Publication Ethics

The Academic International Journal of Engineering Science (AIJES) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct, academic integrity, and professional responsibility in scholarly publishing. This Publication Ethics Policy defines the ethical principles, responsibilities, and expectations for all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher.

This policy is guided by the principles and best practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and other internationally recognized ethical standards. It applies to all research published in AIJES, including engineering sciences, applied sciences, technological innovation, and related interdisciplinary fields.

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to AIJES are expected to adhere to the following ethical standards:

1.1. Originality and Academic Integrity

Manuscripts submitted to AIJES must be original works that have not been previously published and are not under consideration elsewhere. Authors must ensure that their work is free from:

Plagiarism
Self-plagiarism
Redundant publication
Inappropriate reuse of published content

Proper acknowledgment and citation of all sources are mandatory.

1.2. Responsible Use of Data, Methods, and Sources

Authors must accurately report:

Experimental procedures
Engineering methods and simulations
Models, datasets, and measurements
Results and technical findings

Data fabrication, falsification, manipulation, selective reporting, or misrepresentation of findings constitutes unethical behavior.

All technical standards, software tools, datasets, and referenced sources must be properly cited.

1.3. Data Transparency and Reproducibility

Where applicable, authors should retain original research data, codes, algorithms, design files, and experimental records and make them available for verification or replication upon reasonable request.

Any restrictions on data availability, including proprietary, industrial, confidentiality, or security-related limitations, must be clearly disclosed.

Authors are encouraged to provide data availability statements where appropriate.

1.4. Authorship and Contribution

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant intellectual contributions to the conception, design, execution, analysis, or interpretation of the study.

All authors must:

Approve the final manuscript version
Agree to the manuscript submission
Accept responsibility for the published work

Contributors who do not meet authorship criteria should be appropriately acknowledged.

Any changes to authorship after submission require written consent from all listed authors.

1.5. Ethical Conduct of Research

Research involving:

Human participants
User studies
Field testing
Surveys and usability experiments
Personal or sensitive data

must comply with recognized ethical standards and applicable regulations.

Where required, authors must provide evidence of ethics committee or institutional review board approval. If formal approval is not required, authors must clearly explain the ethical safeguards applied, including informed consent and data protection measures.

1.6. Safety, Environmental, and Social Responsibility

Engineering research must be conducted responsibly, with appropriate consideration for:

Human safety
Environmental sustainability
Societal and ethical impact

Authors should avoid promoting practices, technologies, or designs that may cause harm, violate legal standards, or create unreasonable risks.

1.7. Conflicts of Interest and Funding Disclosure

Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, commercial, or personal relationships that could influence the research or its interpretation.

All funding sources, sponsorships, and material support must be clearly acknowledged.

1.8. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

Authors must disclose the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the preparation of manuscripts where applicable.

AI tools may not be listed as authors and remain the responsibility of the human authors.

1.9. Post-Publication Responsibility

Authors have an ongoing responsibility to promptly notify the journal if significant errors, inaccuracies, or ethical concerns are discovered after publication.

Authors must cooperate fully in issuing corrections, clarifications, or retractions when necessary.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Peer reviewers play a critical role in maintaining the scientific quality and integrity of AIJES.

Manuscripts under review must remain confidential
Reviews should be objective, constructive, respectful, and based solely on scholarly merit
Reviewers should assess originality, technical soundness, methodological rigor, clarity, and relevance
Conflicts of interest must be disclosed, and reviewers should decline reviews when appropriate
Reviewers should report suspected plagiarism, ethical misconduct, or data-related concerns
Reviews should be completed within the agreed timeframe

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for ensuring a fair, transparent, and unbiased editorial process.

Editorial decisions are based on academic merit, originality, technical quality, and relevance to the journal scope
Editors must maintain confidentiality of manuscripts and reviewer identities
Editors must declare conflicts of interest and recuse themselves where appropriate
Allegations of misconduct are investigated in accordance with COPE guidelines
Editorial independence must be maintained free from commercial, institutional, or political influence

4. Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher of AIJES supports ethical scholarly publishing by ensuring:

Editorial independence and integrity
Transparent publication policies
Long-term digital archiving and accessibility
Timely publication of corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern
Fair and ethical handling of complaints and appeals

5. Research Misconduct and Unethical Practices

Unethical publishing practices include, but are not limited to:

Plagiarism and self-plagiarism
Data fabrication or falsification
Duplicate or redundant publication
Improper authorship attribution
Undisclosed conflicts of interest
Misrepresentation of methods or results
Ethical violations involving human participants, safety, or sensitive data

All allegations of misconduct are investigated in accordance with COPE recommendations.

6. Research Withdrawal and Retraction Policy

6.1. Grounds for Withdrawal or Retraction

An article may be withdrawn or retracted for reasons including:

Proven plagiarism
Fabrication or falsification of data or results
Duplicate publication
Major errors invalidating findings
Ethical or safety violations
Authorship or intellectual property disputes
Unauthorized use of figures, datasets, software, or proprietary materials
Undisclosed or misleading funding or conflicts of interest

6.2. Withdrawal and Retraction Procedure

AIJES follows a transparent and fair process:

Initial assessment by the Editorial Board
Formal notification to the corresponding author
Opportunity for authors to respond or clarify
Final decision based on evidence and ethical standards
Publication of a formal retraction or withdrawal notice

Retracted articles remain accessible online and are clearly marked as “Retracted” to preserve the scholarly record.

7. Corrections and Expressions of Concern

Minor errors that do not affect the validity of the work may be corrected through a formal correction notice.

Where serious concerns exist but investigations remain ongoing, the journal may issue an Expression of Concern.

8. Appeals and Complaints

Authors may appeal editorial decisions or submit complaints related to ethical matters.

All appeals and complaints are handled objectively, transparently, and in accordance with COPE procedures.

9. Compliance with Ethical Standards

By submitting a manuscript to AIJES, authors confirm that they have read, understood, and agreed to comply with this Publication Ethics Policy.