Editorial Policies

Journal Information

Content

World Education Policy

World Education Policy is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of editorial integrity, ethical publishing, and transparent scholarly communication in the field of global education. The journal strictly follows the guidelines and best practices recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and other internationally recognized frameworks in academic publishing.

Our editorial policies ensure that all submitted manuscripts undergo a rigorous, unbiased, and ethically responsible evaluation process. These policies uphold the quality, reliability, and academic value of articles published across areas such as curriculum development, educational technology, pedagogy, policy reform, inclusive learning, higher education, teacher education, and global education systems.

We continuously review and update our editorial standards to align with:

International norms in educational research and policy publishing

Evolving ethical guidelines for human-subject studies, surveys, and educational field research

Global standards for peer review, authorship criteria, data sharing, and research transparency

By upholding these principles, the journal aims to support high-quality scholarship that advances global educational development, strengthens policy reforms, enhances teaching and learning outcomes, and promotes equitable and innovative education systems worldwide.

Open Access Policy

World Education Policy follows a full open access publishing model, ensuring that all published articles are freely and permanently accessible online without any subscription or access barriers. Readers are permitted to read, download, share, and use the content for any lawful purpose, provided proper attribution is given to the original authors.

The journal is committed to promoting open knowledge dissemination to support wider visibility, faster academic communication, and improved access to global education research. By adopting open access, World Education Policy encourages the free exchange of ideas, supports equity in education research, and enables educators, policymakers, researchers, and students worldwide to benefit from high-quality scholarly work without restrictions.

Copyright Policy

World Education Policy: An International Journal

Authors retain full copyright of their work and grant World Education Policy the right of first publication through a License to Publish agreement. All published articles may be shared, reproduced, and distributed in any medium, provided proper credit is given to the authors and the journal.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that:

  • Their submission is original and has not been previously published.
  • The manuscript is not under review in any other journal.
  • Any copyrighted material (figures, tables, images, or text excerpts) used in the article has appropriate permissions from the copyright holders.
  • All sources are properly acknowledged to maintain academic and ethical integrity.
  • By submitting a manuscript, authors confirm compliance with these requirements and agree to uphold the journal’s publishing and ethical standards.

CC BY License Policy

World Education Policy: An International Journal

All articles published in World Education Policy: An International Journal are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) License.

Under this license:

  • Anyone may share, copy, redistribute, adapt, and build upon the material for any purpose, including commercial use.
  • Users must provide appropriate credit to the authors and the journal.
  • A link to the CC BY 4.0 license must be included.
  • Any modifications or adaptations must be clearly indicated.
  • No additional restrictions may be applied that prevent others from using the content under the same license terms.

This licensing model encourages global knowledge exchange, enabling educators, researchers, and institutions to freely access and use published work while ensuring proper acknowledgment of the original authors

Editorial Freedom

World Education Policy: An International Journal

World Education Policy: An International Journal upholds a strong commitment to editorial independence. The Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board maintain full authority over all editorial decisions, including manuscript screening, peer review, revision requirements, and final acceptance or rejection.

Decisions are based exclusively on the academic quality, originality, relevance, and scholarly merit of the manuscript in the field of education and policy studies. The publisher does not influence editorial judgment, and no commercial, institutional, or political interests interfere with the review or publication process.

This policy ensures fairness, transparency, and integrity at every stage of editorial handling.

Key Editorial Policies & Reference Links

Publication Ethics (COPE)

https://publicationethics.org/

Plagiarism Policy (Strict Zero Tolerance)

https://www.ieee.org/publications/rights/plagiarism/id-plagiarism.html

Authorship & Contribution Guidelines (COPE)

https://publicationethics.org/authorship

Conflict of Interest Policy (COPE)

https://publicationethics.org/conflicts-of-interest

Peer Review Ethics (COPE)

https://publicationethics.org/peerreview

Copyright & Licensing (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Open Access Principles (DOAJ)

https://doaj.org/apply/guide/

Archiving & Preservation

Portico – https://www.portico.org/
CLOCKSS – https://wame.org/editorial-independence

Retraction Guidelines (COPE)

https://publicationethics.org/retraction-guidelines

Peer Review Policy

World Education Policy: An International Journal

Peer Review Model

World Education Policy follows a single-blind peer review system, where reviewers remain anonymous while authors’ identities are visible. All submitted manuscripts—except invited commentaries or editorials—undergo rigorous quality, relevance, and ethical checks before review.

