Requirements for Submission of Manuscripts
The editorial policy of the Journal of Engineering Research (Libya) clarifies the journey of a manuscript from submission to final publication decision. These procedures are structured across precise stages to guarantee transparency and compliance with the highest standards of scientific quality.
Stage 1: Submission and Initial Screening
- Forms & Formatting: Submissions must be formatted in Word using the official journal template. Authors must also provide a signed undertaking of compliance and a Conflict of Interest declaration via the online system.
- Manuscript Numbering: Each manuscript is assigned a unique reference number generated automatically, which must be used in all correspondence.
- Preliminary Review: The editorial board conducts a desk review to ensure alignment with the journal's scope, formatting, and scientific soundness. Non-compliant manuscripts may be rejected at this stage.
- Plagiarism Check: All submissions are mandatorily screened for originality using iThenticate prior to peer review.
- Quotation & Similarity Limits: The total similarity index must not exceed 20% (excluding references and appendices). Direct verbatim quotations are limited to 7% of the total text, and similarity from any single source must remain under 5%. Scholarly exceptions require prior approval.
Stage 2: Peer Review Process
- Expert Review: Anonymized manuscripts are sent to competent, independent experts based on specific academic disciplines.
- Confidentiality: All evaluations and deliberations remain strictly confidential.
- Referee Duties: Referees provide assessments via standardized forms and are not authorized to edit the manuscript file directly.
- Evaluation Timeline: Referees must submit their reports within 15 days. Unjustified delays will result in reassignment.
- Report Rejection: The board may discard feedback lacking substantive scientific reasoning.
- Evaluation Categories: Manuscripts are classified as: a) Accepted, b) Accepted with minor revisions, c) Accepted with major revisions, d) Rejected.
Stage 3: Revisions, Decisions, and Priority
- Author Responses: Authors must address all comments. In case of substantiated disagreements, the board may appoint a tie-breaker referee or make a final decision.
- Minimum Acceptance Score: A manuscript must receive an overall score of at least 65% on the evaluation forms to qualify for publication.
14. Publication Priorities
Upon final acceptance, publication queue priority is based on:
- Timely completion of required revisions.
- Disciplinary diversity and author inclusiveness.
- Relevance to urgent topics or local issues identified by the board.
