Editor-in-chief Responsibilities

The Editor-in-Chief plays a central role in maintaining the academic integrity, quality, and reputation of the journal. They are responsible for setting editorial policies, overseeing the peer-review process, and making final decisions on manuscript acceptance or rejection based solely on scholarly merit, originality, and relevance to the journal’s scope. The Editor-in-Chief ensures that all submissions are evaluated fairly, without bias or conflict of interest, and that ethical guidelines are strictly followed throughout the publication process. In addition to managing the editorial board and coordinating with associate editors and reviewers, the Editor-in-Chief is also tasked with promoting the journal’s visibility, encouraging high-quality submissions, and ensuring timely publication of accepted articles. When ethical concerns, complaints, or allegations of misconduct arise, the Editor-in-Chief is expected to investigate thoroughly and take appropriate corrective actions, in line with international standards such as those recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). They also serve as a liaison between authors, reviewers, and the publisher, maintaining transparent communication and upholding the journal’s academic mission.

• Manuscript Submission Oversight :  Monitor the journal’s submission platform for newly received manuscripts. Conduct an initial screening to check for scope alignment, formatting, and ethical compliance (e.g., plagiarism check, conflicts of interest). Assign suitable Associate Editors or Editorial Board members to handle manuscripts based on subject expertise.
• Reviewer Selection and Peer Review Coordination :  Ensure that appropriate reviewers are selected, ideally two or more, with relevant subject matter expertise. Confirm that selected reviewers have no conflicts of interest. Monitor the peer-review process to ensure timely responses and quality feedback. Address cases where reviewers delay, decline, or provide unprofessional feedback.
• Decision-Making on Manuscripts : Review peer reviewers’ comments and recommendations. Make a final decision (Accept, Revise, Reject) based on the manuscript’s quality, reviewer feedback, and journal standards. Communicate decisions clearly and professionally to the authors, including reasons for rejections or revision suggestions.
• Ethical Compliance and Integrity Checks: Ensure all manuscripts meet ethical standards, especially those involving human or animal research. Handle cases of plagiarism, authorship disputes, data fabrication, or other misconduct by following COPE guidelines. Issue corrections, retractions, or editorial notices when necessary.
• Coordination with Editorial Board : Lead regular meetings with the editorial team to review policies, set goals, and discuss issues. Collaborate with Associate Editors on handling high-volume submissions or special cases. Recruit qualified reviewers and board members to expand the journal’s editorial expertise.
• Communication and Author Relations : Maintain professional and transparent communication with authors during the review and decision process. Encourage submissions from reputable researchers and institutions. Address author queries and appeals with fairness and confidentiality.
• Publication and Production Oversight : Work with the production team to ensure manuscripts are edited, formatted, and published on schedule. Approve final versions of articles before publication. Ensure accuracy in metadata, author details, figures, and references.
• Journal Development and Strategy : Promote the journal to increase its visibility, citations, and impact. Oversee special issues, thematic calls, and invited papers. Evaluate journal metrics and implement strategies to improve quality and reputation.
• Policy Development and Compliance : Establish and update editorial policies and ethical guidelines. Ensure compliance with indexing requirements (e.g., Scopus, Web of Science, SCIE, ESCI, PubMed). Align journal practices with international publishing standards (e.g., COPE).

Editors' Responsibilities

Editors play a crucial role in maintaining the quality, fairness, and integrity of the journal's publication process. Their primary responsibility is to evaluate submitted manuscripts to ensure they align with the journal’s aims and scope and meet fundamental academic and ethical standards. Editors must conduct an initial assessment of each manuscript for originality, relevance, clarity, and adherence to submission guidelines. If a manuscript meets these basic criteria, the editor is responsible for overseeing a fair and timely peer-review process by selecting qualified, independent reviewers with expertise in the subject matters. They must ensure that reviewers' comments are constructive, respectful, and focused on the academic content of the work. Based on the reviewers’ reports and their own assessment, editors make informed recommendations to the Editor-in-Chief regarding acceptance, revision, or rejection. Throughout the editorial process, editors must maintain confidentiality, avoid conflicts of interest, and refrain from using any unpublished information for personal gain. They are also expected to monitor for any signs of ethical misconduct, such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or improper authorship claims, and report these to the Editor-in-Chief or ethical oversight committee. In addition, editors should communicate clearly and professionally with authors, providing transparent reasoning for decisions and offering guidance when revisions are required. Beyond manuscript handling, editors contribute to the strategic development of the journal by promoting its visibility, suggesting topics for special issues, and ensuring the continuous improvement of editorial practices. Ultimately, editors uphold the journal's academic standards and help build trust within the research community.

• Initial Manuscript Evaluation : Review newly assigned manuscripts to assess their relevance, originality, and suitability for the journal. Conduct a preliminary check for basic quality standards, such as structure, grammar, and compliance with submission guidelines. Identify and report any potential ethical concerns (e.g., Plagiarism, Duplicate Submission, Authorship Issues).
• Managing the Peer Review Process: Select qualified and unbiased peer reviewers with expertise in the manuscript’s subject area. Ensure the review process follows a double-blind model (if applicable) to maintain impartiality. Monitor the progress of reviews, sending reminders to reviewers as needed to ensure timely feedback. Assess reviewer comments and ensure they are constructive, respectful, and professionally written.
• Making Editorial Recommendations: Evaluate the quality of reviewer feedback and the manuscript’s contribution to the field. Recommend one of the following to the Editor-in-Chief: Accept, Minor Revisions, Major Revisions, or Reject. In cases of revision, provide the authors with clear, actionable guidance based on reviewer and editorial feedback.
• Ensuring Ethical Compliance: Ensure that submitted manuscripts adhere to ethical research practices, especially those involving human or animal subjects. Report any suspected misconduct (e.g., data falsification, plagiarism) to the Editor-in-Chief immediately. Help resolve disputes related to authorship, conflicts of interest, or reviewer bias, following COPE guidelines.
• Maintaining Confidentiality and Objectivity: Keep all manuscript content, author identities, and reviewer feedback strictly confidential. Refrain from using any information obtained through the editorial process for personal or academic advantage. Recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where a personal or professional conflict of interest exists.
• Communication and Decision Support: Communicate decisions and revisions clearly and respectfully to authors. Act as a liaison between authors and reviewers when clarification or additional explanation is needed. Consult with the Editor-in-Chief on complex or borderline cases to ensure consistency in editorial standards.
• Supporting Journal Development: Contribute to the growth and visibility of the journal by recommending high-quality submissions. Suggest topics for special issues or thematic collections. Participate in editorial board meetings and strategic planning initiatives.

• Editorial Board
• Editorial Associates
• Editorial Digital Certificates