1. Commitment to Open Access

RIJE is committed to the principles of open access, recognising its potential to:

• Increase the visibility and impact of research.
• Accelerate scientific discovery and innovation.
• Promote equitable access to knowledge globally.

2. Open Access Model

RIJE adopts the Gold Open Access model. This means that all articles published in the journal will be freely available online to readers immediately upon publication.

3. Licensing

All articles published in RIJE will be licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. This allows others to:

• Read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles.
• Use the articles for any lawful purpose, including teaching, research, and commercial purposes.
• Adapt, translate, and create derivative works from the articles.

Attribution must be given to the original authors and the journal.

4. Article Processing Charges (APCs)

To support the publication of Open Access articles, authors may be required to pay an Article Processing Charge (APC). The APC will cover the costs associated with:

• Peer review and editorial processes.
• Production and dissemination of the journal.
• Long-term preservation of the articles.

The journal will explore options to waive or reduce APCs for authors from low- and middle-income countries or for those facing financial hardship.

5. Author Rights

Authors retain copyright of their work while granting RIJE the right to publish and distribute the article under the specified license.

6. Compliance with Funding Agency Mandates

RIJE will comply with the Open Access mandates of funding agencies that support research published in the journal.

7. Communication and Transparency

RIJE will clearly communicate its Open Access policy to authors, reviewers, and readers through its website and other appropriate channels.

8. Policy Review and Updates

The Open Access policy will be reviewed and updated periodically to ensure its alignment with evolving best practices and the needs of the scholarly community.

Implementation:

• RIJE will establish a clear and transparent process for handling APC payments.
• The journal’s website will be updated to reflect the Open Access policy and provide information on APCs and licensing.
• RIJE will promote the benefits of Open Access to its authors and the wider scholarly community.