Review Process

1. Initial Screening

The Managing Editor conducts a preliminary assessment to ensure:

The manuscript fits the journal’s scope (education, policy studies, pedagogy, curriculum, governance, leadership, assessment, inclusive education, digital learning, etc.)

Plagiarism and ethical compliance

Adherence to formatting and submission guidelines

Manuscripts failing basic standards are returned for correction or declined.

2. Editorial Evaluation

The Editor-in-Chief or a designated Section Editor evaluates the manuscript’s:

Original contribution to education and policy research

Alignment with contemporary educational challenges

Conceptual, theoretical, or practical value

Suitable manuscripts are forwarded for external peer review.

3. External Peer Review

Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two qualified experts in education or policy-related fields. Reviewers assess:

Originality & Contribution: New insights, theories, policy analyses, or pedagogical implications

Methodological Strength: Appropriateness of research design, policy analysis methods, data interpretation, and rigor

Relevance: Value to global, national, or comparative education systems

Ethical Standards: Research involving students, teachers, institutions, or human subjects must follow ethical guidelines

Clarity & Structure: Logical flow, coherence, and scholarly presentation

Reviewers provide constructive comments and recommend one of the following:

  • Accept
  • Minor Revision
  • Major Revision
  • Reject

4. Final Decision

The Editor-in-Chief or Academic Editor makes the final decision after considering:

Reviewer comments

Author revisions

Overall scholarly merit and relevance to international education policy

Manuscripts requiring revision must address all reviewer and editorial feedback before reconsideration.

Special Cases

Submissions from Editorial Board Members

To maintain fairness and transparency, manuscripts submitted by Editorial Board members or Guest Editors are handled independently by another senior editor to avoid conflicts of interest.

Special Issues

Articles submitted to special issues follow the same peer review standards and ethical requirements as regular submissions.

Peer Reviewers Policy

World Education Policy: An International Journal

Selection of Reviewers

Reviewers are selected with great care to ensure high-quality, unbiased evaluation of manuscripts. Reviewers are chosen based on:

  • Independence from the authors and their institutions
  • Strong expertise in education, educational policy, pedagogy, curriculum research, educational leadership, assessment, or related fields
  • Recent and relevant publications in reputable education or policy journals

Ability to provide a thorough, fair, and timely review

Only reviewers with adequate subject knowledge and no conflicts of interest are invited to participate.

Author-Suggested Reviewers

Authors may recommend potential reviewers; however, the journal reserves the right to accept or decline these suggestions.

Author-suggested reviewers must:

  • Have recent scholarly publications in the relevant education or policy area
  • Not have co-authored, collaborated, or shared an institutional affiliation with any author in recent years
  • Have no personal, professional, or financial conflict of interest with the authors
  • Be able to provide a fair, unbiased, and independent review

Authors should provide:

  • Full Name
  • Institutional Affiliation
  • Email Address
  • Research Area / Specialization
  • ORCID (if available)

The final selection of reviewers is solely at the discretion of the editorial team.

Notes for Reviewers

Reviewers play a crucial role in maintaining quality and integrity. They are expected to:

  • Declare any real or potential conflicts of interest
  • Maintain strict confidentiality and not share or discuss the manuscript
  • Provide objective, constructive, and unbiased feedback
  • Report any suspected issues such as plagiarism, fabricated data, or unethical research
  • Avoid unnecessary self-citations or promoting personal publications
  • Submit the review report within the given timeline or request an extension if required

Roles in the Peer Review Process

Managing Editor

Performs initial screening of submissions

Checks plagiarism, scope, and compliance with journal guidelines

Coordinates communication with authors and reviewers

Academic Editor

Assesses reviewer comments and overall manuscript quality

Makes the final decision (Accept / Minor Revision / Major Revision / Reject)

Ensures the decision is fair, transparent, and academically sound

Their name is published with the accepted article as part of the editorial transparency policy

Authorship Policy

World Education Policy: An International Journal

Authorship Criteria

Authors must:

  1. Contribute significantly to the study design, analysis, or interpretation.
  2. Draft or critically revise the manuscript.
  3. Approve the final version before submission.
  4. Take responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the work.

Corresponding Author

Responsible for:

  • Communication with the journal
  • Ensuring all authors meet authorship criteria
  • Managing declarations (ethics, conflicts, funding)
  • Responding to queries before and after publication

Equal / Dual Authorship

Dual first authorship or dual corresponding authorship is allowed when contributions are equal and clearly stated.

Group Authorship

Research groups may be listed, but only members who meet authorship criteria will be identified individually.

Authorship Changes

Addition, removal, or rearrangement of authors requires written consent from all authors before acceptance.

Authorship Disputes

Disputes must be resolved by the authors or their institution according to COPE guidelines.

CRediT Contributions

All authors must specify their contributions (e.g., Conceptualization, Writing, Methodology) using the CRediT taxonomy.

ORCID

Authors are encouraged to provide an ORCID iD for proper identification.

Acknowledgments

Individuals who contributed but do not qualify as authors should be acknowledged separately.

Use of AI Tools

AI tools cannot be listed as authors.

AI may be used only for language editing, not for creating ideas or analysis.

Failure to disclose AI use may be considered misconduct.

AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in Scientific Writing

Use of AI Tools

AI tools cannot be authors.

Authors may use AI only for language editing (grammar, spelling, clarity).

AI must not generate research ideas, design experiments, analyze data, or produce scientific conclusions.

Authors are fully responsible for the accuracy and integrity of all content.

Disclosure of AI Use
If AI was used, authors must add a statement in the Declarations section. Example:
“The authors used [AI tool] for language editing. All content was reviewed and verified by the authors.”

Basic grammar, spelling, or reference-checking tools do not require disclosure.

Misconduct
Not disclosing AI use when required may be treated as publication misconduct under COPE guidelines.

Conflicts of Interest

A conflict of interest exists when financial, personal, academic, or institutional relationships could influence a person’s judgment.

Authors

Must include a COI statement in the manuscript.

If none exist, state: “The authors declare no conflicts of interest.”

The corresponding author ensures all authors provide accurate disclosures.

Reviewers

Must declare any conflicts (e.g., collaboration, institutional ties, financial or personal connections).

If conflicted, they should decline or inform the editor.

Editors & Staff

Must disclose conflicts and withdraw from handling affected manuscripts.

Submissions from board members or guest editors are processed independently.

Funding Disclosure

Authors must list all funding sources and grant numbers.

They must also state the sponsor’s role, if any, in the study or manuscript preparation.

Editors, Board Members, Guest Editors, and Editorial Staff

All editors, board members, guest editors, and editorial staff must disclose any potential conflicts of interest related to the manuscripts they handle. If a conflict exists, they must recuse themselves, and the Editor-in-Chief will assign the manuscript to an independent editor.
To ensure transparency, manuscripts submitted by editorial board members or guest editors are processed separately and without their involvement.

Research Ethics

The journal maintains high ethical standards for all education-related research. Authors must ensure their studies follow institutional, national, and international guidelines.

Human Participants & Educational Data
Studies involving students, teachers, schools, surveys, interviews, or classroom observations must have ethical approval. Informed consent from participants (or guardians, for minors) is mandatory. Privacy and confidentiality of all educational data must be protected.

Sensitive Data & Images
If the research includes photos, videos, classroom recordings, or identifiable student information, authors must obtain clear consent for participation and publication.

Data Integrity & Transparency
Authors must report methods, findings, and data honestly. Manipulation, fabrication, or selective reporting is not permitted. Research involving vulnerable groups (e.g., children) requires extra care and ethical justification.

References
COPE Guidelines
OECD Human Research Ethics
UNESCO Guidelines for Education Research Ethics

Experimental Studies & Registration

Experimental studies in education (such as testing new teaching methods, digital tools, software, or learning systems) must follow ethical and professional standards.

Research Ethics & Compliance

Human Participants:
Studies involving students, teachers, or classroom activities require ethics approval and informed consent.

Safety & Well-being:
Research must not cause harm or discomfort to participants, especially children and vulnerable groups.

Data Transparency:
Authors should provide clear data, code, or tool descriptions and include a Data Availability Statement.

Conflicts of Interest:
All conflicts must be disclosed. If none exist, state:
“The authors declare no conflict of interest.”

Intellectual Property:
Authors must disclose any patents, copyrighted materials, or proprietary tools used in the study.

Confidentiality

All editors, reviewers, and authors must maintain strict confidentiality regarding manuscripts and the peer review process.

Reviewers: Treat manuscripts as confidential, do not use content for personal gain, and destroy copies after review. Reviewer identities remain anonymous.

Editors: Manuscript details are shared only within the editorial team, except in cases of suspected misconduct. Manuscripts submitted by board members are handled independently.

Records & Replication: Rejected manuscripts are removed unless legally required. Published studies should allow independent replication of educational research methods, with limitations noted.

Publication Ethics: Plagiarism, data fabrication, and duplicate submission are strictly prohibited. All manuscripts undergo ethical and originality checks.

