Guidelines for Authors

1. Submission of Manuscripts

The Journal of Future Studies – Sirte University invites researchers from various scientific, social, and humanities disciplines to submit original scholarly manuscripts for publication. Submissions must be consistent with the journal’s aims and scope and demonstrate a clear future-oriented or foresight dimension, whether through forecasting future trends, analyzing anticipated transformations and changes, developing scenarios, or examining the future opportunities, challenges, and implications of contemporary issues.

All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial screening by the Editorial Board to assess their relevance to the journal’s scope and compliance with minimum scientific and formal requirements. Manuscripts that meet these requirements are sent for peer review in accordance with the journal’s peer-review policy before a final decision is made to accept, request revisions, or reject the manuscript.

Authors are responsible for ensuring the originality of their manuscripts, the accuracy of their data, and the proper citation of sources. They must obtain the necessary permissions to use any copyrighted materials, including photographs, tables, documents, and datasets. All authors must consent to the inclusion of their names and the order of authorship. Authors must also disclose any conflicts of interest and comply with the relevant ethical and legal requirements applicable to their research.

The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject a manuscript at the initial screening stage without sending it for peer review if it falls outside the journal’s scope, fails to meet minimum scientific quality standards, or does not comply with research ethics. The title should be clear and specific, and the abstract should accurately summarize the study’s subject, objectives, methodology, and main findings, highlighting its future-oriented or foresight dimension.

2. Publication Fees

No fees are charged for manuscript submission, peer review, or publication during 2026, in accordance with the journal’s current policy. Any changes to publication fees in subsequent periods will be announced on the journal’s official website, together with the applicable conditions and effective dates.

Scientific decisions regarding the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts are independent of any financial considerations.

3. Types of Manuscripts Accepted

The journal welcomes original research articles and scholarly studies addressing future-oriented and foresight issues across various disciplines, including:

1. Original research articles with a future-oriented or foresight dimension.
2. Analytical and theoretical studies that provide insights or scientific frameworks for anticipating the future.
3. Applied, quantitative, and qualitative studies that analyze future trends or develop potential scenarios.
4. Interdisciplinary studies that connect different fields to address shared future-oriented issues.

The journal’s areas of interest include, but are not limited to, economics, management, political science, social sciences and humanities, education, health, engineering, applied sciences, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, energy, the environment, and sustainable development.

Acceptance is not restricted to any particular academic discipline. However, each manuscript must fall within the journal’s scope and provide a clear scholarly treatment of future-oriented or foresight issues.

4. Manuscript Preparation and Formatting

Manuscripts must be prepared in a clear, well-organized scholarly style, taking into account the nature of the discipline, the research methodology, and the journal’s referencing requirements. Depending on the nature of the study, a manuscript should preferably include the following sections:

• Title: Clear, concise, and reflective of the subject of the study.
• Author Information: Names of all authors, institutional affiliations, and the email address of the corresponding author.
• Abstract: A concise summary of the research problem, objectives, methodology, and main findings, highlighting the future-oriented dimension where appropriate.
• Keywords: Words or phrases reflecting the main subject and areas of the study.
• Introduction: An explanation of the research topic, problem, significance, and objectives.
• Theoretical Framework and Literature Review: A review of relevant literature and identification of the research gap.
• Methodology and Research Procedures: An explanation of the research approach, data sources, data collection instruments, and analytical methods, as appropriate.
• Results and Discussion: Presentation and analysis of the findings and their discussion in light of relevant literature.
• Future-Oriented or Foresight Dimension: An explanation of anticipated trends, scenarios, future implications, opportunities, or challenges, depending on the nature of the study.
• Conclusions and Recommendations: A summary of the principal findings and recommendations based on the research results.
• Acknowledgments: Where applicable.
• Funding and Conflict of Interest Statements: Where applicable.
• References: All sources cited in the manuscript.
• Tables and Figures: Where applicable, with appropriate numbering, titles, and source information.

The order or titles of certain sections may be adjusted according to the nature and discipline of the study, provided that the manuscript maintains logical organization, scientific clarity, and completeness.

5. Language and Academic Style

Manuscripts are accepted in the languages officially approved and announced by the journal on its website. The language used must be clear and accurate, and the manuscript must demonstrate objectivity and scholarly rigor. Authors should avoid exaggerating findings or making claims that are not supported by scientific evidence.

Authors should also avoid categorical claims regarding the uniqueness, novelty, or significance of their studies unless such claims are supported by appropriate evidence and scholarly comparisons. The limitations of the study and any constraints that may affect the interpretation or generalizability of its findings should be clearly acknowledged.

Terminology and abbreviations should be used consistently. Abbreviations must be written out in full at first mention, followed by the abbreviation where necessary.

6. Tables and Figures

Tables and figures must be numbered consecutively according to their order of appearance in the manuscript. Each must have a clear title and be referred to in the text.

Tables and figures should be clear and legible. Sources of data and reproduced images must be acknowledged where applicable. All symbols and abbreviations used must be explained, and unnecessary duplication of the same data in both tables and the main text should be avoided.

Authors are responsible for obtaining the necessary permissions to use materials for which they do not hold the copyright.

7. Citations and References

The journal follows the referencing style specified in its published author instructions. Authors must apply the approved style consistently throughout the manuscript.

Every source cited in the text must appear in the reference list, and every reference listed must be cited in the manuscript. Authors must verify the accuracy and completeness of all reference details, including author names, publication years, titles, journal or publisher information, and Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) or electronic links where available.

Authors are encouraged to use reliable, up-to-date scholarly sources directly relevant to their research topic, while also acknowledging seminal works of continuing academic significance. The literature should be used appropriately to support the research objectives and its future-oriented dimension.

8. Research Ethics

Authors must adhere to the principles of research integrity and academic honesty. Manuscripts must not have been previously published or be under consideration for publication by another journal at the same time.

Plagiarism, data or results manipulation, inappropriate authorship, and the deliberate concealment of material information are prohibited. Authors must disclose funding sources and any potential conflicts of interest and obtain the necessary ethical approvals for studies that require them.

The use of generative artificial intelligence tools in preparing, editing, or analyzing research data must be disclosed in accordance with the journal’s AI-use policy. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of their manuscripts.

9. Submission Preparation Checklist

Before submitting a manuscript, authors should ensure that the following requirements have been met:

• The manuscript is consistent with the journal’s aims and scope.
• The study demonstrates a clear future-oriented or foresight dimension appropriate to its subject.
• The manuscript is original, has not been previously published, and is not being submitted simultaneously to another journal.
• All author details are complete, and all authors have agreed to the submission.
• The title, abstract, objectives, methodology, and findings are clear.
• Citations are consistent, and reference details are accurate and complete.
• All tables and figures are numbered and provided with appropriate titles and source information.
• The necessary permissions have been obtained for all copyrighted materials.
• All forms and declarations required by the journal have been completed.
• The manuscript complies with the journal’s policies on research ethics, conflicts of interest, and artificial intelligence, as applicable.

10. Copyright and Licensing

Copyright and licensing are governed by the policies adopted and published on the official website of the Journal of Future Studies – Sirte University. Before submitting a manuscript, authors should review the journal’s copyright and licensing policy and complete any required declarations, while respecting the intellectual property rights of the authors and any third parties.

11. Privacy Statement

Names, email addresses, and personal information entered by authors into the journal’s submission system are used for purposes related to manuscript submission, peer review, publication management, and academic communication. Such information will not be used for unrelated purposes or made available to unauthorized parties, except where required for publication procedures or by applicable laws and policies.