Publication Ethics
This journal is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and takes all possible measures against any publication malpractices. The following ethical guidelines are based on the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) principles and apply to all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher.
Responsibilities of Authors
Authors must ensure that their work is entirely original. Any text, data, or ideas borrowed from other sources must be properly cited. Plagiarism in any form, including self-plagiarism, is unacceptable and will result in immediate rejection or retraction of the manuscript. Authors should present accurate and reliable data. Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data is considered unethical and will not be tolerated. Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously is unethical. Authors must confirm that the manuscript has not been published elsewhere or is under consideration by another journal.
All individuals who have made significant contributions to the research should be listed as co-authors. Others who have participated in certain aspects of the research should be acknowledged appropriately. The corresponding author must ensure that all co-authors have approved the final version of the manuscript and agreed to its submission. Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence the research or its interpretation. All sources of funding should be acknowledged. Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must always be given. Authors should cite publications that have been influential in determining the nature of the reported work. If authors discover significant errors or inaccuracies in their published work, they must promptly notify the journal and cooperate in retracting or correcting the paper.
Responsibilities of Reviewers
Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents and must not share any information about the manuscript with anyone without the editor's permission. Reviews should be conducted objectively, with no personal criticism of the author. Reviewers should express their views clearly with supporting arguments. Reviewers should complete their reviews within the stipulated time frame. If they cannot meet the deadline, they should inform the editor promptly.
Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest and decline to review a manuscript if they feel unqualified or unable to provide an unbiased review. Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors. Any substantial similarity or overlap with other published works should be reported to the editor.
Responsibilities of Editors
Editors should evaluate manuscripts based on their intellectual content without regard to the authors' race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnicity, citizenship, or political philosophy. Editors and editorial staff must not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, or other editorial advisers.
Editors should recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest, and they should avoid making decisions on submissions where they cannot be impartial. Editors are responsible for deciding which manuscripts should be published, based on the validity of the work and its importance to the field. They may consult with reviewers and the editorial board in making these decisions. Editors should ensure that any errors, inaccuracies, or misleading statements are corrected promptly and transparently. Retractions or corrections should be issued when necessary. Editors should take reasonable steps to identify and prevent the publication of papers where research misconduct has occurred. They should act promptly to address any ethical concerns raised about a submitted or published manuscript.
Responsibilities of the Publisher
The publisher shall support the editors in maintaining the integrity of the academic record and ensure that editorial decisions are not influenced by commercial or personal interests. The publisher shall take appropriate measures to address cases of ethical misconduct, including plagiarism, data fabrication, and duplicate publication. The publisher is committed to the permanent availability and preservation of scholarly research and ensures accessibility by partnering with organizations and maintaining our own digital archive.
Handling Ethical Issues
In cases of alleged or proven scientific misconduct, fraudulent publication, or plagiarism, the publisher, in close collaboration with the editors, will take all appropriate measures to clarify the situation and to amend the article in question. This includes the prompt publication of an erratum, clarification, or, in the most severe case, the retraction of the affected work. The publisher, together with the editors, shall take reasonable steps to identify and prevent the publication of papers where research misconduct has occurred, and under no circumstances encourage such misconduct or knowingly allow such misconduct to take place.
By adhering to these ethical guidelines, the journal aims to maintain the integrity of the academic publishing process and foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and respect within the scholarly community.
Contact
Timbou African Academic Publication works closely with authors and editors to promote adherence to core principles of publication ethics, as expressed by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). We encourage the use of COPE resources, available on their website. All manuscripts should confirm to standards of ethical behaviour. Where we become aware of ethical issues, we are committed to investigating and taking necessary action to maintain the integrity of the literature.
Should you have any concerns about a published manuscript, we encourage you to contact us via email below.
Research Integrity and Publication Ethics team
and Editorial team