Conflict of Interest Policy

Purpose

This policy ensures the integrity, transparency, and trustworthiness of the editorial and publication processes at Impact Compass Journals by identifying, disclosing, and managing conflicts of interest (COIs) among authors, reviewers, editors, and staff.

  1. Definition of Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest exists when an individual’s personal, financial, or professional interests unduly influence or appear to influence their responsibilities in the publication process. COIs may be direct or indirect, financial or non-financial, and may involve relationships, affiliations or competing interests.

  1. Scope

This policy applies to all participants in the publication process, including:

  • Authors and co-authors
  • Reviewers
  • Editors, editorial board members, and editorial staff
  • The publisher
  1. Disclosure Requirements

Authors:

  • All authors must disclose any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could be perceived to influence their work. This includes, but is not limited to, employment, consultancy, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony, grants, patents, or affiliations with organizations with an interest in the submitted work.
  • If no conflict exists, authors must state: “The author(s) confirm(s) that there is no conflict of interest related to the manuscript.”
  • Disclosures must be included in the manuscript and during the submission.

Reviewers:

  • Reviewers must declare any potential COI before accepting the review assignment. This includes recent collaborations, institutional affiliations, personal relationships or academic competition with the authors.
  • Reviewers should decline to review if any COI could compromise the objectivity.
  • Any COI discovered during the review must be promptly disclosed to the editorial office.

Editors and Editorial Board Members

  • Editors and board members must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have a COI, such as being a co-author, collaborator, or having a personal or financial relationship with the authors within the past three years.
  • Editors and staff must disclose any potential COIs related to submitted manuscripts and request reassignment, as necessary.
  1. Management of Conflicts
  • All declared COIs will be reviewed by the editorial office for appropriate action, which may include the reassignment of editors or reviewers, additional oversight, or disclosure in the published article.
  • If a COI is identified after publication, the journal will investigate and, if necessary, issue a correction or retraction of the article.
  • Failure to disclose a COI may result in sanctions, including removal from editorial or reviewer roles and notification to relevant institutions.
  1. Record Keeping and Transparency
  • All disclosures and actions taken regarding COIs will be documented and retained by our journal.
  • Published articles include a COI statement, either disclosing relevant interests or confirming their absence.
  1. Annual Review and Training
  • This policy will be reviewed annually and updated as needed to reflect the best practices and evolving standards.
  • Editorial staff, board members, and reviewers will receive periodic training on COI identification and management.
  1. Contact and Queries

Questions or concerns regarding this policy should be directed to the editorial office of the Impact Compass Journals. This policy is aligned with international standards and recommendations from COPE, ICMJE, and other leading organizations to ensure ethical and unbiased scholarly publishing