Ethics and Policies

The Asian Journal of Applied Science and Technology (AJAST) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics, transparency, and academic integrity. The journal adheres to the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and expects all participants in the publication process—including authors, reviewers, editors, and publishers—to follow ethical best practices.

1. Publication Ethics and Integrity

AJAST is dedicated to publishing high-quality, original research that is conducted and reported honestly. Authors must ensure that their work is free from fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or any form of unethical manipulation. The journal promotes transparency, reproducibility, and accountability in research. Any violation of ethical standards, whether identified before or after publication, will be addressed seriously and may result in rejection, retraction, or notification to the author’s institution.

2. Authorship Policy

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant intellectual contributions to the research work. Contributions may include conceptualization, methodology, data analysis, manuscript drafting, or supervision. All listed authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and agree to its submission. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all contributors are appropriately acknowledged. Changes in authorship after acceptance are not permitted and may require resubmission.

3. Conflict of Interest Policy

All authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence the research or its interpretation. This includes funding sources, affiliations, or competing interests. Transparent disclosure helps maintain trust in the publication process and ensures unbiased editorial decisions.

4. Use of AI Tools Policy

Authors must clearly disclose any use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the preparation of their manuscript, including tools used for text generation, data analysis, or image creation. AI tools must not be listed as authors, as they cannot take responsibility for the work. Authors remain fully accountable for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of all content, including AI-assisted material. The use of AI must be transparently described in the manuscript, and any misuse that compromises scientific integrity may result in rejection.

5. Plagiarism Policy

AJAST maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism. All submissions are screened using plagiarism detection software such as Turnitin. Plagiarism includes copying text, ideas, figures, or data without proper attribution, as well as improper paraphrasing or self-plagiarism without citation. Manuscripts exceeding acceptable similarity thresholds will be rejected or returned for correction.

6. Duplicate Submission Policy

Authors must ensure that their manuscript is not under consideration by another journal and has not been previously published. Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously is considered unethical and will result in immediate rejection.

7. Data Integrity and Availability

Authors are responsible for ensuring that all data presented in their manuscript are accurate, reliable, and free from manipulation. Data fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting is strictly prohibited. Authors may be asked to provide raw data for editorial review and are encouraged to make their data accessible for verification and reproducibility.

8. Ethical Approval and Informed Consent

Research involving human participants or animals must be conducted in accordance with ethical standards and approved by a recognized ethics committee or Institutional Review Board. Informed consent must be obtained from participants where applicable. Authors must clearly state ethical approval details in their manuscript or indicate “Not Applicable” when appropriate.

9. Peer Review Policy

AJAST follows a rigorous double-blind peer review process in which both authors and reviewers remain anonymous. Manuscripts are evaluated by independent experts based on originality, scientific validity, methodology, and relevance to the journal’s scope. Reviewers are expected to provide constructive, objective, and timely feedback.

10. Editorial Workflow Policy

All submitted manuscripts undergo a structured editorial process that includes initial screening, plagiarism checking, editorial assessment, and peer review. Manuscripts that meet the journal’s scope and quality standards are sent to reviewers. Based on reviewer comments, decisions may include acceptance, minor revision, major revision, or rejection. The Managing editor has final authority over all publication decisions.

11. Roles and Responsibilities

The integrity of the publication process at AJAST depends on the responsible conduct of all participants, including editors, reviewers, authors, and publisher. Each role carries specific ethical obligations to ensure transparency, fairness, and scientific rigor.

Responsibilities of Editors 

Editors are responsible for making impartial and independent decisions regarding the publication of manuscripts based on their scientific merit, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope. Editorial decisions must not be influenced by commercial interests, personal relationships, or external pressures.

Editors must ensure a fair and unbiased peer review process by selecting qualified reviewers and avoiding conflicts of interest. They are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and must not disclose any information about a manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, and relevant editorial staff.

Editors should take reasonable steps to identify and prevent the publication of papers involving research misconduct. In cases of suspected ethical issues, editors must follow COPE guidelines to investigate and resolve concerns. They are also responsible for issuing corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern when necessary.

Responsibilities of Reviewers 

Reviewers play a crucial role in maintaining the quality and integrity of the journal. They are expected to provide objective, constructive, and timely evaluations of manuscripts to assist editors in decision-making and to help authors improve their work.

Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents and must not share or use any unpublished information for personal advantage. They should decline to review manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest arising from competitive, collaborative, or personal relationships.

Reviews should be conducted fairly, without personal criticism of the authors. Reviewers are expected to identify relevant published work that has not been cited and to point out any potential ethical concerns, including plagiarism or data duplication.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their work is original, accurate, and conducted in accordance with ethical standards. They must present a clear and honest account of their research, including sufficient detail to allow replication. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behavior and are unacceptable.

