About the Journal

Rusangu University International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (RUIJIR) is a leading academic forum devoted to expanding the frontiers of knowledge via interdisciplinary research, collaboration and innovation. Integrative and holistic pursuit of knowledge cutting across conventional disciplinary boundaries are necessary to address the challenging conundrums of the twenty-first century.

 

RUIJIR is published twice a year. The goal of this journal is to disseminate knowledge, offering a forum for trading research and development-related ideas both domestically and internationally. It seeks to contribute towards national and international development by guiding and influencing policy on a range of topics that will ultimately impact positively people's quality of life.

 

Vision of the Journal

 "A high-caliber, international journal of interdisciplinary research that engages in an exchange of remarkable knowledge and ideas to bridge disciplines and inspire innovation”

 

Aim

The main aim of the Rusangu University International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (RUIJIR) is to promote and facilitate the advancement of interdisciplinary research by providing a platform for the publication and dissemination of high-quality research findings that integrate diverse academic perspectives and methodologies. This central aim encompasses fostering collaboration among researchers from various disciplines, enhancing the accessibility of knowledge to a global audience; and finding solutions to contemporary global challenges.

 

Objectives

The objectives of the Rusangu University International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research: 

  1. Publication of Scholarly Articles: Regularly publish peer-reviewed research articles, review papers, case studies, and theoretical analyses in a wide range of disciplines.
  2. Ensure Research Quality: Maintain rigorous standards of quality through a robust peer-review process, ensuring the integrity and validity of published research.
  3. Encourage Emerging Scholars: Support and promote the work of emerging researchers and academics, providing a platform for new voices in interdisciplinary research.
  4. Global Accessibility: Enhance the accessibility of research findings by ensuring that the journal is available to an international audience, possibly through open-access options.
  5. Support Innovation: Encourage innovative research approaches and methodologies that push the boundaries of traditional academic disciplines.
  6. Promote Ethical Research Practices: Uphold high ethical standards in research and publication, promoting transparency, honesty, and integrity in all published works.
  7. Facilitate Knowledge Exchange: Serve as a hub for the exchange of ideas and knowledge among scholars, practitioners, and policymakers from different fields.
  8. Address Contemporary Issues: Focus on research that addresses current global challenges and contributes to the solution of pressing social, economic, and environmental issues.
  9. Organize Academic Events: Support and organize conferences, workshops, and seminars that foster interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration.
  10. Engage with Broader Audiences: Going beyond the academic community to engage with industry professionals, government agencies, and the public to maximize the impact of research.

Scope
RUIJIR will publish academic works in the disciplines of social sciences, natural sciences, business, environmental studies, climate and agriculture, computer science, information technology, religious studies, theology, health sciences, and education. The journal will place emphasis on integrating theoretical frameworks, methodologies, and techniques from various fields to elucidate complex phenomena. It will also address real-world challenges and promote research discourse in form of articles, reviews, perspectives with scholarly contributions that exhibit an interdisciplinary focus.

Open Access Declaration

As an open access publication, RUIJIR is dedicated to providing readers around the world with free access to top-notch research. We think that unfettered access to academic literature encourages innovation, information exchange, and the advancement of science and technology.

1.  All articles published on RUIJIR are permanently and freely available to anybody, without the need for a subscription or a paywall.

2.    The authors give RUIJIR permission to publish the article under a Creative Commons Attribution License, but they maintain copyright to their work. If they properly acknowledge the original author or authors and the publication source, this permits others to distribute, remix, modify, and expand the work—even for profit.

3.   The quality and integrity of the published studies are guaranteed by the journal's stringent peer review procedure.

4.   To increase the exposure and influence of their work, we advise authors to submit prints or pre-prints in reputable databases and repositories.

 

Publication Fees

  1. RUIJIR shall not charge any processing fee. 

 

Publication Ethics

Publication ethics are crucial for maintaining the integrity, credibility, and quality of an academic journal. They ensure that research is published in a fair, transparent, and responsible manner.  By adhering to these principles, an academic journal can maintain its reputation for integrity and contribute positively to the academic community. These guidelines create an environment of trust and transparency for authors, editors, reviewers, and readers alike. The framework for publication ethics for RUIJIR include:

 

Ethical Guidelines for Authors, Editors and the Publisher

Originality and Plagiarism:

  1. Authors should submit only original work that has not been published elsewhere. If the work includes parts that have been previously published, proper citation and acknowledgment should be provided.
  2. Plagiarism in any form, including self-plagiarism, is not tolerated. RUIJIR reserves the right to conduct plagiarism checks. Authors should properly reference all sources of ideas, data, and quotations.

