About PAPJ

The Pacific Academic Journals is committed to publishing high-quality, original research that advances knowledge across multiple disciplines. These editorial policies ensure the integrity, reliability, and ethical standards of all published content while promoting transparency and accountability in scholarly communication.

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

1.1 Mission Statement
Our journal serves as a premier platform for rigorous academic research, fostering innovation and knowledge dissemination across diverse fields of study. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and supporting the global research community.

.....................................................................................................................................................................................
1.2 Scope and Coverage
The journal welcomes original research articles, review papers, case studies, and methodological papers across all academic disciplines. We particularly encourage interdisciplinary research and innovative methodological approaches that contribute to theoretical and practical advancement in their respective fields.

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

1.3 Publication Frequency
The journal publishes quarterly, with additional special issues dedicated to emerging topics or conference proceedings as deemed appropriate by the editorial board.
.....................................................................................................................................................................................
2. Submission Guidelines
2.1 Manuscript Preparation
2.1.1 General Format Requirements
• Word Limit: Research articles should not exceed 8,000 words, including references, tables, and figures
• Font: Times New Roman, 12-point font throughout
• Spacing: Single-spaced text with 1-inch margins on all sides
• Page Numbers: Consecutive numbering in the top right corner
• Language: Manuscripts must be written in clear, grammatically correct English

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

2.1.2 Manuscript Structure
All research articles must include the following sections in order:
Title Page (separate document):
• Complete title (maximum 20 words)
• Author names, affiliations, and contact information
• Corresponding author details including email and postal address
• Word count and acknowledgments

Main Manuscript:
1. Abstract (250 words maximum): Structured abstract including background, methods, results, and conclusions
2. Keywords: 3-6 keywords not appearing in the title
3. Introduction: Context, literature review, and research objectives
4. Methods: Detailed methodology enabling replication
5. Results: Findings presented clearly with appropriate statistical analysis
6. Discussion: Interpretation of results, limitations, and implications
7. Conclusion: Summary of key findings and future directions
8. References: Following APA 7th edition style

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

2.1.3 Tables and Figures
• Tables and figures should be embedded within the text at appropriate locations
• Each table and figure must have a descriptive caption
• High-resolution images (minimum 300 DPI) required for publication
• Color figures accepted but may incur additional publication fees
• Maximum of 8 tables and figures combined per article

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

2.1.4 Reference Style
All citations must follow APA 7th edition guidelines:
• In-text citations: (Author, Year) or Author (Year)
• Reference list alphabetically ordered
• DOIs required for all sources where available
• Minimum of 20 references for research articles
• Preference for sources published within the last 10 years

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

2.2 Submission Process
2.2.1 Online Submission System
All manuscripts must be submitted through our online submission portal or via email at editor.chief@pacadpub.com via whatapp number ‪+264856571662 The system requires:
• Creation of an author account with complete profile information
• Upload of all required documents in specified formats
• Completion of submission checklist and copyright forms

..............................................................................................................................................................................

2.2.2 Required Documents
1. Main Manuscript: Anonymized for peer review
2. Supplementary Materials: If applicable, including datasets, extended methods, or additional analyses
2.2.3 Submission Checklist
Before submission, authors must confirm:
• Manuscript follows journal formatting guidelines
• All authors have approved the final version
• Ethics approvals obtained where required
• References formatted according to APA style

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

2.2.4 Submission Fees
• Standard submission fee: $100 USD, Africa $50 USD, Namibia Dollars N$ 700

..............................................................................................................................................................................
3. Editorial Policies and Guidelines
3.1 Editorial Decision-Making Process
3.1.1 Initial Editorial Assessment
Within 10 business days of submission, the Editor-in-Chief or Associate Editor conducts an initial assessment considering:
• Alignment with journal scope and standards
• Methodological rigor and ethical compliance
• Potential contribution to the field
• Writing quality and clarity
Manuscripts may be desk-rejected without external review if they fail to meet basic criteria.

..............................................................................................................................................................................

3.1.2 Editorial Independence
Editorial decisions are based solely on scientific merit, significance, and adherence to ethical standards. The editorial team maintains complete independence from commercial, political, or institutional pressures.

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

3.1.3 Decision Categories
• Accept: Manuscript accepted with no or minor editorial changes
• Minor Revisions: Acceptance contingent on addressing specific concerns
• Major Revisions: Substantial revisions required with re-review
• Reject: Manuscript unsuitable for publication in current form

..............................................................................................................................................................................

3.2 Conflicts of Interest Policy

3.2.1 Author Conflicts
Authors must disclose all financial, personal, or professional relationships that could influence their work, including:
• Research funding sources
• Employment or consultancy relationships
• Stock ownership or financial interests
• Personal relationships with subjects or collaborators

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

3.2.2 Editorial Conflicts
Editors recuse themselves from decision-making when conflicts exist, including:
• Personal or professional relationships with authors
• Financial interests in research outcomes
• Institutional affiliations with submitted work
• Previous collaboration with authors within five years

.....................................................................................................................................................................................
3.2.3 Reviewer Conflicts
Reviewers must decline invitations when conflicts exist and cannot provide objective evaluation due to:
• Competing research interests
• Personal relationships with authors
• Financial interests in research outcomes
• Inability to maintain confidentiality

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

3.3 Publication Ethics

3.3.1 Originality Requirements
All submissions must represent original work not previously published or under consideration elsewhere. Authors must:
• Avoid duplicate or fragmented publication
• Properly cite and acknowledge all sources

