Peer Review Process

 

The review process for submissions to the International Journal of Public Policies in Egypt consists of several stages: Submission, Pre-check, Peer Review, Editing, and Publishing.

 

  1. Submission of Research Papers

The Journal accepts research papers and studies from various disciplines for publication on the journal’s website on Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB) platform. The submitted manuscript must meet the following criteria: 

- Scope of the Journal: The manuscript must align with the Journal’s thematic focus on public policies in Egypt. 

- Word Count: The research paper should be (5000-7000 words - without references, tables, and graphs), although exceptions may be made for research with a specialized analytical nature. Also, Authors are required to submit an abstract in Arabic and an abstract in English, each 150 to 250 words long, including keywords.

- Analytical Tools: The paper must include an analytical tool (quantitative or qualitative) and contribute new knowledge or insights to the relevant field. 

Formatting: Authors must follow the scientific publication and formatting guidelines in the Journal’s Author’s Guide. 

- Scientific Integrity: Authors must ensure their work adheres to ethical standards, avoiding plagiarism, with a maximum rate of 15%. 

Use of Surveys: If the research uses surveys or other analytical tools, a full version of these tools must be included in the submission.

 

  1. Pre-checking

Executive committee Assessment: Upon submission, the Executive committee conducts an initial assessment to ensure the adherence to submission guidelines and ensure that the manuscript follows the Author’s Guide and submission requirements. Also, verifying that the manuscript aligns with the Journal’s thematic focus, and assessing whether the manuscript meets the Journal’s standards in terms of language, structure, and presentation (e.g., figures, tables). 

Submissions failing to meet these criteria may be rejected outright without further review.

 

  1. Peer Reviewing
    • The research is subject to a double-blind review process in accordance with the principles of neutrality, transparency, and efficiency. Accordingly, the paper is evaluated by an external review committee, nominated by the Editor-in-Chief, consisting of two reviewers with sufficient academic and scientific expertise in the research field
     
     
    •The external review committee evaluates the suitability of the research for publication based on the evaluation form sent to the committee along with the paper. The reviewers assign evaluation scores according to the criteria specified in the form, aiming to assess the research from different perspectives. Both reviewers are required to provide a detailed report on the paper to determine its suitability for publication.
     
     
    •The external review process takes approximately 5 to 6 weeks
  • Once the manuscript is revised, it is revalidated by the external reviewers. If the revisions are not submitted within the given deadlines (one week, with an additional week for extension), the manuscript will be rejected without further notice.
-The reviewers’ reports are submitted to the Executive Committee of the journal, which makes the publication decision according to several scenarios:
 
•Acceptance by both reviewers without any modifications
The Executive Committee issues the final acceptance letter to the author, signed by the Editor-in-Chief or by an authorized representative, thereby completing the publication process.
 
•Acceptance by both reviewers with required modifications
The Executive Committee sends the requested revisions to the author, who must implement and upload them to the journal’s online platform within one week from the date of notification.
 
If all revisions are completed, the Executive Committee issues the final acceptance letter to the author, signed by the Editor-in-Chief, thus finalizing the publication process.
If the revisions are not fully implemented, the author is granted one additional week. Otherwise, the paper will be rejected.
 
•Acceptance by one reviewer and rejection by the other
In this case, the Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision on whether to accept or reject the paper. In both cases, the Editor-in-Chief informs the author of the decision.
 
•Rejection by both reviewers
In this case, a letter of regret is sent to the author indicating the rejection of the paper for publication.

 

  1. Editing

Accepted papers will undergo the following technical processes before final publication: 

  • Editing and formatting of the manuscript, including acceptance of minor revisions, and the researcher is obligated to make any formal and linguistic amendments requested by the author.
  • Inclusion of essential details such as title page, submission guidelines, Journal affiliations, volume and issue numbers, publication year, and place of publication.
  • The research is sent to the researcher before publishing for approval of the final version after editing.

 

  1. Publishing

- No Publication Fees: The Journal does not charge any publication fees. 

- Post-Publication: Once the research is published, the author will receive a digital PDF copy of the paper.

This process ensures that only high-quality, relevant research is published, contributing to the advancement of public policy studies in Egypt.

 

Editorial and Review Process Transparency

  1. Editorial Independence

oThe editorial board operates independently from external influences, including sponsors and advertisers, ensuring that the Journal's academic integrity is maintained at all times.

 

  1. Peer Review

o Manuscripts are subjected to a transparent and fair peer review process, with reviewers selected based on their expertise and impartiality. Authors are informed of the review process and outcomes, including any requested revisions.

 

  1. Conflict of Interest

o Authors, reviewers, and editors are required to disclose any conflicts of interest that may affect the publication process. Any potential conflicts of interest will be managed to ensure fairness and transparency.

 

  1. Corrections and Retractions

o In cases of errors or issues identified post-publication, corrections or retractions will be declared in a transparent manner. Any retracted articles will be clearly marked on the Journal's website with an explanation.

 

By adhering to these transparency policies, the International Journal of Public Policy in Egypt strives to maintain high ethical standards and foster trust in the academic community.