Conflict of Interest Policy

Innovations in Pedagogy and Technology (IPT) is committed to ensuring transparency and impartiality in all aspects of its publication process.

A conflict of interest (COI), also referred to as a competing interest, exists when personal, professional, financial, institutional, or other interests could influence, or reasonably be perceived to influence, an individual's judgment or decisions relating to a manuscript.

All individuals involved in the submission, review, and publication process are required to disclose relevant actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest. Such disclosures enable the journal to assess and manage competing interests appropriately and maintain confidence in its editorial decisions.

Competing interests may be financial or non-financial and include, but are not limited to:

- Financial interests: Employment, consultancy, research funding, honoraria, grants, stock ownership, patents, royalties, or other financial relationships that may be affected by the publication.

- Professional interests: Current or recent research collaboration, co-authorship, supervisory relationships, or other professional associations.

- Personal interests: Family relationships, close personal relationships, personal disputes, or other circumstances that may affect impartial judgment.

- Institutional interests: Employment, affiliation, or other relationships with institutions or organizations that may have an interest in the research or its publication.

- Other interests: Any additional circumstances that could reasonably be perceived as influencing the objectivity of research, peer review, or editorial decision-making.

The relevance of a competing interest will be assessed according to its nature and potential impact on the impartiality of the publication process.

Disclosure Requirements

Authors

Authors must disclose all relevant competing interests at the time of manuscript submission. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that disclosures are complete and accurate on behalf of all co-authors.

Authors must also disclose relevant funding sources and, where applicable, the role of funders in the research design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, manuscript preparation, and decision to submit the work for publication.

Where no competing interests exist, the following statement should be included in the manuscript:

"The authors declare that they have no competing interests."

Where competing interests exist, authors must provide a clear statement describing the relevant interests.

Editors and Editorial Board Members

Editors and Editorial Board members must disclose any competing interests relating to manuscripts they are assigned to handle. Where a conflict exists, the individual must withdraw from the handling of the manuscript. The journal will arrange independent editorial handling in accordance with its Editorial Policy.

Reviewers

Reviewers must disclose relevant competing interests before accepting a review invitation. If a potential conflict is identified during the review process, they must notify the editorial office promptly. Further arrangements will be determined by the responsible editor.

Publisher

The publisher and its representatives must disclose any interests that could potentially affect the integrity of the publication process. Commercial, financial, or organizational interests must not influence the academic assessment or editorial outcome of individual manuscripts.

All disclosed competing interests will be assessed by the editorial office or an appropriate independent editor, taking into account their nature, relevance, and potential effect on impartiality.

Depending on the circumstances, appropriate measures may include:

- Requesting further information or clarification;

- Reassigning editorial responsibility to an independent editor;

- Appointing alternative reviewers;

- Requiring an appropriate disclosure statement in the manuscript;

- Publishing relevant competing interest information alongside the article.

The existence of a competing interest does not automatically disqualify a manuscript from consideration. The journal will determine whether the interest can be adequately managed without compromising the integrity of the editorial process.

Authors, editors, and reviewers are expected to provide accurate and complete disclosures. If an undisclosed competing interest is identified, the journal will assess the circumstances and take appropriate action in accordance with its publication ethics policies. Depending on the stage and nature of the matter, this may include requesting additional disclosure, reassessing the editorial process, or publishing a correction or other editorial notice where necessary. Cases involving potential research or publication misconduct will be handled in accordance with the journal's Publication Ethics Policy and relevant international guidance.

Information concerning competing interests will be handled confidentially and used only for purposes related to editorial assessment and publication integrity. Relevant disclosures will be included in the published article where appropriate, allowing readers to assess any potential competing interests associated with the work. The journal reserves the right to request additional information when necessary to ensure transparency and maintain the integrity of its publication process.