Editorial Policy

The University Forum Journal is committed to implementing clear and transparent editorial policies that ensure publication quality and reflect its adherence to internationally recognized academic and ethical standards in scholarly publishing. These policies serve as a fundamental reference for all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, reviewers, and members of the Editorial Board. They regulate the procedures for manuscript submission, peer review, acceptance, and publication. The Editorial Board is committed to applying these policies fairly, objectively, and independently, thereby enhancing the journal’s credibility and standing within local and international academic and research communities.

Furthermore, the journal’s publication ethics and malpractice statement is based on the Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors developed by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The Editorial Board takes all necessary measures to prevent and address any form of publication misconduct by monitoring all stages of the scholarly publishing process. Preventing unethical practices such as plagiarism, unauthorized reproduction, and duplicate publication constitutes a core responsibility of the journal team, which maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward any behavior that violates publication ethics and remains fully aware of its ethical obligations and responsibilities.

1. Journal Scope and Objectives

  • The journal publishes peer-reviewed scholarly research in all disciplines related to the humanities and applied sciences.
  • The journal adopts a broad publication policy that welcomes diverse types of scholarly contributions, including literature reviews, methodological improvements, novel methodologies, practical frameworks, case studies, comparative studies, analytical studies, applied research, and other forms of scientific inquiry.
  • The journal is committed to promoting knowledge dissemination through an Open Access publishing model, allowing unrestricted access to all published content without technical or financial barriers.
  • Priority is given to research that offers significant scientific contributions, introduces innovative methodologies, or provides solutions to important research problems.

2. Publication Standards and Peer Review Policy

  • The journal accepts only original manuscripts that have not been previously published or simultaneously submitted to another journal.
  • Submitted manuscripts must comply with recognized academic and ethical standards and be written in clear scholarly language free from linguistic and typographical errors.
  • All manuscripts undergo a double-blind peer review process conducted by qualified experts in the relevant field. The journal reserves the right to select reviewers from either its reviewer database or external specialists.
  • Confidentiality: The identities of authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the review process.
  • Non-Discrimination: Manuscripts are evaluated solely on the basis of scholarly merit, regardless of the authors’ nationality, affiliation, gender, or background.
  • Conflict of Interest Prevention: Editors and reviewers with personal, professional, or financial relationships that may influence their judgment are excluded from the review process.
  • Manuscripts containing evidence of plagiarism, as identified through plagiarism detection software, will be rejected.
  • The journal’s initial editorial screening typically takes between three days and one week from submission, while the final peer review process generally takes between two and four weeks.

3. Editorial Responsibilities

3.1 Editor-in-Chief

The Editor-in-Chief bears ultimate responsibility for all editorial decisions regarding manuscript submissions, revisions, acceptance, and rejection. Publication decisions are based on reviewers’ reports, scholarly merit, originality, clarity, significance, and relevance to the journal’s scope. The Editor-in-Chief may consult other editors or subject specialists when necessary. Legal considerations, including defamation, copyright infringement, and plagiarism, are also taken into account when making publication decisions.

3.2 Advisory Board

The Advisory Board contributes to the development of the journal’s strategic direction by providing scientific advice to the Editorial Board, recommending topics for special issues, nominating qualified reviewers, and periodically evaluating the journal’s academic performance. The Advisory Board also serves as a bridge between the journal and the wider academic community at both national and international levels, thereby strengthening the journal’s reputation and credibility.

3.3 Editorial Board

The Editorial Board consists of experienced researchers and academics recognized for their expertise. Editors are responsible for managing manuscript submissions, conducting preliminary evaluations, ensuring compliance with publication requirements, assigning manuscripts to reviewers, monitoring the review process, evaluating revised submissions, and contributing to the journal’s strategic development.

Editors are required to treat all submitted materials confidentially and must not use unpublished content for personal benefit. Editorial decisions must be fair, unbiased, and based exclusively on scientific criteria. Editors are also responsible for enforcing publication ethics policies and addressing complaints, appeals, or disputes related to the review and publication process.

3.4 Reviewers

Reviewers are responsible for:

  • Evaluating manuscripts based on originality, methodology, significance, and clarity.
  • Providing objective, constructive, and detailed review reports.
  • Maintaining strict confidentiality regarding all information contained in submitted manuscripts.
  • Refraining from using unpublished information for personal or professional gain.

Editorial recommendations may include:

  • Acceptance.
  • Minor revisions.
  • Major revisions.
  • Rejection.

Final publication decisions are made by the Editorial Board based on reviewers’ evaluations.

All manuscripts and reviewer comments are treated as confidential documents.

Any invited reviewer who feels unqualified or unable to review a manuscript should promptly notify the Editor-in-Chief and withdraw from the review process. Reviewers are expected to complete evaluations within the designated timeframe. They must not use information obtained through peer review for personal benefit and should decline assignments where conflicts of interest may exist due to competitive, collaborative, institutional, or other relationships with the author(s).

