Editorial Responsibilities and Independence

When you submit a paper to The Indian Journal of Higher Education Research (IJHER), you confirm that you have read these ethical guidelines, agree to their contents, and have taken all appropriate actions to comply with them.

By submitting a manuscript, it is understood that all authors have read, understood, and agreed to the responsibilities and requirements outlined below.

Content

By submitting a paper to IJHER, all authors declare that they have read and agree to the content of the submitted manuscript.

Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that their submission is original and has not been published previously in any form. All sources must be properly cited and acknowledged.

Plagiarism in any form is not acceptable. This includes:

  • Plagiarism

  • Self-plagiarism

  • Redundant or duplicate publication

Manuscripts may be screened using plagiarism detection tools. Submissions exceeding acceptable similarity thresholds may be rejected or returned for revision.

Exclusive Submission

Manuscripts submitted to IJHER must not be under consideration elsewhere.

Simultaneous submission to multiple journals is considered unethical and unacceptable. If a manuscript is withdrawn, the journal must be formally notified before submission elsewhere.

Authorship and Contribution

Authorship must be limited to individuals who have made substantial intellectual contributions to the work, including:

  • Conceptualisation and design

  • Data collection or analysis

  • Drafting or critical revision of the manuscript

All listed authors must:

  • Approve the final version of the manuscript

  • Agree to its submission and publication

The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors are properly included and for managing communication with the journal.

Guest, gift, or ghost authorship is not permitted.

Data Integrity and Research Transparency

Authors must ensure that all data presented are accurate, authentic, and free from fabrication, falsification, or manipulation.

Authors should retain raw data and supporting materials and provide them upon request.

Where applicable, authors are encouraged to:

  • Share datasets

  • Provide data availability statements

  • Ensure transparency in methodology and analysis

Ethical Approval and Research Compliance

Research involving human participants, personal data, or sensitive information must comply with applicable ethical standards and be approved by a recognised ethics committee where required.

Authors must confirm that informed consent has been obtained where applicable and that privacy and confidentiality are protected.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that may influence the research.

All conflicts of interest must be clearly stated in the manuscript. If no conflicts exist, authors must declare that no conflict of interest is present.

Acknowledgement of Sources

Proper acknowledgement must be given to all sources, including published works, data sources, and funding bodies.

Authors must ensure accurate citation practices and avoid citation manipulation or inappropriate self-citation.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

AI tools may be used for language editing or formatting assistance only.

AI tools must not be used to generate substantial academic content or fabricate data, references, or findings.

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the manuscript. Disclosure of AI use may be required.

Reporting Standards

Authors must present research in a clear, accurate, and complete manner.

Methods and findings must be described in sufficient detail to allow replication. Selective reporting or misrepresentation of results is not acceptable.

Corrections, Retractions, and Post-Publication Responsibilities

Authors must promptly notify the Editor if a significant error or inaccuracy is identified after submission or publication.

Where necessary, authors must cooperate in issuing corrections, retractions, or clarifications.

Copyright and Licensing Compliance

Authors must ensure that the work does not infringe any copyright or intellectual property rights.

Necessary permissions must be obtained for the use of third-party content. By submitting a manuscript, authors agree to the journal’s copyright and licensing terms.

Submission Integrity

Authors must ensure that:

  • The manuscript complies with the journal’s scope and guidelines

  • All required declarations and documents are provided

  • The submission is complete and accurate

The Editor reserves the right to reject submissions that do not meet basic standards of quality or ethics.

Ethical Misconduct and Sanctions

Failure to comply with these ethical standards may result in:

  • Rejection of the manuscript

  • Retraction of published articles

  • Notification to authors’ institutions

  • Temporary or permanent restrictions on submission

Compliance

Authors are expected to comply with internationally accepted standards of scholarly publishing and ethical norms relevant to higher education research.

Declaration

By submitting a manuscript to The Indian Journal of Higher Education Research (IJHER), authors confirm that their work complies with all ethical standards outlined in this policy and that the submission is made in good faith and with full academic integrity.

Version: 1.0  
Last Updated: 2026

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