Journal Processes

Open Access Policy

Journal SW AzUAC provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.

All articles are published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). This license allows anyone to copy, redistribute, remix, transmit and adapt the work, provided the original work and source is appropriately cited. Full-text access to all scientific articles is available in the Archives section of the official website.

Publication Ethics

Journal SW AzUAC strictly adheres to the guidelines and best practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). We expect all authors, reviewers, and editors to follow these ethical standards.

Editorial and Review Policies

1.Peer Review Process

Journal SW AzUAC operates a double-blind peer-review system. We are committed to a rigorous evaluation process to ensure the publication of high-quality scientific research.

The review workflow is as follows:

  • Internal Screening: Every manuscript is first checked for alignment with the journal’s scope and adherence to formatting guidelines.
  • Plagiarism Detection: Submitted manuscripts undergo thorough software checks (StrikePlagiarizm) to detect any instances of copied text, results from other sources, or self-plagiarism.
  • External Review: Manuscripts are assigned to at least two independent experts. Editors may request additional reviews if reports are conflicting.
  • Revision: If revisions are requested, authors must provide a point-by-point response to the reviewers' comments.
  • Final Decision: The Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision based on the referees' reports.
  • Confidentiality: All submitted materials are treated as confidential. Reviewers and editors are prohibited from using unpublished data for personal gain.

2.Responsibilities of Editors

  • Impartiality: Editors evaluate manuscripts solely on their scientific merit (originality, validity, clarity) without regard to the authors’ race, gender, citizenship, or institutional affiliation.
  • Independence: Editorial decisions are independent of external influences, including government or commercial agencies.
  • Conflict of Interest: Editors recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists (competitive or collaborative relationships with authors).

3.Responsibilities of Reviewers

  • Expertise & Timeliness: Reviewers who feel unqualified or cannot meet the deadline must notify the editors promptly.
  • Objective Criteria: Reviews must be conducted objectively. Personal criticism of the author is unacceptable.
  • Confidentiality: Reviewers must not disclose or share any part of the manuscript under review with third parties.

4.Responsibilities of Authors

  • Originality: Authors must ensure that they submit only entirely original works. Simultaneous submission to multiple journals is strictly prohibited.
  • Authorship Criteria: Authorship is limited to those who made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study. All contributors who do not meet these criteria should be listed in the "Acknowledgments" section.
  • Transparency: Authors must disclose all sources of financial support and any potential conflicts of interest.
  • Correction of Errors: If an author discovers a significant error in their published work, they are obligated to notify the journal editors immediately to issue an erratum or retraction.

5.Research Integrity and Plagiarism

Journal SW AzUAC strongly condemns all forms of misconduct. This includes:

  • Plagiarism: Copying text, data, or ideas without proper attribution.
  • Data Fabrication/Falsification: Manipulating research data to support a conclusion.
  • Redundant Publication: Submitting work that has already been published elsewhere.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) USE POLICY

1.Permissible Use of AI Tools in Manuscript Preparation.
Authors are permitted to utilize generative AI or AI-assisted technologies (e.g., ChatGPT, DeepL, Grammarly) exclusively for linguistic enhancement purposes, such as improving grammar, style, or translation. Use of such tools must be limited to editorial assistance and must be conducted under direct human oversight.

AI tools must not be employed to:

  • Generate or interpret research data or results
  • Draft sections involving critical analysis or scientific claims
  • Draw conclusions or construct the manuscript’s core intellectual content
  • Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and academic integrity of all submitted material.

2.Disclosure of AI Tool Usage.
Any use of generative AI in the preparation of a manuscript must be clearly acknowledged in a dedicated section of the submission, such as the Acknowledgments or Methods.
Sample Disclosure Statement:
“The authors acknowledge the use of [Tool Name, e.g., ChatGPT by OpenAI] to assist with language and stylistic editing during manuscript preparation. All substantive content was developed and verified by the authors.”
Failure to disclose the use of AI tools constitutes a breach of transparency and may be considered a violation of ethical standards.

3.Authorship Criteria and AI.
In accordance with international publication ethics (COPE guidelines), AI tools do not meet the requirements for authorship. They lack the ability to assume accountability for research integrity, interpret findings, or respond to editorial or ethical concerns. Consequently, no AI application or tool may be listed as an author or co-author.
All authors listed must have made verifiable intellectual contributions and must take collective responsibility for the final work.

4.AI in Peer Review and Editorial Evaluation.
Peer reviewers and editors are strictly prohibited from uploading manuscript content to publicly accessible AI platforms or tools for analysis, summary, or evaluation. Doing so may compromise confidentiality, violate data protection policies, and undermine the integrity of the review process.
All assessments must be carried out independently by human reviewers, without reliance on automated systems for decision-making or critique.

5.Use of AI-Generated Figures, Visuals, or Data.
Visual or data representations produced using AI technologies are generally discouraged unless:

  • Their generation is explicitly described in the manuscript
  • The use of AI is scientifically justified and subject to peer scrutiny
  • They are clearly labeled as AI-generated or AI-assisted
  • Any AI-derived imagery used to manipulate, fabricate, or misrepresent results constitutes research misconduct and may lead to manuscript rejection or retraction.

6.Ethical Compliance and Oversight.
This journal adheres to the ethical publishing principles established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Misuse of AI tools, failure to disclose AI involvement, or attempts to circumvent authorship responsibilities will be treated as ethical violations and addressed in accordance with COPE-recommended procedures.

Archiving and Preservation

To ensure long-term digital preservation, the journal:

  • Utilizes the PKP Preservation Network (PKP PN).
  • Maintains a secure, identical backup copy on independent servers with a restoration guarantee of 24-36 hours.

Copyright and Permissions

Authors retain the copyright to their work and grant the journal the right of first publication. By opting for the CC BY 4.0 license, authors allow the community to use the findings while ensuring they receive proper credit.