Plagiarism Policy

The International Journal of Community Service and Sustainability (IJoCSS) maintains a strict anti-plagiarism policy to uphold the integrity, originality, and credibility of all published research. The journal adheres to the ethical standards of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and follows international best practices in academic publishing.

1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as the act of using another person's work, ideas, or intellectual property without proper acknowledgment. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Direct copying of text, figures, tables, or images without citation

• Paraphrasing substantial portions of another work without proper attribution

• Self-plagiarism, i.e., reusing one’s previously published work without citation or clear justification

• Using data, findings, or concepts from other sources without giving appropriate credit

2. Acceptable Similarity Index

IJoCSS applies a maximum similarity index of 20%, evaluated using reliable plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin, iThenticate, or equivalent).

• Manuscripts exceeding this threshold will undergo editorial review and may be returned or rejected.

• Minor similarities (e.g., commonly used terms or properly cited references) are considered acceptable.

3. Plagiarism Detection and Screening

• All submissions are screened for plagiarism prior to the peer review process.

• If significant plagiarism is detected, the manuscript will be returned to the authors for revision.

• Severe plagiarism (similarity score above 40%) will result in immediate rejection.

4. Consequences of Plagiarism

• Before publication: Manuscripts containing plagiarized content will be returned for correction or rejected.

• After publication: If plagiarism is identified post-publication, the journal may issue a retraction, publish a retraction notice, and inform the author’s institution.

• Repeated offenses: Authors found guilty of recurring plagiarism may be banned from future submissions to IJoCSS.

5. Author Responsibilities

• Authors must ensure that all submitted work is original and properly cited.

• If reusing previously published content, appropriate permissions and acknowledgments must be provided.

• Any overlapping content, including from the authors’ own previous works, must be clearly disclosed.

6. Reviewer and Editor Responsibilities

• Reviewers and editors are expected to report any suspected plagiarism during the peer review process.

• The editorial team will investigate and take necessary actions, which may include:

  • Requesting clarification from authors

  • Rejecting the manuscript

  • Notifying relevant institutions, if necessary