Authors must properly cite the work of others and avoid plagiarism in any form. All sources of funding, conflicts of interest, and contributions must be disclosed transparently. Authors are responsible for obtaining ethical approval and informed consent where required.

The corresponding author is responsible for communication with the journal and ensuring that all co-authors have approved the final manuscript. Authors must promptly notify the journal if significant errors are discovered after publication and cooperate in issuing corrections or retractions when necessary.

Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher supports the editorial process and ensures that ethical standards are upheld throughout publication. The publisher works in collaboration with editors to handle cases of misconduct, retractions, and corrections in accordance with COPE guidelines.

The publisher is committed to maintaining editorial independence, ensuring that commercial or financial interests do not influence editorial decisions. It also ensures the long-term preservation, accessibility, and integrity of the published content.

12. Appeals and Complaints Policy

AJAST provides a mechanism for authors to appeal editorial decisions. Appeals must be supported by valid justification or new evidence. Complaints regarding editorial or review processes are handled fairly and transparently in accordance with COPE guidelines.

13. Allegations of Misconduct Policy

All allegations of research or publication misconduct are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly. This applies to both submitted and published articles. The journal follows COPE procedures to ensure fair and unbiased resolution of such cases.

14. Malpractice Statement

AJAST strictly prohibits unethical practices such as plagiarism, duplicate submission, authorship fraud, and data manipulation. Any confirmed malpractice will result in appropriate actions, including rejection, retraction, and reporting to relevant authorities.

15. Retraction and Corrections Policy

Articles may be retracted if significant errors, ethical violations, or fraudulent data are identified. Retraction notices will be sent to the corresponding author. Corrections or errata will be issued when necessary to maintain the accuracy of the scientific record.

16. Withdrawal Policy

Authors may request withdrawal of their manuscript for valid reasons. Requests must be formally submitted and approved by the editorial office. Withdrawal at advanced stages of the publication process is discouraged.

17. Open Access Policy

AJAST provides full open access to all published articles. Readers can freely access, download, and share content without restriction, provided proper citation is given. This promotes the wide dissemination of scientific knowledge.

18. Licensing Policy

All published articles are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License. Authors retain copyright while granting the journal the right of first publication.

19. Archiving Policy

AJAST is committed to the long-term preservation and accessibility of published content. All articles are digitally archived through recognized preservation platforms, including the Internet Archive, to ensure continued availability and accessibility for the academic community.

20. Self-Archiving Policy

Authors are permitted to deposit their published articles in institutional repositories, personal websites, or subject-based repositories, provided acknowledgment of the original publication is included.

21. Privacy Policy

The journal respects the privacy of authors and reviewers. Personal information such as names and email addresses will be used solely for journal-related purposes and will not be shared with third parties.

22. Advertisement Policy

AJAST does not accept or display advertisements on its platform and does not endorse any products, services, or organizations.

23. Transparency Policy

The journal promotes transparency in editorial processes, peer review, and conflict disclosures. All policies are aligned with COPE’s principles of transparency and best practices in scholarly publishing.

24. Funding and Revenue Policy

Authors must disclose all sources of funding associated with their research. AJAST operates as a self-financed journal supported by article processing charges (APC), which cover editorial and publishing expenses.

25. Fee Waiver Policy

AJAST does not generally provide fee waivers. All accepted manuscripts are subject to publication charges as outlined in the journal guidelines.

26. Terms, Conditions, Cancellation and Refund Policy

Submission of a manuscript implies agreement with all journal policies. Authors are responsible for ensuring originality, obtaining necessary approvals, and complying with ethical standards. No major changes are permitted after publication. Withdrawal before acceptance may not incur charges; however, no refunds will be issued after publication. Refunds for any excess payments deposited may be processed within the specified timeframe.

27. Copyright Policy

Authors retain copyright of their work while granting AJAST the right of first publication. Upon acceptance, authors are required to submit a signed copyright agreement confirming that the work is original and has not been published elsewhere. The journal reserves the right to publish, distribute, and archive the article under the applicable license terms.

28. Preprint Policy

AJAST allows authors to submit manuscripts that have been previously shared on recognized preprint servers. Authors must disclose any preprint posting at the time of submission and ensure that the manuscript is not under formal peer review elsewhere. Upon publication, authors are encouraged to update the preprint with a link to the final published version.

29. Corrections, Expressions of Concern, and Updates Policy

In addition to retractions, AJAST may issue corrections or expressions of concern where appropriate. Minor errors that do not affect the scientific conclusions will be corrected through errata. In cases where serious concerns arise but investigations are ongoing, an expression of concern may be published to inform readers.

