Peer-Review Process

Journal of Al-Turath University College (JATUC) utilizes a double-blind peer-review process in which the identities of the authors and reviewers are concealed from each other. The journal adheres to all ethical policies and instructions set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Every submission undergoes an initial administrative assessment to verify its completeness, compliance with the Author Guidelines, and adherence to the journal’s ethical requirements. The responsible editor then evaluates the manuscript’s relevance to the journal’s aims and scope, scholarly quality, and originality. Manuscripts that fail to meet these requirements may be rejected without external review.

Manuscripts that pass the initial evaluation are screened for text similarity and research-integrity concerns. Each eligible research article is subsequently evaluated by at least two independent external reviewers with relevant subject expertise. JATUC normally seeks evaluations from three external reviewers whenever appropriate.

Reviewers assess the manuscript’s originality, methodology, significance, ethical compliance, clarity, and the validity of its conclusions. Based on the reviewers’ reports, the editorial decision may be acceptance, minor revision, major revision, or rejection. Revised manuscripts may be returned to the original reviewers for further evaluation.

If authors wish to suggest potential reviewers whom they consider appropriate, they should include their details in the cover letter, together with verified information such as an institutional email address, ORCID, and/or Scopus ID. Although the Editor-in-Chief will consider all suggested reviewers, this does not guarantee that the suggested reviewers will be selected.

If authors prefer that certain reviewers not be used, they should also identify them in the cover letter and provide a brief rationale for the request. However, the journal advises against submitting too many such requests, as this may complicate and lengthen the review process. The Editorial Board reserves the right to select any reviewer it considers appropriate to protect the integrity and professionalism of the journal, even when an author has requested otherwise.

The peer-review process must not be compromised in any way, including through the submission of fabricated reviewer identities, names, or email addresses. Such conduct constitutes a serious violation of publication ethics. The manuscript will be rejected, and a formal investigation may be initiated in accordance with the journal’s policies on scientific ethics and misconduct.

The final decision is made by the responsible editor or Editor-in-Chief based on the reviewers’ reports, the authors’ responses, and the manuscript’s compliance with journal policies. Authors may submit an appeal in accordance with the journal’s Appeals and Complaints Policy.

Manuscripts submitted by editors, Editorial Board members, or persons associated with the journal are assigned to an independent editor and undergo the same external peer-review procedure. The submitting editor or Editorial Board member has no involvement in reviewer selection or the final decision.

Use of AI in The Review Process

Journal of Al-Turath University College (JATUC) ensures that the rights of authors are protected during the stages of review and publishing. Therefore, as of now, the journal does not allow any reviewers to use AI or AI-assisted tools during the review process. This may change and be posted at a later date in the future.