Conflict of Interest

The Journal of Academia (JoA), published by Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), is committed to ensuring transparency, impartiality and integrity throughout the scholarly publication process.

JoA requires all authors, reviewers, editors and editorial board members to disclose any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest that may influence the conduct, evaluation, interpretation or publication of research.

This policy is guided by the principles established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

1. Definition of Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest arises when financial, personal, professional or institutional relationships could influence, or reasonably appear to influence, an individual's judgement or actions in the research and publication process.

Conflicts of interest may include, but are not limited to:

Financial interests: Research funding, employment, consultancy arrangements, honoraria, share ownership, patents or other financial relationships relevant to the research.
Non-financial interests: Personal relationships, academic rivalries, professional collaborations, institutional affiliations or intellectual interests that may compromise impartial judgement.
Institutional interests: Relationships with organisations or institutions that may have a direct interest in the research findings or publication outcomes.

The existence of a conflict of interest does not necessarily indicate unethical conduct. However, transparent disclosure is essential to maintaining the credibility and integrity of published research.

2. Responsibilities of Authors

All authors submitting manuscripts to JoA must disclose any relevant financial or non-financial interests that could influence, or reasonably be perceived to influence, their research.

Authors are required to:

Provide a conflict of interest declaration at the time of manuscript submission.
Disclose any relevant financial, personal, professional or institutional relationships.
Declare all sources of research funding and sponsorship, including the role of funding organisations in the research process.
Ensure that all co-authors have reviewed and agreed to the conflict of interest declaration.
Inform the editorial team promptly of any new or previously undisclosed conflicts of interest identified during manuscript evaluation or after publication.

A Conflict of Interest statement must be included in every submitted manuscript, regardless of whether any competing interests exist.

Declaration When No Conflict Exists

Authors who have no relevant conflicts of interest should include the following statement:

"The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest."

Declaration When a Conflict Exists

Authors with relevant competing interests must provide a clear description of the nature of the conflict and the individuals or organisations involved.

For example:

"Author A declares a financial relationship with [Organisation Name] related to the research presented in this manuscript. The remaining authors declare no conflict of interest."

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Peer reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest before accepting an invitation to review a manuscript.

Reviewers must:

Inform the Chief Editor of any personal, financial, professional or institutional relationships that could influence their evaluation.
Decline review assignments where their impartiality may be compromised.
Maintain confidentiality throughout the peer-review process.
Refrain from using unpublished information obtained during peer review for personal or professional advantage.

The editorial team may withdraw or reassign review invitations when a conflict of interest is identified.

4. Responsibilities of Editors and Editorial Board Members

The Chief Editor, editors and editorial board members must maintain editorial independence and avoid participating in decisions where a conflict of interest exists.

Editors must disclose relevant competing interests, particularly when handling manuscripts involving:

Their own research or publications.
Close personal or professional associates.
Recent research collaborators or individuals with whom they have a significant professional relationship.
Organisations or institutions in which they have a relevant financial or professional interest.

Where a conflict of interest exists, the manuscript must be reassigned to an independent editor who has no relevant competing interests.

Manuscripts submitted by members of the journal's editorial team must undergo an independent editorial and peer-review process.

5. Funding and Sponsorship Disclosure

Authors must acknowledge all financial support received for the research, including institutional grants, government funding, industry sponsorships and other relevant sources.

Funding declarations should identify the funding organisation and grant number, where applicable.

Authors must also disclose whether the funding organisation was involved in the study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, manuscript preparation or publication decision.

Funding disclosure is distinct from conflict of interest disclosure. Receipt of research funding does not automatically constitute a conflict of interest, but relationships that could affect research independence must be declared.

6. Management of Conflicts of Interest

JoA will assess disclosed conflicts of interest and implement appropriate measures to maintain fairness and transparency in the publication process.

Depending on the circumstances, these measures may include:

Requesting additional information or clarification.
Assigning an independent editor or reviewer.
Obtaining additional independent expert assessment.
Publishing relevant conflict of interest declarations alongside accepted articles.

Disclosure of a conflict of interest does not automatically disqualify a manuscript from publication.

7. Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest

Failure to disclose relevant conflicts of interest may compromise the integrity of the publication process.

Where an undisclosed conflict is identified before or after publication, JoA will assess the circumstances in accordance with its Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement and relevant COPE guidance.

Depending on the findings and severity of the concern, appropriate editorial action may include requesting clarification, correcting the published disclosure, issuing an editorial notice or taking further action where the reliability or integrity of the publication is affected.

8. Commitment to Transparency

JoA is committed to maintaining an independent, fair and transparent scholarly publishing environment.

All parties involved in the publication process are expected to uphold the principles of integrity, accountability and responsible disclosure.

This policy forms part of JoA's broader commitment to publication ethics and responsible scholarly communication.

Reference Standards