Publication Procedure for IJMAT: From Submission to Global Dissemination

The International Journal of Multidisciplinary Academic Research and Trends (IJMAT) is committed to a streamlined, transparent, and rigorous publication procedure. Our process ensures that only high-quality, ethically sound, and original research reaches our global readership.

Phase 1: Submission and Initial Assessment

This phase focuses on administrative checks and ethical compliance before the manuscript enters peer review.

1. Author Submission: The corresponding author submits the manuscript electronically via the journal’s online system or email (editor@ijmat.org), ensuring the file is in .doc/.docx format and adheres to all formatting and ethical guidelines.

2. Initial Editorial Check: The Editorial Assistant verifies that the submission is complete, correctly formatted (e.g., separate title page, anonymized manuscript file), and falls within the broad multidisciplinary scope of IJMAT.

3. Plagiarism Screening: The manuscript is checked against databases using advanced detection software. Submissions showing an unacceptable level of similarity (typically above 10-15%, excluding references) are immediately desk-rejected following the IJMAT ethical policy.

4. Editor-in-Chief Review: The Editor-in-Chief assesses the manuscript’s originality, methodological rigor, and scholarly significance. Submissions deemed unsuitable or insufficient in quality at this stage are desk-rejected without external review.

Phase 2: Double-Blind Peer Review

The core of our quality control, this phase is governed by our strict double-blind policy to ensure impartiality.

1. Assignment: A suitable Section Editor or Associate Editor with expertise related to the manuscript is assigned to manage the review process.

2. Reviewer Invitation: The assigned Editor invites a minimum of one independent expert reviewer. Reviewers are selected based on their qualifications and absence of conflicts of interest (COI), which they must formally declare.

3. Conducting the Review: Reviewers receive the anonymized manuscript and are asked to provide objective, constructive feedback on originality, methodology, clarity, and contribution, typically within 3–5 weeks.

4. Editorial Decision: The Editor evaluates the reviewer comments. Based on the consensus, the Editor-in-Chief issues one of the following decisions to the corresponding author:

   • Accept: Ready for publication.

   • Minor Revisions: Minor changes required before final acceptance.

   • Major Revisions: Substantial changes required, usually necessitating a second round of review.

   • Reject: Unsuitable for publication.

Phase 3: Revision and Final Acceptance

This phase handles the integration of feedback and final checks.

1. Author Revision: For a decision of Minor or Major Revisions, the author submits a revised manuscript along with a point-by-point response letter detailing how reviewer comments were addressed.

2. Re-Review: Manuscripts requiring Major Revisions are typically sent back to the original reviewers for a second assessment to confirm all issues have been resolved.

3. Final Acceptance: Once the Editor is satisfied with the revisions and the manuscript meets all academic and ethical standards, a formal Letter of Acceptance is issued to the author.

4. Article Processing Charges (APC): If applicable, the author is notified of the final APC fee (Free), and payment is processed at this stage.

Phase 4: Production and Dissemination

The final stage prepares the accepted manuscript for global access.

1. Copyediting and Proofing: The manuscript undergoes professional copyediting for grammar, clarity, and consistency. Authors receive a proof copy (PDF) to review for any errors and must return corrections promptly.

2. DOI Assignment: A unique Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is assigned to the article, ensuring permanent discoverability.

3. Online Publication (Ahead of Print): The article is published online immediately upon final proof correction and payment of the APC (if applicable). This makes the research instantly accessible.

4. Issue Assignment and Archiving: The article is formally assigned to a specific journal issue and volume. The metadata is then shared with indexing services and digital repositories for long-term archiving under the CC BY 4.0 Open Access license.

If you have questions about the procedure at any phase, please contact the Editorial Office at editor@ijmat.org.