Conflicts of Interest / Competing Interests

Introduction

Maintaining transparency regarding potential influences on the research and publication process is fundamental to scholarly integrity. The International Journal on Advanced Science, Engineering and Information Technology (IJASEIT) requires full disclosure of all conflicts of interest (also referred to as competing interests) that could potentially affect the objectivity, integrity, or perception of the submitted work. This policy aligns with the COPE Core Practices and the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing.

Description

A conflict of interest arises when personal, professional, financial, or other relationships could inappropriately influence—or be perceived to influence—judgments, decisions, or actions in the publication process. These conflicts may be:

  • Financial: employment, funding, stock ownership, patents, consultancies, or honoraria

  • Non-financial: personal relationships, academic competition, ideological beliefs, or institutional affiliations

Conflicts can affect authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial board members. Full disclosure enables readers and stakeholders to assess the potential impact of these interests on the research.

Policy

1. Authors’ Responsibilities

All authors must declare any actual or potential conflicts of interest that may have influenced their work. This includes:

  • Sources of financial support for the study

  • Affiliations or financial interests in entities connected to the research

  • Any form of personal, institutional, or ideological relationship that could influence the manuscript

Declarations must be made:

  • In the manuscript’s "Conflicts of Interest" section

  • Using a standardized disclosure form where applicable

  • At the time of submission and updated if new interests arise during peer review

If no conflicts exist, authors must state: “The authors declare no conflicts of interest.”

2. Reviewers’ Responsibilities

Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that could affect their objectivity, including:

  • Professional or personal relationships with the authors

  • Competitive or collaborative connections

  • Financial or institutional affiliations

Reviewers must recuse themselves from reviewing a manuscript if a conflict is present. If unsure, they should consult the editor before accepting the review assignment.

3. Editors and Editorial Board Responsibilities

Editors and editorial board members must:

  • Disclose any competing interests related to submitted or published manuscripts

  • Recuse themselves from decision-making processes where a conflict exists

  • Ensure decisions are based solely on scholarly merit, without influence from personal or financial interests

IJASEIT publishes conflict of interest disclosures for editorial staff and guest editors where relevant.

4. Handling Undisclosed Conflicts

If a conflict of interest is discovered post-submission or post-publication and was not disclosed, IJASEIT will:

  • Investigate the matter promptly

  • Request clarification from the parties involved

  • Publish a correction, expression of concern, or retraction if necessary, in accordance with COPE guidance

5. Transparency in Funding and Support

All sources of funding or institutional support must be fully acknowledged in the manuscript, including:

  • Grant numbers

  • The role of funders in study design, data collection, analysis, writing, and decision to publish

Authors must clearly state if the funders had no involvement in these aspects.

6. Ongoing Compliance and Review

This policy is subject to periodic review to ensure continued alignment with evolving best practices and COPE guidance. IJASEIT is committed to fostering an open and ethically responsible publication environment.