Conflict of Interest Policy

When you participate in the publication process of the Indian Journal of Higher Education Research (IJHER), it is understood that all parties will disclose any conflicts of interest that may influence, or be perceived to influence, the evaluation or presentation of research.

Definition

A conflict of interest exists where financial, professional, institutional, or personal relationships may affect objectivity or judgement.

Conflicts may be actual, potential, or perceived.

Types of Conflict

Conflicts of interest may include:

Financial

  • Funding, grants, or sponsorship

  • Employment, consultancy, or honoraria

  • Financial investments

Institutional and Professional

  • Affiliation with the same institution

  • Collaborative or competitive relationships

  • Supervisory or mentoring relationships

Personal

  • Personal or family relationships

  • Personal beliefs that may affect objectivity

Authors

Authors must:

  • Disclose all relevant conflicts of interest at the time of submission

  • Include a statement within the manuscript

If no conflict exists, authors should state that no conflict of interest is declared.

Authors should also disclose sources of funding and any involvement of funders in the research.

Failure to disclose relevant conflicts may result in rejection, retraction, or notification to relevant institutions.

Reviewers

Reviewers must:

  • Declare any conflicts of interest before accepting a review

  • Decline assignments where impartiality cannot be ensured

Reviewers are expected to maintain objectivity and confidentiality.

Journal Editor

The Journal Editor must:

  • Ensure that editorial decisions are free from bias

  • Declare and manage any conflicts of interest

Where a conflict exists, the Journal Editor will not handle the manuscript and may assign it to an independent and qualified reviewer or advisor.

Disclosure

All disclosed conflicts are assessed by the Journal Editor.

Relevant disclosures may be published alongside the article.

Management

Where conflicts are identified, appropriate measures may include:

  • Reassignment of reviewers or editorial responsibilities

  • Additional independent review

  • Disclosure within the published article

  • Rejection of the manuscript

Undisclosed Conflicts

Where undisclosed conflicts are identified after submission or publication, the journal may take appropriate action, including correction, retraction, or notification to relevant institutions.

Record-Keeping

All disclosures are documented and retained for verification and audit purposes.

Declaration

By participating in the publication process of IJHER, all parties confirm that they have disclosed any relevant conflicts of interest and agree to comply with this policy.

Version: 1.0  
Last Updated: 2026

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