Publication Ethics
Publication Ethics
The Ukrainian Geographic Journal (UGJ) is a leading scientific journal in Ukraine that publishes fundamental and applied research in geography and cartography. It has been issued quarterly since 1994.
The publication ethics of the UGJ is grounded in universally recognized moral principles, applied in the editorial process to ensure ethical relations among Authors, the Editorial Board, Editors, and Reviewers.
For journals published or co-founded by the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (including UGJ), the main legal and ethical standards of cooperation, as well as the responsibilities of the Editor-in-Chief, Editors, and the Editorial Board, are defined in the Regulations on Scientific Periodicals. The UGJ editorial team strictly adheres to these regulations, which are regularly updated in accordance with international standards and the recommendations of major academic databases. The Journal also follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Editorial Board
The Editorial Board of the Ukrainian Geographic Journal is approved by the Division of Earth Sciences of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. It comprises leading national and international scholars recognized as experts in the field.
The composition of the Editorial Board, including academic degrees and affiliations, is published in the Journal and on its website. The editorial team regularly informs members about key issues of publication preparation, consults with them, engages them in peer review, and provides them with all issues of the Journal. Most members of the Editorial Board are also authors of articles published in the Journal. The Board accepts and examines complaints concerning compliance with editorial policy and ethics. Corrections, clarifications, or retractions are issued when necessary. All related documents are stored in the archive.
Editor
Editors are guided by the principles of objectivity, respect, and impartiality regarding the quality of manuscripts and the identity or affiliation of authors. Decisions are made regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political views.
Manuscripts must comply with the Instructions for Authors, available in each issue and on the Journal’s website. In case of non-compliance, editors provide authors with substantiated comments and suggestions in a professional and confidential manner. All accepted manuscripts are forwarded to reviewers with relevant expertise.
Peer Review and Reviewers’ Responsibilities
In line with the Journal’s publication ethics, the main task of reviewers is to provide an objective assessment of manuscripts regarding originality, scientific and practical significance, completeness of presentation, validity of results, novelty, and compliance with national legislation and international standards.
The Editorial Board has developed and approved a recommended list of criteria for manuscript evaluation. Reviewers’ comments must be substantiated and aimed at improving the quality of the manuscript, which is particularly important for young researchers and postgraduate students. Reviewers assist the Editorial Board in decision-making and provide constructive feedback to authors. They should also identify relevant published work that the authors did not cite.
The Journal practices double-blind peer review, ensuring anonymity of both authors and reviewers. Reviewers must declare any conflicts of interest and decline review if such conflicts exist. All manuscripts under review are treated as confidential documents.
After peer review and necessary revisions, manuscripts undergo professional editing. The final version must be approved by the author. The content of each issue is approved by the Academic Council of the Institute of Geography.
Authors’ Responsibilities
Authors must follow the Journal’s Instructions for Authors and participate in the peer review process, taking into account reviewers’ comments. They must disclose sources of financial support for their research.
Manuscripts must present original research results and analysis, with proper references to sources. Authors must not submit manuscripts that have already been published or are under consideration elsewhere. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all individuals who made significant contributions are listed as co-authors.
If authors discover significant errors in their published work, they must immediately notify the editorial team and cooperate to correct or retract the paper if necessary.
Copyright
Copyright is ensured through adherence to editorial procedures, culminating in a License Agreement between the author(s) and the publisher, represented by the Editor-in-Chief.
Since authors do not pay publication fees or receive remuneration for their articles, financial conflicts of interest do not arise.
Handling Cases of Unethical Behavior
Individuals who identify violations of the Regulations on Scientific Periodicals or the Journal’s ethical principles must provide sufficient information and evidence for investigation (texts, records, photos, etc.).
In special cases (e.g., violations by the Editor-in-Chief or systemic violations by the Editorial Board), information is submitted to the Scientific and Publishing Council of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
Minor violations are resolved through consultations with the parties involved (authors, reviewers, editorial board, and independent experts). In cases of serious violations, the following measures may be taken:
- Publication of an official notice on the Journal’s website and in subsequent issues.
- Official notification to the author’s or reviewer’s institution.
- Notification to the State Department of Intellectual Property (Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine) and the NAS of Ukraine.
Authors who repeatedly violate ethical principles will be prohibited from publishing in the Journal for ten years.
Archiving
The editorial office archive contains electronic versions of individual articles since 2003 and complete issues since 2008. Full electronic versions are transferred to the Electronic Database of the Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine and are posted on the Journal’s website after publication.
Ownership and Management
The founders of the Ukrainian Geographic Journal are the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the Institute of Geography of the NAS of Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Geographical Society. The publisher is the Institute of Geography of the NAS of Ukraine. Information about the type of journal, year of foundation (1994), and frequency of publication (quarterly) is indicated on the title page.
Website
The Journal’s website complies with the requirements established by the Scientific-Publishing Council of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and is supplemented by SCOPUS recommendations.
