Ethics policy

International Journal of Civil Engineering and Concrete Structures (IJCECS)
ISSN: 2455-7714 | Publisher: Thomson & Ryberg Publications

The International Journal of Civil Engineering and Concrete Structures (IJCECS) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and academic integrity. This policy outlines the ethical responsibilities of authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher to ensure transparency, accountability, and scholarly rigor.

Our ethics framework is guided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and adheres to internationally recognized standards in scholarly publishing.

1. Responsibilities of Authors

  • Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that their work is original, and any use of others’ work is properly cited. Plagiarism in any form—including self-plagiarism—is strictly prohibited.

  • Multiple Submissions: Authors must not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal at the same time.

  • Authorship and Contributions: Authorship should include only those who have significantly contributed to the research. All contributors must approve the final version of the manuscript.

  • Conflict of Interest: Any financial or non-financial interests that may influence the research must be disclosed.

  • Data Integrity: Authors are responsible for the accuracy and reliability of data presented. Manipulation or fabrication of data is considered unethical.

  • Corrections and Retractions: Authors are obliged to inform the editor if significant errors are found post-publication so that appropriate corrections or retractions can be issued.

2. Responsibilities of Editors

  • Fair and Unbiased Decisions: Manuscripts are evaluated based on scholarly merit without regard to the authors’ gender, race, affiliation, or nationality.

  • Confidentiality: Editors must treat all submissions as confidential documents and must not disclose information about a manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, and editorial staff.

  • Conflict of Interest: Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest.

  • Publication Decisions: The Editor-in-Chief has the final authority over publication decisions, based on reviewer recommendations and compliance with journal policies.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

  • Confidentiality: Reviewers must keep all information about the manuscript confidential and not share it with others.

  • Objectivity and Constructive Feedback: Reviews should be objective, with constructive feedback that helps authors improve their work. Personal criticism is not acceptable.

  • Timeliness: Reviewers must respond within the agreed timeframe or notify the editor if they are unable to meet the deadline.

  • Acknowledgment of Sources: Reviewers must identify relevant published work that is not cited and report any ethical concerns, including suspected plagiarism or duplicate publication.

4. Responsibilities of the Publisher

  • Integrity and Transparency: Thomson & Ryberg Publications is committed to maintaining the integrity of the academic record and publishing processes.

  • Addressing Misconduct: In cases of alleged or proven scientific misconduct, fraud, or plagiarism, the publisher will take appropriate action, including retraction or correction of the affected articles.

  • Archiving and Accessibility: The publisher ensures long-term digital preservation of all published content and provides open access to readers.

By submitting to the International Journal of Civil Engineering and Concrete Structures (IJCECS), all authors, reviewers, and editors agree to comply with this Ethics Policy and uphold the highest standards of ethical publishing.