Ethics and Malpractice Statement

ACEE follows globally recognized standards for research and publication ethics. Our policies ensure rigorous peer review, accountability, transparency, and integrity at every phase of the publication process.

Ethical Responsibilities

• Originality: Manuscripts must report previously unpublished work and not be under consideration elsewhere.
• Accurate Reporting: Data, methodologies, and conclusions must be presented honestly and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate image manipulation.
• Authorship Integrity: Authorship should reflect actual contribution; all authors must approve the submission and take responsibility for content accuracy.
• Conflict of Interest Disclosure: All contributors must declare any financial or personal conflicts that could influence judgment; disclosures are included in published articles.

Editorial Oversight & Peer Review

ACEE employs double‑blind peer review: neither author nor reviewer identities are disclosed. Editorial decisions are based on reviewer recommendations and adherence to ACEE’s ethical standards.

Addressing Misconduct

Suspected breaches—including plagiarism, redundant publication, or manipulation of citations—are investigated and managed according to best practices. Outcomes may include errata, expressions of concern, or article retraction based on severity.

Corrections and Retractions

Minor errors are corrected via a corrigendum or erratum. If errors compromise the study’s validity or ethical reliability, ACEE may retract an article, accompanied by a clear notice and reasoning.

Confidentiality & Editorial Conduct

• Confidentiality: Editors and reviewers safeguard manuscript content and reviewers’ comments.
• Fairness & Impartiality: Editorial decisions are made without bias regarding authors’ nationality, gender, or affiliation.
• Recusal of Conflicted Parties: Editors or reviewers with potential conflicts are recused from handling the manuscript.

Appeals Process

Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting new evidence or substantive arguments. Appeals are managed by an independent editor to ensure a fair and transparent review.

Research Involving Sensitive Data

Human or environmental field studies must comply with appropriate ethical review and consent protocols. Authors must attach relevant ethics committee approvals or permit documentation upon submission.

Reviewer Duties

• Objectivity: Reviews must focus on the manuscript’s scholarly content, without personal bias.
• Timeliness: Reviewers should complete assessments promptly or decline in advance.
• Confidentiality: Reviewer observations and manuscript details must remain confidential.
• Disclosure: Reviewers must recuse themselves if conflicts are detected.