The journal’s editorial structure is designed to ensure editorial independence, academic integrity, transparency, and the consistent application of ethical and scholarly standards throughout the publication process. Editorial responsibilities are clearly defined and distributed across distinct editorial roles to support accountability, efficiency, and fairness in manuscript handling and editorial decision-making. All editorial roles operate in accordance with the journal’s editorial policies and internationally recognized standards of publication ethics.
Editor-in-Chief
The Editor-in-Chief has overall responsibility for the academic content, editorial direction, and integrity of the journal. The Editor-in-Chief defines and oversees the journal’s editorial policies, scope, and ethical standards, ensures compliance with internationally recognized principles of publication ethics and research integrity, and makes final decisions on manuscript acceptance, revision, or rejection. The Editor-in-Chief appoints members of the Editorial Board, oversees their performance, and ensures that editorial responsibilities are carried out consistently and responsibly. The Editor-in-Chief represents the journal in academic and professional contexts and safeguards editorial independence from commercial, institutional, or external influence. The Editor-in-Chief also has ultimate responsibility for addressing serious ethical concerns, appeals, complaints, and post-publication issues, including corrections or retractions, in accordance with journal policies.
Managing Editor
The Managing Editor is responsible for coordinating editorial operations and supporting the efficient and transparent management of the journal’s workflow. The Managing Editor oversees manuscript processing, communication between authors, editors, and reviewers, and adherence to editorial timelines and publication schedules. The Managing Editor supports the implementation of editorial policies and procedures, assists the Editor-in-Chief in maintaining editorial quality and consistency, and coordinates special issues or supplements where applicable. The Managing Editor does not make independent editorial decisions on the scholarly merit of manuscripts but supports the editorial process in accordance with established policies and under the direction of the Editor-in-Chief.
Associate Editors / Handling Editors
Associate Editors or Handling Editors are responsible for the scholarly evaluation of submitted manuscripts within their areas of expertise and for managing the peer-review process in an impartial and ethical manner. Their responsibilities include conducting initial editorial assessments of submissions, selecting suitably qualified and independent peer reviewers, overseeing the peer-review process, evaluating reviewer reports, and formulating reasoned editorial recommendations to the Editor-in-Chief. Associate Editors and Handling Editors are responsible for identifying potential ethical issues and conflicts of interest and for acting in accordance with the journal’s ethical policies. Where conflicts of interest arise, they must recuse themselves from the handling of the manuscript, and editorial responsibility shall be reassigned.
Editorial Board Members
Editorial Board Members contribute to the academic quality, integrity, and development of the journal. Their responsibilities include providing subject-matter expertise and advisory support, participating in the peer-review process when requested, promoting the journal within the academic community, and advising on editorial policy, scope, and strategic development. Editorial Board Members do not make final editorial decisions and must adhere to the same standards of confidentiality, impartiality, and conflict-of-interest management as other editorial roles.
Advisory Board
Members of the Advisory Board provide strategic, scholarly, and developmental guidance regarding the long-term direction of the journal. The Advisory Board advises on emerging research trends, thematic priorities, and international positioning of the journal and supports its academic visibility and standing. Advisory Board Members do not participate in routine editorial decision-making or manuscript evaluation.
General Responsibilities of Editors
All editors, regardless of role, are expected to act in accordance with principles of fairness, confidentiality, independence, and impartiality, to declare and appropriately manage any conflicts of interest, and to evaluate manuscripts solely on the basis of academic merit and ethical compliance. Editors must maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts, peer-review materials, and editorial communications, and must uphold ethical standards consistent with internationally recognized guidelines for scholarly publishing. Editors are expected to cooperate with one another and with the journal’s governance structures to ensure transparent, consistent, and accountable editorial practices throughout the publication process and beyond publication when necessary.
Failure to fulfill these responsibilities may result in a review of editorial appointments or corrective actions in accordance with the journal’s governance and ethical policies.