Publication Procedures Manual

Journal of Future Studies – Sirte University

The Journal of Future Studies – Sirte University follows editorial and scientific procedures designed to ensure the quality of published research, the transparency of the evaluation process, and the preservation of integrity, confidentiality, and independence throughout all stages of publication.

1. Submission of Manuscripts

Research papers and studies must be submitted to the journal’s official email address: jfssu@su.edu.ly, accompanied by the manuscript and all required documents and forms, in accordance with the journal’s published author guidelines.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that all submission requirements have been fulfilled, including the title page, anonymized manuscript file, publication application form, declaration and undertaking, and any additional documents required by the journal.

2. Declaration and Undertaking

Authors must submit the declaration and undertaking form approved by the journal, confirming the originality of the manuscript, that it is not being considered simultaneously by another publication venue, that all co-authors have approved its submission, and that the research complies with scientific research ethics and intellectual property rights. Authors must also disclose relevant information in accordance with the journal’s policies.

3. Manuscript Registration and Acknowledgment of Receipt

The Editorial Board shall register all submitted manuscripts in the designated register, acknowledge receipt to the author or authors, and provide the necessary information for tracking the progress of the submission.

Acknowledgment of receipt does not constitute acceptance of the manuscript or guarantee that it will be sent for peer review.

4. Initial Editorial Screening

All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial screening by the Editorial Board to verify:

1. Whether the subject falls within the journal’s scope and its interests in future studies and foresight research.
2. Whether the manuscript demonstrates a clear future-oriented or foresight dimension appropriate to the nature of the study.
3. Whether the basic publication requirements and formal submission guidelines have been met.
4. Whether the manuscript meets the minimum standards of scientific and methodological quality.
5. Whether the manuscript complies with research ethics and originality requirements.

Based on the screening results, the Editorial Board may send the manuscript for peer review, return it to the author for completion of missing requirements, or decline it at the preliminary stage, providing appropriate reasons.

5. Peer Review

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening shall be referred to at least two qualified subject-matter reviewers under a double-anonymous peer-review system, whereby the authors’ identities are not disclosed to the reviewers, and the reviewers’ identities are not disclosed to the authors.

Reviewers shall be selected based on their academic competence, subject-specific expertise, independence, and the absence of conflicts of interest.

Reviewers shall evaluate manuscripts in terms of originality, scientific significance, methodological soundness, quality of analysis, appropriateness of the findings and conclusions, clarity of the future-oriented or foresight dimension, and the accuracy of referencing and academic presentation.

6. Divergent Peer-Review Reports

If the two reviewers disagree in their recommendations regarding a manuscript, the Editor-in-Chief or the Editorial Board may refer the manuscript to a third reviewer or take an appropriate editorial action in light of the nature of the disagreement and the review reports.

The final decision shall be based on scientific evaluation and the journal’s approved policies, while respecting the independence of the peer-review process and avoiding conflicts of interest.

7. Required Revisions

The Editorial Board shall notify the author of the comments and revisions required in light of the reviewers’ reports and request a revised version that addresses the comments.

Authors must complete the required revisions within fifteen days of notification, unless the Editorial Board grants an extension upon receipt of a justified request.

Depending on the nature of the revisions and the Editorial Board’s assessment, the revised manuscript may be returned to the reviewers to verify whether their comments have been adequately addressed.

Making revisions or addressing some of the reviewers’ comments does not guarantee acceptance for publication.

8. Final Decision

The Editor-in-Chief, in coordination with the Editorial Board and in accordance with the peer-review reports and the journal’s approved policies, shall make the final decision on each manuscript. The decision may be one of the following:

1. Accepted for publication.
2. Conditionally accepted, subject to completion of specified revisions.
3. Further revisions or additional peer review required.
4. Rejected for publication.

The author shall be notified of the decision by email or through another communication channel approved by the journal.

9. Confidentiality of the Publication Process

The journal is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts, reviewers’ reports, and correspondence relating to the evaluation process.

Reviewers and Editorial Board members must not use the contents of unpublished manuscripts or information contained therein for personal purposes or research outside the scope of their editorial responsibilities without appropriate permission from the relevant rights holders.

Authors’ personal data shall be processed in accordance with the journal’s privacy statement and approved policies.

10. Withdrawal of a Manuscript

If an author wishes to withdraw a manuscript after submission, the author must send a written request, stating the reasons for withdrawal, to the Editorial Board. The request shall be considered in light of the stage of processing, the nature of the request, and the journal’s approved policies.

Authors may not submit the manuscript to another publication venue while it remains under consideration by the journal. The withdrawal process must be completed before the manuscript is submitted elsewhere in order to prevent duplicate publication or simultaneous submission.

11. Copyright and Publication Rights

Following acceptance, authors shall be required to complete the journal’s approved copyright or licensing form, which specifies the rights of the authors and the journal, as well as the terms governing access to and reuse of the work, in accordance with the journal’s published policy.

12. Publication Scheduling

Accepted manuscripts shall be scheduled for publication in accordance with the approved publication plan, taking into account the date of final acceptance, the manuscript’s readiness for publication, the journal’s editorial priorities, and the nature of the subject.

The date of initial submission alone does not guarantee publication in a particular issue.

13. Manuscript Preparation and Publication Notification

Following final acceptance, the Editorial Board shall complete the necessary editorial procedures to prepare the manuscript for publication. These procedures may include reviewing formatting, bibliographic information, and references, as well as making necessary editorial corrections in consultation with the authors where required.

The journal shall notify the author when the manuscript or the issue containing it is published and provide access to the published electronic version in accordance with the journal’s established procedures.

14. Scientific Responsibility

The research papers and studies published in the journal express the views of their authors and present the results of their scientific work; they do not necessarily represent the views of the journal or Sirte University.

Authors bear scientific responsibility for the accuracy of the information, data, analyses, and findings presented in their work, as well as for compliance with academic integrity and intellectual property requirements.