Procedure for handling complaints regarding violations of academic integrity and publication ethics
1. General provisions and legal framework
This procedure is based on the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the internal regulations of Dnipro University of Technology on academic integrity.
2. Subjects and objects of consideration
Complainants:authors, readers, reviewers or members of the Editorial Board.
Subject of the complaint: plagiarism, falsification or fabrication of data, hidden or improper use of artificial intelligence (content generation, fictitious references), violation of copyright or conflict of interest, duplication of publications (self-plagiarism).
3. Complaint processing algorithm
Stage 1.Submission and initial verification.
Complaints should be submitted in writing to the Editorial Board email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The Editorial Board conducts a technical check using specialized software to detect borrowings and signs of AI generation. In the case of anonymous complaints, consideration is carried out only if specific evidence is provided (references to primary sources, facts of manipulation).
Stage 2.The work of the ethics committee.
The Editorial Board creates a working group to verify the facts. If necessary, the Commission on Academic Integrity of Dnipro University of Technology is involved (in accordance with the university regulations) to provide an expert assessment. The authors are sent an official notification of the identified claims with a requirement to provide an explanation within10 working days.
Stage 3: Decision-making and sanctions.
The decision is made by the Editor-in-Chief based on the recommendations of the commission.
Possible consequences:
–rejection of the article (if a violation is detected at the review stage);
– retraction (withdrawal) if the article has already been published. A “Retraction Notice” is placed on the website, and a “RETRACTED” watermark is applied to the PDF version;
– disciplinary measures (notification to the management of the institution where the author works about the fact of a violation of ethics);
– access restrictions (temporary ban on authors from submitting new manuscripts for publication).
4. Appealing the decision
Authors have the right to appeal the Editorial Board’s decision by providing additional evidence of their correctness or certified results of an independent examination. The final decision on disputed matters is made by the Academic Council of the publishing organization.