Journal of Financial and Management Sciences

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

1. Introduction

The University of Kigali Journals are committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity. The following Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement is based on the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Best Practice Guidelines and meets the ethical requirements for journals indexed in Scopus and other international databases.

All parties involved in the publication process — authors, editors, reviewers, and publishers — must adhere to the ethical principles outlined below.

2. Duties of the Editorial Board

2.1 Editorial Independence

Editors have full responsibility and authority to decide which articles are accepted for publication, based solely on their academic merit, originality, and relevance to the journal’s scope, without influence from commercial or institutional interests.

2.2 Fair and Impartial Evaluation

Manuscripts shall be evaluated on intellectual content without regard to the authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy.

2.3 Confidentiality

Editors and editorial staff must maintain confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts and related correspondence. No unpublished material may be used in an editor’s own research without the explicit written consent of the author.

2.4 Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Editors shall not handle manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest arising from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with any of the authors or institutions connected to the papers.

2.5 Handling of Unethical Conduct

Editors must take responsive measures when ethical complaints are presented concerning a submitted or published manuscript. These may include contacting the author(s), investigating allegations, and cooperating with institutional or professional bodies as necessary.

3. Duties of Authors

3.1 Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that their work is entirely original and properly cites or quotes the work and words of others. Plagiarism, in all its forms (including self-plagiarism), constitutes unethical publishing behavior and is unacceptable.

3.2 Data Accuracy and Integrity

Authors must present accurate and verifiable data. Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data are considered serious ethical violations.

3.3 Authorship Criteria

Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study. All co-authors should be appropriately credited and approve the final version of the paper before submission.

3.4 Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication

Authors must not submit the same manuscript simultaneously to more than one journal or publish redundant work describing essentially the same research in multiple outlets.

3.5 Acknowledgement of Sources

Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must always be given. Authors should cite publications that have influenced the reported work.

3.6 Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

All authors must disclose any financial or other conflicts of interest that could influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript.

3.7 Reporting of Research Involving Humans or Animals

Authors must ensure that all research involving humans or animals complies with institutional, national, and international ethical guidelines and approvals.

4. Duties of Reviewers

4.1 Confidentiality

Manuscripts received for review are confidential documents. Reviewers must not share, discuss, or use the material for personal advantage.

4.2 Objectivity and Constructive Feedback

Reviews should be conducted objectively. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate. Reviewers should express their views clearly with supporting arguments to help authors improve their manuscripts.

4.3 Promptness

Reviewers who feel unqualified or unable to review a manuscript within the stipulated timeframe should notify the editor promptly.

4.4 Acknowledgement of Sources

Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors and alert the editor to any substantial similarity or overlap with other published papers of which they are aware.

4.5 Conflict of Interest

Reviewers should not consider manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with any of the authors or institutions.

5. Duties of the Publisher / Journal Owner

5.1 Ethical Oversight

The publisher (University of Kigali) ensures that good practice is maintained throughout the publication process and supports the editorial board in addressing any ethical concerns or misconduct.

5.2 Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

When significant errors, inaccuracies, or unethical behavior are detected, the publisher and editors will take appropriate action, which may include issuing corrections, retractions, or statements of concern, in accordance with COPE guidelines.

5.3 Archiving and Access

The publisher ensures the digital preservation and accessibility of all published content through reliable archiving systems.

5.4 Transparency in Fees and Open Access

All publication charges (if any) are clearly stated on the journal’s website. Authors are informed about open access policies, copyright, and licensing before publication.

6. Allegations of Misconduct and Appeals

• The journal will investigate all allegations of misconduct (plagiarism, falsification, unethical experimentation, etc.) in line with COPE’s flowcharts.
• Authors and reviewers have the right to appeal editorial decisions through a transparent process managed by the Editor-in-Chief and the Ethics Committee.
• Findings and decisions will be documented and retained confidentially.

7. Compliance and Alignment

This statement aligns with the ethical standards of:

• Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
• Scopus Content Selection and Advisory Board (CSAB) Guidelines
• Elsevier Publishing Ethics Resource Kit (PERK)
• Budapest Open Access Initiative (BOAI) principles (for open access journals)

8. Contact Information

For queries or reports related to publication ethics and malpractice, contact:
The Editor-in-Chief
University of Kigali Journals
Email: jfms@uok.ac.rw
Website: https://jfms.uok.ac.rw