Integrity: The publisher, in partnership with the journal’s editorial team, is committed to promoting research integrity, correcting errors, and taking action in cases of misconduct as guided by COPE standards.

• Ensuring Accessibility and Transparency: The publisher will work to make articles freely available to the academic community and general public through an open-access model. All policies regarding editorial independence, conflicts of interest, and ethical standards will be transparently communicated.

• Addressing Misconduct: In collaboration with the editorial board, the publisher will respond to cases of suspected or confirmed misconduct, including issuing retractions, corrections, and clarifications as necessary to protect the integrity of the academic record.

5. Handling Ethical Complaints

Maulana Advances in Inclusive Education is committed to addressing any complaints or ethical concerns raised regarding submitted or published papers. All complaints should be reported to the editor-in-chief and will be investigated promptly and thoroughly. Actions may include retractions, corrections, or other necessary amendments in line with COPE recommendations.