Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement

This document defines the ethical obligations of all individuals involved in the publication process of the Journal Community Service Consortium. These parties include authors, editors, peer reviewers, and the publisher, namely the Institute of Research and Community Development, Universitas Ciputra Surabaya.

The principles stated in this document are formulated in reference to the COPE’s Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

Ethical Guideline for Journal Publication

Publication in a peer-reviewed journal contributes significantly to the advancement of credible and trustworthy scholarly knowledge. Published articles demonstrate the academic integrity of the authors as well as the quality of the institutions supporting the research. Therefore, authors, editors, reviewers, the publisher, and the wider academic community are required to comply with established ethical standards throughout the publication process.

As the publisher, the Institute of Research and Community Development of Universitas Ciputra is fully committed to maintaining ethical integrity in journal publishing. Editorial decisions are made independently and are not influenced by advertising, sponsorship, or other commercial interests. The publisher and editorial board also encourage collaboration and communication with other journals or publishers when necessary.

Editorial Responsibilities and Publication Decisions

The Editor-in-Chief holds the authority to determine which manuscripts are accepted for publication. Decisions are based on scholarly evaluations and recommendations provided by editors and peer reviewers. All decisions comply with applicable legal regulations related to defamation, copyright protection, and plagiarism. Final decisions are made in consultation with the editorial board and reviewers.

Fairness and Non-Discrimination

Manuscripts are evaluated exclusively on their academic quality and relevance. Editors and reviewers do not consider personal characteristics of the authors, including race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, nationality, citizenship, or political views.

Confidentiality

All submitted manuscripts are treated as confidential documents. Editors, reviewers, and editorial staff may not disclose any information regarding a manuscript except to the corresponding author, reviewers, prospective reviewers, editorial members, or the publisher, as required for the publication process.

Disclosure and Conflict of Interest

Any unpublished material obtained through the manuscript review process must not be used by editors or reviewers for personal research or other advantages.

Duties of Reviewers

Role in Editorial Decisions

The journal applies a double-blind peer review system. Reviewers provide objective assessments to support the Editor-in-Chief in making publication decisions and may offer constructive feedback to enhance manuscript quality.

Timeliness

Reviewers are expected to complete their evaluations within the allotted time. If a reviewer is unable to do so, the manuscript will be assigned to an alternative qualified reviewer.

Confidential Handling of Manuscripts

Manuscripts under review must not be discussed with unauthorized parties. Only the Editor-in-Chief may communicate about the manuscript as necessary during the review process.

Objectivity and Professional Conduct

Reviews must be impartial and based solely on scholarly merit. Reviewers are expected to provide clear, reasoned, and respectful feedback to support their recommendations.

Recognition of Prior Work

Reviewers should notify the editor of relevant literature that has not been cited and report any significant similarity or overlap with previously published works.

Conflicts of Interest

Information obtained during the peer review process must remain confidential and not be used for personal benefit. Reviewers should decline to review manuscripts if conflicts of interest exist due to personal, professional, or institutional relationships.

Duties of Authors

Accuracy and Reporting Standards

Authors are responsible for presenting their research truthfully and comprehensively. Manuscripts should include sufficient information to enable replication where applicable. Any form of data fabrication, falsification, or misrepresentation is considered unethical.

Data Availability

Authors may be requested to provide original data for editorial purposes and must be prepared to submit such data within a reasonable period.

Originality and Proper Citation

Manuscripts must be original contributions. Any use of ideas, data, or text from other sources must be properly cited. Submissions containing plagiarism will be rejected.

Redundant or Simultaneous Submission

Authors must ensure that manuscripts submitted to the journal have not been published previously and are not being considered by other journals at the same time. Duplicate submissions are regarded as unethical.

Authorship Criteria

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made meaningful contributions to the research. The corresponding author is responsible for maintaining communication with all co-authors throughout the review process. Upon acceptance, all authors must confirm the originality of the work.

Research Hazards and Ethical Considerations

Any potential risks associated with chemicals, equipment, or procedures used in the research must be clearly stated in the manuscript.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Authors must disclose any financial or personal interests that could influence the interpretation of their findings. All sources of funding must be transparently acknowledged.

Corrections and Retractions

If significant errors are identified after publication, authors are obligated to inform the journal editor promptly and cooperate fully in issuing corrections or retractions as necessary.