30. Data Sharing and Reproducibility Policy

AJAST encourages authors to make their research data available to the scientific community wherever possible. Authors should provide data availability statements and deposit datasets in recognized repositories when applicable. This supports transparency, validation, and reproducibility of research findings.

31. Image Integrity and Manipulation Policy

Authors must ensure that all images, figures, and graphical data are accurate and not misleading. Any adjustments (e.g., brightness, contrast) must be applied uniformly and described if necessary. Manipulation that alters the interpretation of results is strictly prohibited and may result in rejection or retraction.

32. Citation and Referencing Policy

Authors must ensure that all sources are properly cited and referenced. Citations should be relevant, accurate, and not manipulated to artificially increase citation counts. Inappropriate citations or excessive self-citation and citation stacking are discouraged.

33. Confidentiality Policy

All manuscripts submitted to AJAST are treated as confidential documents. Editors and reviewers must not disclose any information about a manuscript to anyone other than those involved in the review process. Unpublished data must not be used for personal research without explicit permission.

34. Human and Animal Rights Policy

Research involving human participants must comply with international ethical standards such as the Declaration of Helsinki. Studies involving animals must follow institutional and national guidelines for ethical treatment. Authors must clearly state compliance in their manuscripts.

35. Clinical Trial Registration Policy

Clinical trials must be registered in a publicly accessible registry prior to participant enrollment. Authors must provide the registration number and details within the manuscript to ensure transparency and accountability.

36. Language and Reporting Standards Policy

Manuscripts must be written in clear, professional English. Authors are encouraged to follow established reporting guidelines (e.g., CONSORT, PRISMA, STROBE) where applicable to improve clarity, completeness, and transparency of reporting.

37. Post-Publication Discussion Policy

AJAST encourages scholarly discussion and feedback on published articles. Authors may be invited to respond to comments or critiques. Any valid concerns raised post-publication will be reviewed and addressed appropriately.

38. Indexing and Compliance Policy

The journal aims to comply with the requirements of indexing databases and international publishing standards. Authors are expected to follow submission guidelines strictly to ensure compliance with indexing and archiving systems.

39. Digital Object Identifier (DOI) Policy

Each published article is assigned a unique DOI to ensure persistent identification and easy accessibility. Once assigned, the DOI remains permanent, and no major changes to the article are permitted.

40. Publication Timeline Policy

AJAST strives to maintain an efficient publication timeline. Peer review, revision, and publication processes are conducted within defined timeframes, although delays may occur depending on reviewer availability and manuscript revisions.

41. Editorial Independence Policy

Editorial decisions are made independently of commercial or financial interests. The editorial team ensures that publication decisions are based solely on scientific merit, originality, and relevance to the journal scope.

42. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy

AJAST is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in scholarly publishing. Manuscripts are evaluated without regard to authors’ gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, or institutional affiliation.

43. Misuse of Published Content Policy

Users of published content must comply with licensing terms. Any misuse, misrepresentation, or unauthorized commercial use of content without proper attribution is prohibited.

44. Third-Party Material Policy

Authors must obtain permission for any third-party copyrighted material used in their manuscript. Proper acknowledgment must be provided, and documentation may be requested during the review process.

45. Ethical Oversight and Compliance Policy

AJAST regularly reviews and updates its policies to align with international ethical standards and publishing best practices. Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to remain compliant with these evolving standards.

46. Use of GenAI Tools Policy

Authors must clearly disclose any use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools in the preparation of their manuscript, that includes tools used for text generation, language editing, data analysis, image creation, or graphical enhancement. GenAI tools must not be listed as authors or co-authors, as they cannot take responsibility for the work. Authors submitting to AJAST remain fully accountable for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and ethical compliance of all submitted content, including GenAI-assisted material. The use of GenAI tools must be transparently described within the manuscript, and any misuse that compromises scientific integrity, publication ethics, confidentiality, or originality may result in manuscript rejection, correction, or retraction in accordance with AJAST editorial policies and international scholarly publishing standards.

47. Revenue Sources Policy

AJAST operates as a self-financed open access journal supported through Article Processing Charges (APC), which are used to cover editorial management, peer review, production, website maintenance, archiving, DOI registration, and publishing expenses. The payment of APC or any other financial consideration does not influence editorial decisions, peer review outcomes, or manuscript acceptance.

48. Direct Marketing Policy

AJAST conducts all direct marketing and promotional activities in a professional, ethical, accurate, and transparent manner. Information provided through email communications, calls for papers, announcements, and journal promotions accurately reflects the journal’s scope, editorial policies, peer review process, indexing status, and publication practices. The journal does not engage in misleading, deceptive, or aggressive solicitation practices, and all marketing activities are carried out in accordance with accepted scholarly publishing standards.