Statement on Publication Ethics and the Prevention of Publication Malpractice

Vivat Academia upholds the principles of integrity, transparency, accountability, and editorial independence in the management, evaluation, and publication of scholarly content.

The journal draws on the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and international principles of transparency and best practice in scholarly publishing, adapting them to its nature, disciplinary scope, and editorial procedures.

This code sets out the general responsibilities of those involved in the publication process and is complemented by the journal's Code of Ethics and other editorial policies.

Responsibilities of the Editorial Team

The editorial team carries out its duties independently, impartially, and in accordance with the principles of research integrity.

Editorial decisions are based on the quality, originality, relevance, and suitability of submissions in relation to the journal's focus and scope, as well as the outcomes of the applicable evaluation procedures.

The editorial team seeks to ensure the confidentiality of manuscripts, appropriately manage potential conflicts of interest, and prevent any undue influence on publication decisions.

The editorial team is also responsible for assessing potential irregularities and, where appropriate, taking the necessary measures to preserve the integrity of published scholarly content.

The publisher respects the independence of academic and editorial decisions in accordance with the journal's established policies.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for the originality, accuracy, and integrity of their submitted work, as well as the appropriate acknowledgment of sources and intellectual contributions.

They must ensure that their manuscripts meet the journal's requirements concerning authorship, originality, and exclusive submission, and disclose any previous publications or related materials that may be relevant to the editorial assessment.

Authors must also disclose sources of funding, potential conflicts of interest, and the use of artificial intelligence tools, in accordance with the requirements established in the Publication Standards.

Where applicable, authors must provide evidence of compliance with the ethical and legal requirements relevant to their research, including those concerning informed consent, data protection, and the use of materials subject to third-party rights.

Authors must cooperate with the editorial team in clarifying potential issues and report any significant errors identified in their published work.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers must conduct their assessments with objectivity, academic rigor, confidentiality, and independent judgment.

They should only accept review assignments when they possess the necessary expertise and are able to meet the requirements of the review process. They must also disclose any circumstances that could compromise their impartiality or constitute a conflict of interest.

Review reports must provide well-founded assessments and observations relevant to the scholarly evaluation of the manuscript, avoiding personal remarks or comments unrelated to its academic content.

Reviewers must respect the confidentiality of the information received, refrain from using it for purposes other than the evaluation, and inform the editorial team of any potentially significant irregularities they identify.

Specific procedures are detailed in the Peer Review Policy.

Prevention and Handling of Publication Misconduct

Vivat Academia does not tolerate practices that undermine research and editorial integrity, including plagiarism, data fabrication or falsification, improper attribution of authorship, undisclosed redundant publication, or inappropriate manipulation of citations and references.

Potential irregularities will be examined in light of their nature, the circumstances of each case, and the available information. The editorial team may request clarification or additional documentation and, where appropriate, seek specialist advice.

Any measures adopted will be proportionate to the seriousness of the circumstances and may affect the processing of the manuscript or, where applicable, the published record.

The assessment of potential textual similarities will be conducted in accordance with the Anti-Plagiarism Policy.

Complaints, Ethical Oversight, and Corrections

Complaints, appeals, and reports of potential ethical breaches should be addressed to the editorial office at editor@vivatacademia.net.

Sufficiently substantiated reports will be examined impartially, taking into account the available information and, where appropriate, seeking clarification from the parties involved. The journal will endeavor to provide a reasoned response while respecting confidentiality and the relevant procedural safeguards.

Vivat Academia may consider substantiated observations, comments, or rebuttals concerning published content in accordance with its editorial procedures.

Where significant errors or circumstances affecting the reliability or integrity of a publication are identified, the journal will consider appropriate measures, including, as applicable, the publication of corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions.

Such actions will seek to preserve the transparency and traceability of the scholarly record.

Provisions concerning ethical oversight, conflicts of interest, research data availability, the handling of complaints, and post-publication procedures are further detailed in the Code of Ethics.

Complementary Editorial Policies

The conditions governing intellectual property, access, dissemination, and preservation of published content are established in the Copyright Notice, Open Access Policy, Archiving and Self-Archiving Policy, and Digital Preservation Policy.

Vivat Academia also conducts its activities in accordance with its policies on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, Selection of Editorial Team Members, and Advertising.