Editorial Policies

The editorial policies of the FUDMA Journal of Sciences (FJS) are aligned with international standards of research integrity, including the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity and the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). All authors submitting manuscripts must acknowledge and agree to comply with these policies.

Authorship Requirements

Each listed author must satisfy the following criteria:

  • Made a substantive scientific contribution to the research — such as study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, or manuscript preparation
  • Endorsed the intellectual content and conclusions of the work
  • Approved the final version of the manuscript as submitted
  • Agreed to be accountable for their contribution and to address questions regarding accuracy or integrity

Listing All Contributors

All individuals who made meaningful contributions to the research must be listed as authors. This includes:

  • Principal and co-investigators responsible for the study design
  • Postgraduate students and research assistants whose contributions were integral to the work
  • Laboratory and field personnel who contributed substantially to data collection or analysis
  • All co-authors must have adequate knowledge of the study to verify the accuracy of the results

No "Gift Authorship"

Including individuals who did not make a genuine scientific contribution to the research — including honorary or courtesy authors — is unethical and prohibited.

Consequence: Manuscripts in which authorship has been misrepresented may be rejected, and the institutions of the authors concerned may be notified.

Corresponding Author Responsibilities

The corresponding author is the primary editorial contact and holds the following responsibilities:

  • Submission Responsibility: Accountable for managing and completing the submission, including uploading evidence of payment
  • Accountability: Responsible for the accuracy of all information submitted with the manuscript
  • Communication: Serves as the principal liaison between the author team and the FJS editorial office throughout review and publication
  • Post-Publication Duties: Following acceptance, the corresponding author is responsible for:
    • Reviewing and approving galley proofs within 48 hours
    • Responding to editorial queries about the published article
    • Handling requests for clarification, corrections, or data sharing

Multiple Corresponding Authors: Following manuscript acceptance, additional corresponding authors may be designated on the title page. All designated corresponding authors share accountability for the published work.

COMPETING INTERESTS POLICY

FJS's competing interests policy is designed to manage — rather than eliminate — potential conflicts. The governing principle is transparency: all potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed so that readers can independently evaluate the work in its full context.

A declared competing interest seldom invalidates research findings or alters editorial decisions, but provides important contextual information for the scientific community.

Types of Competing Interests

i. Financial Competing Interests

Financial interests include stakes in organisations whose products, services, or outcomes relate to the manuscript's subject matter. Examples include:

  • Employment by, or equity in, an organisation whose product or technology is evaluated in the research
  • Consultancy fees, research contracts, or sponsored funding from related organisations
  • Patent interests in materials, methods, or technologies described in the manuscript

ii. Non-Financial Competing Interests

Non-financial interests include personal, professional, or institutional associations that could reasonably influence the research or its interpretation. Examples include:

  • Membership of relevant professional bodies, policy committees, or advocacy groups
  • Personal or professional rivalries with individuals whose work is assessed or cited
  • Ideological or advocacy positions pertinent to the subject matter

CITATION POLICY

Authors are expected to cite sources responsibly, accurately, and in accordance with APA 7th Edition conventions.

1. Primary and Secondary Sources

  • Prioritise primary sources — original research articles, technical reports, and data — wherever possible
  • Secondary sources are acceptable where primary sources are unavailable
  • Ensure all cited sources are accessible to the readership

2. Electronic Sources

  • Include a DOI (preferred) or stable URL for all online sources
  • Verify that all web addresses are functional and link to the original source

3. Self-Citation

  • Self-citations are permitted where directly relevant to the current work
  • Must not be used to artificially inflate citation metrics
  • Should not constitute more than 10–15% of the total reference list

4. Unpublished Work

  • Manuscripts in preparation or under review elsewhere must not be cited as references
  • Cite as "unpublished data" or "personal communication" with the originator's permission
  • Include the date and contact details of the person providing the communication

5. Plagiarism and Attribution

  • Proper attribution: All citations must correctly credit the original authors
  • Quotation marks: Direct quotations must appear in quotation marks with page numbers
  • Paraphrasing: Paraphrased material still requires proper attribution
  • Zero tolerance: All forms of plagiarism are strictly prohibited

General Editorial Principles

FJS operates according to the following core principles:

  1. Scientific Integrity: Authors must report their findings honestly, transparently, and completely
  2. Research Integrity: Misconduct undermines scientific knowledge and erodes public trust in research
  3. Author Accountability: All authors acknowledge responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of their work
  4. Transparency: Editorial policies and decisions are made openly, consistently, and without bias
  5. Fair Review: All manuscripts receive a rigorous, impartial, and constructive double-blind evaluation

Acknowledgement

By submitting a manuscript to FJS, all authors confirm that they have read and understood these Editorial Policies and agree to comply with all requirements contained herein.

CONTACT AND SUPPORT

For enquiries, contact: FJS Editorial Office

Last Updated: 28th May, 2026 – FJS Editorial Board