Editorial Policy

This policy sets out how Sirte University Scientific Journal receives and evaluates manuscripts and makes its decisions, ensuring independence, transparency and fairness.

Scope and language

The journal publishes original research and review articles in the applied and medical sciences: Medicine, Engineering, Agriculture and Science. Manuscripts are written in English, with the title, abstract and keywords also in Arabic. Two issues are published each year (June and December).

Editorial independence

Decisions to accept or reject rest solely with the Editorial Board and are based on scientific merit, originality, sound methodology and fit with the journal's scope, free from commercial, political or personal influence. Publication fees play no part in decisions, as they are charged only after acceptance.

Manuscript workflow

  1. Submission: through the journal's online platform only.
  2. Initial screening: scope, submission requirements and use of the template; a manuscript may be rejected at this stage with the reason stated.
  3. Similarity check: with Turnitin; manuscripts above 30% similarity are not sent for review.
  4. Peer review: double-blind, by at least two specialist reviewers, with a third when their recommendations differ, within two weeks of assignment.
  5. Decision: by the Editor-in-Chief on the basis of the reports: accept, minor revision, major revision or reject.
  6. Revision: authors return the revised manuscript with a point-by-point response within two weeks.
  7. Publication: in the next available issue, in order of acceptance date.

Roles and responsibilities

  • Editor-in-Chief: final decisions and oversight of peer review and policy compliance.
  • Editorial Board members: initial screening in their fields, proposing reviewers and following assigned manuscripts.
  • Reviewers: objective scientific assessment within the set time, using the journal's review form.

Submissions by editors and conflicts of interest

Editorial Board members may publish in the journal; their manuscripts are handled by another member with no conflict of interest, and the author neither learns the reviewers' identities nor takes part in the decision. Any editor or reviewer with a conflict of interest declines to handle the manuscript.

Confidentiality

Every submitted manuscript is treated as a confidential document, shared only with those involved in editing and review.

Appeals, complaints and corrections

Authors may appeal decisions and anyone may file a complaint; the procedures, and the types of correction and retraction, are set out on the Appeals and Complaints page and the Plagiarism and Retraction Policy.

Policy review

The Editorial Board reviews this policy at least once a year and publishes the updated version on the journal's website.