NextGen Chemical Engineering Journal (NGCEJ) is committed to maintaining high standards of editorial integrity, transparency, and fairness. Editors play a critical role in ensuring the quality and credibility of published research. The following responsibilities reflect internationally recognized best practices in scholarly publishing.

1. Fair and Impartial Decision-Making

Editors must evaluate manuscripts based solely on:

Scientific merit

Originality and relevance

Methodological soundness

Clarity and contribution to the field

Editorial decisions must not be influenced by:

Authors’ nationality

Institutional affiliation

Gender, religion, or political beliefs

Personal relationships

All submissions must be treated fairly and objectively.

2. Confidentiality

Editors must:

Treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential documents.

Not disclose information about a manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, editorial staff, or publisher as appropriate.

Protect the identity of reviewers in a double-blind peer review system.

Unpublished material must not be used for personal research or advantage.

3. Conflict of Interest

Editors must:

Recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have personal, financial, academic, or collaborative conflicts of interest.

Avoid any situation that could compromise editorial objectivity.

Ensure transparent handling of potential conflicts.

If a conflict exists, the manuscript should be assigned to another qualified editor.

4. Editorial Independence

Editors must:

Make decisions independently from the publisher or sponsoring organization.

Ensure that commercial interests do not influence editorial decisions.

Safeguard the academic integrity of the journal.

5. Peer Review Oversight

Editors are responsible for:

Selecting qualified and independent reviewers.

Ensuring the peer review process is fair, timely, and unbiased.

Evaluating reviewer comments objectively.

Making final publication decisions based on reviewer reports and journal standards.

Editors must ensure that the peer review process maintains confidentiality and professionalism.

6. Handling Ethical Misconduct

If editors suspect misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, data fabrication, duplicate submission), they must:

Conduct a preliminary investigation.

Request clarification from the authors.

Take appropriate action, which may include rejection, correction, or retraction.

Editors should act in accordance with established ethical guidelines and ensure due process.

7. Corrections and Retractions

Editors are responsible for maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record. When necessary, they must:

Issue corrections for minor errors.

Publish retractions for serious ethical violations.

Ensure that retraction notices are clear, transparent, and permanently accessible.

8. Transparency and Accountability

Editors should:

Clearly communicate journal policies.

Maintain accurate records of editorial decisions.

Respond professionally to complaints and appeals.

Continuously improve editorial procedures.

9. Commitment to Ethical Excellence

Editors of NGCEJ commit to:

Upholding academic integrity

Ensuring transparency

Promoting responsible research

Protecting the credibility of published scholarship

By maintaining these standards, the editorial team ensures trust among authors, reviewers, and readers.