Conflict of Interest Policy

1.   PURPOSE

The Conflict of Interest Policy for the Maldives Journal of Engineering and Technology (MJET) aims to ensure transparency, integrity, and unbiased decision-making in the editorial and publication processes. This policy outlines guidelines for identifying, disclosing, and managing conflicts of interest among authors, reviewers, and editors involved in the publication of manuscripts.

2.   Scope

This policy applies to all individuals involved in the publication process of MJET, including editors, editorial board members, reviewers, and authors

3.   Definition of Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest arises when individuals involved in the publication process have personal, financial, or professional interests that may influence their objectivity, judgment, or decision-making. Conflicts of interest can occur but are not limited to the following situations:

  • Financial Relationships: Employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership, or other financial ties with organizations that may have a direct interest in the research.
  • Personal Relationships: Personal relationships that could bias judgment, such as familial or close personal relationships with individuals involved in the manuscript.
  • Academic or Professional Rivalries: Competing academic or professional interests that may affect impartiality.
  • Intellectual Rivalry: Competing intellectual or academic beliefs that could influence decision-making.

4.   disclosure requirements

4.1  Responsibilities of Authors

4.1.1  Authors are required to disclose all potential conflicts of interest that could be perceived as influencing the results or interpretation of their manuscript.
4.1.2  Disclosure should include financial relationships, employment affiliations, funding sources, and any other relevant interests.
4.1.3  If no conflicts of interest exist, authors should explicitly state this in their manuscript.

4.2  Responsibilities of Reviewers

4.2.1  Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that may affect their ability to provide an impartial review.
4.2.2  Reviewers should decline to review manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest or bias.
4.2.3  Confidentiality regarding the content of manuscripts must be maintained, and information obtained during peer review should not be used for personal gain.

4.3  Responsibilities Editorial Board Members

4.3.1  Editorial board members should declare any conflicts of interest related to manuscripts under consideration.
4.3.2  Editors should recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have a conflict of interest, and another editorial board member will oversee the review process.
4.3.3  Decisions on manuscript acceptance or rejection should be based solely on academic and ethical considerations, regardless of any potential conflicts of interest.

5.   Management of conflicts of Interest

  1. All disclosed conflicts of interest will be recorded and kept confidential.
  2. Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to update their conflict of interest disclosures throughout the publication process if new conflicts arise.
  3. Individuals with conflicts of interest will recuse themselves from the decision-making process on affected manuscripts
  4. The editorial office will monitor compliance with this policy and take corrective actions if violations occur.

6.   Implementation

  1. This Conflict of Interest Policy will be prominently displayed on MJET’s website and included in submission guidelines to ensure awareness among all stakeholders.
  2. Adherence to this policy is mandatory for all individuals involved in the publication process, including authors, reviewers, editors, and members of the editorial board.

7.   Violations of the Policy

Failure to disclose a conflict of interest or to comply with the actions determined to mitigate a conflict may result in appropriate disciplinary actions, including but not limited to retraction of published articles, removal from the editorial board, or termination of the reviewer’s association with the journal.

8.   Review and Updates

  1. This policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure it remains consistent with best practices and ethical standards in scholarly publishing.
  2. Any changes to the policy should be approved by the editorial board and communicated to all stakeholders promptly.

9.   Contact Information

Authors and stakeholders can contact the editorial office of MJET for any query regarding this policy.