Authorship:

  1. All authors listed on a paper must have made a significant contribution to the research, design, or writing process. The corresponding author should ensure that all co-authors are appropriately acknowledged and agree to the manuscript's submission.
  2. Authors should not include individuals who did not contribute to the work or omit authors who contributed.

Conflicts of Interest:

  1. Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence their work, such as financial, personal, or professional relationships that could be perceived as creating bias in their research.

Data Accuracy:

  1. Authors are expected to ensure the integrity and accuracy of the data and results presented. Any errors discovered after submission or publication should be promptly corrected or retracted.

Human and Animal Rights:

  1. Research involving human participants or animals must comply with ethical guidelines. Authors should include statements regarding informed consent (for human subjects) and ethical approval (from relevant bodies or institutional review boards).

 

Plagiarism Detection:

  1. The journal may use plagiarism detection tools to ensure the originality of submitted manuscripts. Authors should be aware that manuscripts found to contain plagiarized material will be rejected.

 

Ethical Guidelines for Editors

Fairness and Objectivity:

  1. Editors should evaluate manuscripts based on the quality of the research and the relevance to the journal without bias toward the authors' race, gender, nationality, or personal beliefs.
  2. Editorial decisions should be based on the validity, originality, and significance of the work, not personal or professional relationships.

Confidentiality:

  1. Editors must maintain the confidentiality of the submitted manuscripts, without disclosing any details of the manuscripts to anyone except those involved in the peer-review process.
  2. Editors should not use unpublished data or findings from manuscripts under consideration for their own research.

Handling Conflicts of Interest:

  1. Editors should recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest, such as when they have a direct relationship with the authors or a financial interest in the research.

Publication Decisions:

  1. Editors are responsible for making publication decisions based on the peer-review process and the academic rigor of the work, ensuring that all decisions are impartial and based on objective criteria.

Timeliness:

  1. Editors should handle manuscripts promptly to ensure a timely review and decision-making process. This includes communicating with authors and reviewers as needed.

 

Ethical Guidelines for Reviewers

Confidentiality:

  1. Reviewers must treat the manuscript as a confidential document and not share, discuss, or use the content before its publication.
  2. Reviewers should not retain or copy the manuscript for any personal use.

Objectivity:

  1. Reviews must be based on the content and quality of the research, not personal biases. Reviewers should provide constructive feedback and maintain professional respect for the authors.

Conflicts of Interest:

  1. Reviewers must declare any conflicts of interest that may influence their impartiality. They should not review manuscripts that they have a personal, financial, or academic relationship with.

 

Timeliness:

  1. Reviewers should provide feedback within the agreed-upon time frame to ensure timely publication. If unable to meet the deadline, reviewers should notify the editor promptly.

Ethical Concerns:

  1. Reviewers should report any ethical concerns they have about the manuscript, such as issues of plagiarism, data fabrication, or ethical violations in research (e.g., involving human or animal subjects).

 

Ethical Pledge of RUIJIR

Transparency and Accountability:

  1. The journal ensures transparency in the editorial process, from submission to publication. Clear guidelines should be provided for authors, reviewers, and editors to follow.
  2. The journal takes responsibility for the content published and ensure adherence to ethical standards.

Correction and Retraction:

  1. The journal establishes and follows clear procedures for correcting or retracting articles when serious errors, plagiarism, or ethical breaches are discovered post-publication.

Data and Availability:

  1. The journal encourages authors to share data and research materials, as appropriate, to enhance the transparency and reproducibility of research findings.

Access and Dissemination:

  1. The journal promotes wide dissemination of research through open-access platforms, respecting the rights of the authors while ensuring that the knowledge is accessible to the broader community.

 

Ethical Considerations in Special Situations

Research Misconduct:

  1. If research misconduct (e.g., data falsification, plagiarism) is suspected, the journal has a clear process for investigation and may consult relevant bodies (such as the university or research institution) for resolution.

Retraction or Correction of Articles:

  1. Articles may be retracted or corrected if there are significant errors or ethical violations in the research. Retractions should be handled in a transparent and responsible manner, with a clear explanation provided.

Peer Review Process:

  1. The journal should ensure that the peer review process is fair, unbiased, and constructive. Open peer review (where identities of reviewers are known) or double-blind review (where neither authors nor reviewers know each other's identity) can be considered depending on the journal’s policy.

 

Conflict of interest

Conflict of interest arises when external factors may be interpreted as potentially influencing the impartiality or objectivity of the job or its evaluation. This can occur any time during the research cycle, such as during the testing phase, the writing of a manuscript, or the process of turning a manuscript into a published article.
Declare a possible interest or speak with the editorial office if you're not sure. Unreported interests could result in penalties. Submissions that later disclose unreported conflicts of interest may be disqualified.