The Peer Review/Vetting process is carried out through the following steps:

1. Initial Screening

• Eligibility Check: Ensure manuscripts adhere to the journal’s scope, formatting guidelines, and ethical considerations.
• Plagiarism Check: Utilise a reliable plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin) to screen for originality. (to be integrated soon)
• Basic Quality Assessment: A preliminary review by the editorial team to assess the overall quality, clarity, and potential significance of the submission.

2. Peer Review (Vetting)

• Selection of Reviewers:
  
  • Identify at least two qualified reviewers/vetters with expertise in the specific area of the submitted research.
  • Consider reviewers from diverse backgrounds (e.g., institutions, countries) for broader perspectives.
  • Avoid conflicts of interest (e.g., authors, co-authors, close collaborators).
• Review/VettingProcess:
  
  • Reviewers/Vetters are provided with clear and concise instructions and a standardised review form.
  • Reviewers/Vetters assess the manuscript’s:
    
    • Originality and significance
    • Research methodology and design
    • Data analysis and interpretation
    • Clarity, coherence, and organization
    • Overall quality and contribution to the field
  • Reviewers/Vetters submit their assessments within a specified timeframe (e.g., 2 weeks).
• Confidentiality: Maintain the confidentiality of the review process, protecting the identities of both authors and reviewers.

3. Editorial Decision

• Review Evaluation: The Managing Editor or a designated editorial board member carefully evaluates the reviewers’ reports.
• Author Feedback:
  
  • Based on the reviews, the Managing Editor determines the final decision:
    
    • Accept (with or without minor revisions)
    • Revise and resubmit
    • Reject
  • Provide constructive feedback to the authors, outlining the reviewers’ comments and recommendations.
• Revisions: If revisions are required, authors are given a specific timeframe to address the reviewers’ comments and resubmit their revised manuscript.
• Final Decision: The Managing Editor makes the final decision on the acceptance or rejection of the revised manuscript.

4. Publication

• Proofreading: Upon acceptance, the manuscript undergoes thorough proofreading and copyediting.
• Layout and Design: The manuscript is formatted according to journal standards and prepared for publication.
• Publication: The accepted manuscript is published online and/or in print, as per the journal’s publication schedule.