Reviewers are also expected to inform the Editor-in-Chief of any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under review and any published work of which they are aware.

4. Publication and Open Access Policy

Copyright

Authors retain copyright ownership of their work while granting the journal the right of first publication.

Open Access

The journal provides immediate and free access to all published content to support the broad dissemination of knowledge.

Licensing

Published articles are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0), which permits non-commercial use, sharing, and adaptation provided appropriate attribution is given to the original source.

5. Handling Ethical Misconduct

- Plagiarism

All manuscripts are screened using Turnitin plagiarism detection software. Manuscripts with a similarity index exceeding 25% will be rejected.

- Fabrication and Falsification

If research fabrication, falsification, or manipulation is confirmed after publication, the article will be formally retracted and an official notice will be issued.

- Disclosure of Funding

Authors must disclose any funding, sponsorship, or financial support that may have influenced the conduct or outcomes of the research.

The journal adheres to COPE principles and guidelines and actively seeks to prevent plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, and duplicate publication. The journal reserves the right to reject or retract any manuscript found to violate ethical standards.

6. Manuscript Acceptance and Rejection Policy

Acceptance or rejection decisions are based exclusively on peer reviewers’ reports and scientific merit, without external influence. Mediation, favoritism, or undue pressure regarding publication decisions is not permitted. Authors are entitled to respond to reviewers’ comments and submit revisions within the specified timeframe. Final decisions are made by the Editorial Board based on scholarly recommendations.

7. Final Publication Decision

The final decision regarding publication is made by the Editor-in-Chief or a designated member of the Editorial Board based on reviewers’ reports and scientific evaluations. Consideration is given to the manuscript’s quality, originality, and methodological rigor. Authors are informed of the decision and provided with relevant comments and justifications. Where necessary, authors are invited to revise their manuscripts accordingly.

8. Corrections and Retractions Policy

The journal is committed to correcting errors identified after publication through formal correction notices (errata or corrigenda). In cases involving plagiarism, fabrication, or serious ethical violations, articles will be formally retracted and a public retraction notice will be published.

9. Complaints and Appeals

Authors may appeal editorial decisions or submit complaints regarding the review process. Appeals are reviewed by an independent editorial committee. All appeals are handled transparently, and authors are informed of the outcome together with a clear explanation.

10. Editorial Integrity

The journal guarantees the full independence of editorial decisions from commercial, institutional, political, or personal influences. Manuscripts are evaluated solely on academic merit, without discrimination based on nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion, institutional affiliation, or personal background.

11. Confidentiality

Editors and reviewers are required to maintain strict confidentiality regarding all submitted materials. Information related to manuscripts may not be disclosed to unauthorized individuals. No portion of a manuscript under review may be used in personal research or activities prior to official publication. The journal is committed to safeguarding authors’ rights throughout all stages of the publication process.

12. Publication Fees Policy

The journal charges publication fees determined by its administration to cover costs associated with editorial processing, peer review, language editing, proofreading, archiving, hosting, database maintenance, and related publishing services.

No fees are collected until a manuscript has been formally accepted for publication. Publication fees do not influence editorial decisions in any way. The journal relies on publication fees and publisher support as operational funding sources.

13. Redundant and Duplicate Publication

The journal prohibits duplicate, redundant, or multiple publication of substantially similar content. All manuscripts are examined to verify originality and prior publication status. Cases of duplicate publication are handled according to internationally recognized ethical standards.

14. Withdrawal and Retraction

Articles may be withdrawn or retracted when substantial errors, research misconduct, or ethical violations are identified. Retractions are conducted transparently, with clear statements explaining the reasons and date of retraction. Retraction decisions follow COPE guidelines and are published as official notices.

15. Research Data Policy

The journal encourages authors to make research data available whenever possible, including providing links to data repositories or submitting supplementary materials that support the reported findings.

16. Third-Party Intermediary Policy

The journal accepts submissions exclusively through its official submission platform or designated email address. No dealings with intermediaries, agencies, or external organizations are permitted in order to preserve academic integrity and ensure the credibility of the publication process.

17. Archiving and Indexing Policy

The journal is committed to preserving its content through regular archiving in specialized digital preservation systems to ensure long-term accessibility. The journal also actively seeks inclusion in reputable international indexing and abstracting databases.

18. Role of the Publisher

The publisher is responsible for providing technical and administrative support for the publication process and ensuring the integrity and efficiency of all production-related activities associated with both electronic and print publication.

The publisher also contributes to developing the journal’s digital infrastructure, expanding its visibility and dissemination, and supporting its inclusion in international indexing databases in close collaboration with the Editorial Board.

19. Communication with the Editorial Board

For inquiries or to follow up on the status of a manuscript, authors may contact the Editorial Board through: