Taiz University Arts and Humanities Journal is committed to ensuring the independence of its editorial processes and maintaining the highest standards of integrity and transparency throughout all stages of scholarly publishing. In line with this commitment, the Journal adopts a clear policy for the disclosure and management of conflicts of interest to safeguard the objectivity of editorial decisions and strengthen the confidence of authors and readers in the quality and credibility of published research.
A conflict of interest refers to any financial, professional, institutional, personal, or academic relationship or circumstance that may directly or indirectly influence, or be perceived as influencing, the impartiality of an author, reviewer, editorial board member, or publisher in conducting research, evaluating a manuscript, or making decisions regarding its publication. The existence of a conflict of interest does not necessarily constitute unethical conduct; however, failure to disclose such a conflict may compromise the integrity of the publishing process and undermine confidence in the scholarly record.
All authors are required to fully disclose any relationships or interests that may influence the design of the study, the collection or analysis of data, the interpretation of results, the preparation of the manuscript, or the decision to publish. Such interests may include, but are not limited to, research funding, consultancy arrangements, membership on boards or committees, intellectual property interests, commercial interests, or any professional or personal relationship that could reasonably be perceived as affecting the independence of the research. This disclosure must be included in the manuscript at the time of submission, even if the authors believe that the relationship did not actually influence the study or its findings, in the interest of transparency.
If there are no conflicts of interest, authors should include the following statement in their manuscript:
“The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest that could have influenced the results of this study or its publication.”
Reviewers are also required to disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest before accepting an invitation to review a manuscript. Such conflicts may include a scientific, professional, or personal relationship with any of the authors; affiliation with the same institution; involvement in joint research projects; or academic competition that may affect the independence or objectivity of the review. Where such circumstances exist, reviewers should decline the review assignment in order to protect the integrity of the peer-review process.
Members of the Editorial Board are likewise required to disclose any conflicts of interest that may arise during the handling of manuscripts. If an editor is an author of a submitted manuscript, has a direct relationship with one of the authors, is affiliated with the same institution, or has any other circumstance that could affect the impartiality of the editorial decision, the editor must recuse themselves from handling the manuscript. Responsibility for the manuscript will then be assigned to another editor who can manage the process independently and objectively.
The Journal treats all conflict-of-interest disclosures confidentially and professionally. The Editorial Board may request additional information or take appropriate measures when a conflict of interest is considered capable of affecting the integrity of the publication process. Such measures may include appointing additional independent reviewers, assigning the manuscript to another editor, requesting clarification from the authors, or taking any other appropriate editorial action necessary to protect the integrity of the scholarly decision-making process.
If an undisclosed conflict of interest is identified after publication, the Journal reserves the right to investigate the matter and take appropriate action according to the nature and seriousness of the case. Such actions may include publishing a correction, issuing an editorial notice, or retracting the article where the failure to disclose the conflict has materially affected the integrity of the research or the credibility of its findings. Such cases will be handled in accordance with the relevant principles and guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
The Journal recognizes that declaring a conflict of interest is not an admission of wrongdoing. Rather, disclosure reflects a commitment to transparency and academic integrity and enables readers, reviewers, and editors to evaluate research in light of all relevant information. Through this policy, the Journal seeks to promote trust in the quality, independence, and integrity of its scholarly publishing.