Data and Materials Availability

Authors must provide a statement on data and materials. Share educational data or resources via public repositories (e.g., Zenodo, GitHub) with links or DOIs.

If sharing is restricted, explain why. For reviews or papers with no new data, state: “No new data were generated or analyzed.”

The editorial office may request materials to verify results; noncompliance may lead to rejection.

Citation Policy

Authors must cite relevant, original sources to support their work. Avoid excessive self-citation or regional bias.

Unethical practices like coercive citations or citation stacking may lead to rejection. The journal follows COPE guidelines on citation ethics.

References & Citation Policy (Education Research)

Accuracy & Relevance: Sab cited works sahi, complete, aur education research se related honi chahiye.

Matching: Jo text me cite kiya gaya hai, woh reference list me hona chahiye aur vice versa.

Style: Vancouver numeric style use hota hai.

In-text: [1], [2], etc.

Reference list: Cite hone ke order me listed.

Examples:

Journal: [1] A. Smith, B. Jones. “Impact of digital learning tools on student engagement,” J Educ Res, 2022;11:234–240.

Book: [2] M. Johnson. Classroom Management Strategies, 3rd ed. New York: Springer, 2021.

Website: [3] UNESCO. “Global Education Monitoring Report,” 2023. Available: https://www.unesco.org/gemreport

Reference management: Authors ko EndNote, Zotero, ya Mendeley use karne ki salah di gayi hai.

 

Plagiarism & Originality (Education Context)

Plagiarism aur self-plagiarism strictly prohibited.

Manuscripts iThenticate se check kiye jate hain.

Violations → rejection, correction, ya retraction.

Focus: Original research, curriculum analysis, teaching methodology, or educational interventions.

Duplicate Publication

Manuscript original hone chahiye, kahin aur under review nahi hone chahiye.

Prior related educational work cite karna zaruri hai aur differences clearly explain karne chahiye.

Exceptions: Preprints, theses, conference abstracts, datasets, or registered education trials.

Editorial action: COPE guidelines follow kiye jayenge.

Key Editorial Policies for Education Research

Authorship criteria: Sab authors ka contribution clearly defined ho.

Conflict of interest: Declare karna zaruri.

Peer review: Blind/double-blind review follow hota hai.

Data availability: Educational data (student surveys, learning outcomes) accessible aur verifiable hona chahiye.

Research ethics: Ethical approval, consent from schools/participants mandatory.

Corrections & retractions: Errors aur misconduct proper handle kiya jata hai.

Open access & copyright: Articles freely available, copyright rules follow kiye jate hain.

Preprints & archiving: Preprint submissions allowed, but journal policy follow karna hoga.

Misconduct Policy (Education Research)

Our journal handles all cases of academic and research misconduct in education according to COPE, WAME, and ICMJE standards.

Types of Misconduct in Education Research

Falsification of data: Fabrication, selective reporting, omission, or distortion of educational results (e.g., student assessment data, survey results).

Plagiarism: Using others’ words, ideas, or research findings without proper credit.

Authorship issues: Excluding contributors, including non-contributors, or duplicate publication.

Misappropriation of ideas: Using confidential information from colleagues, schools, or institutions improperly.

Violation of research practices: Manipulating educational experiments, biased analysis, or misleading reporting of outcomes.

Regulatory non-compliance: Ignoring ethical guidelines or laws relevant to educational research (e.g., consent from participants).

Inappropriate conduct: False accusations or retaliation against whistleblowers.

Duplicate publication: Publishing the same education research in multiple journals without disclosure.

Conflicts and disclosure: Failing to declare conflicts of interest, funding, or institutional affiliations.

Reference and Citation Misconduct

Citation manipulation or excessive self-citation.

Omission of relevant prior educational research.

Inaccurate, fabricated, or ghost references.

Improper formatting violating journal style.

Handling Allegations

Manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software (e.g., iThenticate).

Reviewers, editors, or readers may report suspected misconduct.

The editorial board follows COPE guidelines; sanctions may include rejection, correction, retraction, or notification of institutions.

retraction, or notification of institutions.

DOI (Digital Object Identifier) Policy

All articles published in the journal are assigned a unique DOI upon final acceptance and publication. The DOI provides a permanent, citable, and reliable link to the article online.

Key Points:

The DOI ensures long-term accessibility and retrievability of the published content.

Authors should include the DOI in citations whenever referencing published articles.

Any corrections, updates, or retractions will be linked to the original DOI to maintain a clear publication record.

The journal uses Crossref for DOI registration and management.

Once assigned, the DOI remains unchanged even if the article is updated or moved within the journal platform.