Journal of Sustainable Civil Engineering & Technology(JSCET)

Ethics Policy

JSCET is committed to maintaining rigorous ethical standards in scholarly publishing. In alignment with the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (https://publicationethics.org/), all contributors—authors, reviewers, editors, and publishers—are expected to uphold integrity, transparency, and professionalism throughout the publication process.

Authors

Authors submitting to JSCET must ensure that their manuscripts are original, unpublished, and not under consideration by any other journal. Each listed author should have made meaningful contributions to the research, including involvement in the study’s design, data collection or analysis, manuscript drafting or revision, and final approval of the version submitted. All authors must meet these criteria collectively.

Proper citation practices are essential. Authors must acknowledge the work and words of others appropriately, avoiding plagiarism and excessive bulk referencing. The submitted work should be factually accurate, with data gathered and interpreted honestly. If the manuscript is adapted from a thesis or prior work, this must be disclosed to the Editor-in-Chief through a formal cover letter and supporting documentation.

One author should be designated as the corresponding author and provide valid contact information. Authors are also responsible for complying with copyright laws and conventions, submitting a signed Copyright Transfer Agreement before publication, and promptly notifying the editorial team of any errors discovered post-publication. They must engage constructively with the review process, responding to feedback and making necessary revisions as requested by reviewers or editors.

Reviewers

Reviewers play a vital role in maintaining the quality and credibility of published research. They are expected to evaluate manuscripts confidentially and objectively, offering constructive suggestions to help authors improve their work. Before accepting a review assignment, reviewers should ensure they have no conflicts of interest and are able to meet the review deadline. If unable to do so, they must inform the editor promptly and withdraw from the process.

Manuscripts under review must be treated as confidential and not discussed with others unless authorized by the editor. Reviewers should assess the originality of submissions and remain alert to signs of plagiarism or data falsification, reporting any concerns immediately. They must follow editorial guidelines and respect review timelines to ensure a smooth and fair process. Personal criticism of authors is inappropriate, and reviewers must refrain from using unpublished data for their own research.

Editors

Editors are responsible for overseeing the manuscript review and decision-making process with impartiality and professionalism. They must assign qualified reviewers based on the manuscript’s subject matter and ensure that all submissions are handled confidentially. Editors should recuse themselves from handling any manuscript where a conflict of interest exists.

Decisions to accept or reject a manuscript should be based on its originality, clarity, significance, and relevance to the journal’s scope. Editors must not use unpublished data from submitted manuscripts for personal research. In cases where ethical concerns arise—such as allegations of misconduct or disputes over authorship—editors are expected to respond promptly and work collaboratively with authors to resolve the issue.

Publisher Responsibilities

The publisher supports ethical publishing by ensuring that all stakeholders follow best practices and journal policies. This includes facilitating editorial workflows, verifying publication rights and licensing agreements, and supporting the indexing and dissemination of published articles. The publisher works closely with the Editor-in-Chief to investigate and resolve cases of misconduct, including plagiarism and fraudulent research.

JSCET and its publisher are committed to inclusivity and do not discriminate based on age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other personal characteristic. The publisher is also responsible for regularly reviewing and updating journal policies to reflect evolving standards in academic publishing.

JSCET does not charge Article Processing Fees (APC). All accepted articles are published free of charge, ensuring open access to high-quality research.