Malpractice Policy

At Penerbit UTHM, we prioritize the maintenance of ethical standards and the preservation of integrity within the scholarly publishing domain. With this commitment in mind, we have formulated a comprehensive policy to address instances of malpractice that may arise within the publication process.

  1. Definition of Malpractice:

Malpractice, as defined within the scope of journal publishing, encompasses any conduct or activity that contravenes established ethical principles, compromises the integrity of scholarly research, or undermines the credibility of published findings. Such malpractice may include, but is not limited to:

  • Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of research data or results.
  • Plagiarism, denoting the unauthorized use of another individual's intellectual property, including ideas, words, or research findings, without due attribution.
  • Duplicate publication, whereby identical or substantially similar manuscripts are submitted to multiple journals without appropriate disclosure.
  • Improper authorship attribution, which involves the inclusion or exclusion of individuals as authors without their rightful contribution or consent.
  • Failure to disclose conflicts of interest that could potentially influence the research process or the interpretation of findings.
  • Infringement of copyright or other intellectual property rights.
  1. Reporting Procedures:

It is incumbent upon all stakeholders involved in the scholarly publishing ecosystem to promptly report any suspicion or awareness of potential malpractice pertaining to manuscripts submitted to or published by Penerbit UTHM. Reports may be submitted confidentially, and anonymity will be respected if requested. Upon receipt of such reports, the editorial office will initiate a thorough and impartial investigation to assess the veracity of the allegations.

  1. Investigation and Resolution:

Following the receipt of a report alleging malpractice, the editorial team will undertake a meticulous investigation to ascertain the validity of the claims. This investigation will involve the examination of relevant documentation, correspondence, and evidence pertaining to the matter under scrutiny. The investigative process will be conducted with due diligence and impartiality, ensuring fairness and adherence to established protocols.

In the event that malpractice is substantiated through the investigative process, appropriate remedial measures will be implemented. These measures may include, but are not limited to:

  • The immediate retraction of the implicated publication(s).
  • Notification of the malpractice to pertinent stakeholders, including authors, affiliated institutions, funding bodies, and other relevant parties.
  • Implementation of sanctions against the responsible parties, which may include restrictions on future submissions, disclosure to employers or academic institutions, or legal action where warranted.
  • Correction or editorial expression of concern for publications affected by minor malpractice that do not meet the threshold for retraction.
  1. Transparency and Accountability:

We are steadfast in our commitment to transparency throughout all stages of the malpractice investigation and resolution process. Actions taken in response to instances of malpractice will be documented comprehensively and communicated transparently to relevant stakeholders. Confidentiality and privacy considerations will be respected, while ensuring that transparency and accountability remain paramount.

  1. Prevention and Educational Initiatives:

In addition to addressing instances of malpractice reactively, Penerbit UTHM is dedicated to implementing proactive measures aimed at preventing misconduct within the scholarly publishing realm. These efforts include the provision of guidance, resources, and educational initiatives designed to promote ethical best practices among authors, reviewers, and editors. Furthermore, we support initiatives geared towards fostering transparency, reproducibility, and integrity in academic research and publishing.

 

At Penerbit UTHM, we hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards and are unwavering in our commitment to upholding the integrity of scholarly publishing. This malpractice policy serves as a testament to our dedication to fostering a culture of integrity, transparency, and accountability within the academic community.

This policy is in accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

This policy is subject to periodic review and refinement to ensure its alignment with evolving best practices and standards within the scholarly publishing landscape.