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

3.3.2 Authorship Criteria
Authorship is limited to those who made substantial contributions to:
• Research conception and design
• Data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation
• Manuscript drafting or critical revision
• Final approval of published version
• Accountability for all aspects of the work

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

4. Research and Ethics Guidelines
4.1. Privacy and Confidentiality
Authors must protect participant privacy through:
• De-identification of all personal information
• Secure data storage and transmission methods
• Limited access to identifiable information
• Proper disposal of confidential materials

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

4.2 Animal Research Standards
Research involving animals must comply with international guidelines including:
• Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approval
• Implementation of the 3Rs principle (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement)
• Detailed reporting of animal welfare procedures
• Professional veterinary oversight documentation

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

4.3 Data Management and Sharing
4.3.1 Data Quality Standards

Research data must meet standards for:
• Accuracy and completeness
• Appropriate statistical analysis
• Clear documentation and metadata
• Secure backup and preservation

.....................................................................................................................................................................................
4.4 Misconduct Prevention
4.4.1 Plagiarism Policy
All submissions undergo plagiarism screening using professional detection software. Unacceptable practices include:
• Copying text without proper attribution
• Self-plagiarism of substantial portions
• Paraphrasing without citation
• Unauthorized use of unpublished material

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

4.4.2 Data Integrity
Authors must ensure complete honesty in data reporting:
• No fabrication or falsification of data
• Proper documentation of all methods
• Transparent reporting of all results
• Appropriate image and figure preparation

• Initial editorial decision: 10 business days
• Reviewer invitation and acceptance: 5 business days
• Peer review completion: 30 business days
• Editorial decision communication: 5 business days
• Author revision period: 60 days

.....................................................................................................................................................................................
5.1.2 Expedited Review Process
Available for time-sensitive research with additional fee:
• Editorial decision: 3 business days
• Peer review completion: 14 business days
• Decision communication: 2 business days

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

5.2 Reviewer Selection and Management
5.2.1 Selection Criteria
Reviewers are selected based on:
• Relevant expertise and recent publications
• Geographic and demographic diversity
• Absence of conflicts of interest
• History of timely, constructive reviews
• Editorial board recommendations

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

5.2.2 Review Type
The journal employs double-blind peer review:
• Author and reviewer identities concealed
• Institutional affiliations removed
• Acknowledgments and funding information redacted
• Metadata stripped from electronic files

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

5.3 Reviewer Guidelines and Responsibilities
5.3.1 Evaluation Criteria
Reviewers assess manuscripts on:
• Scientific Merit: Novelty, significance, and validity
• Methodological Rigor: Appropriate design and analysis
• Clarity and Organization: Logical structure and clear writing
• Ethical Compliance: Adherence to research ethics standards
• Reproducibility: Sufficient detail for replication

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

5.3.2 Review Standards
Reviews must provide:
• Constructive, specific feedback
• Clear recommendations for improvement
• Objective evaluation free from bias
• Confidential treatment of manuscript content
• Completion within agreed time frame

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

5.4 Appeals Process

Authors may appeal editorial decisions by:
1. Submitting formal appeal within 30 days
2. Providing detailed justification for reconsideration
3. Addressing specific concerns raised in reviews
4. Requesting independent editorial board review
Appeals are evaluated by uninvolved editorial board members within 21 business days.

.....................................................................................................................................................................................
6. Post-Publication and Accountability
6.1 Correction and Retraction Policies
6.1.1 Corrections
Minor errors requiring correction:
• Typographical or formatting errors
• Minor data presentation issues
• Author affiliation corrections
• Reference formatting problems
Corrections are published online with clear identification and linking to original article.

.....................................................................................................................................................................................
6.1.2 Retractions
Articles may be retracted for:
• Research misconduct or fraud
• Major methodological errors affecting conclusions
• Plagiarism or duplicate publication
• Ethical violations in research conduct
• Legal issues or copyright infringement
Retractions are prominently displayed with detailed explanations and remain permanently accessible.

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

6.2 Post-Publication Peer Review

6.2.1 Reader Comments
Published articles allow reader comments and questions through:
• Online commenting system
• Formal correspondence to editors
• Social media engagement tracking
• Professional discussion forums

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

6.2.2 Continuous Improvement
Post-publication feedback contributes to:
• Author responses and clarifications
• Editorial policy refinement
• Future submission guidelines
• Reviewer training enhancement

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

6.3 Archiving and Preservation
The journal ensures permanent accessibility through:
• Digital preservation partnerships
• Institutional repository deposits
• Long-term hosting agreements
• Format migration protocols
• Comprehensive metadata preservation

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

6.4 Copyright and Licensing

6.4.1 Copyright Policy
Authors retain copyright while granting publication rights to the journal. This includes:
• Right to reproduce and distribute
• Translation and adaptation rights
• Electronic database inclusion
• Educational use permissions

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

6.4.2 Open Access Options
Authors may choose:
• Traditional Publishing: Subscription-based access with author self-archiving rights
• Open Access: Immediate free access with Creative Commons licensing (CC BY)
• Hybrid Model: Traditional print with open access online version
.....................................................................................................................................................................................
7. Contact Information

Pacific Academic Journals

Email: editorial@pacadpub.com

Phone: ‪+264856571662

Editor-in-Chief

Email: editor.chief@pacadpub.com
Manuscript Submissions
Online Portal. https://www.pacadpub.com/
Technical Support: support@pacadpub.com
Business Inquiries
Business Manager: Josephina Muntuumo
Email: business@pacadpub.com
Phone:+264856571662

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

3. Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy
3.1 General AI Restrictions
• Generative AI tools shall not be used for the core intellectual work of research and writing
• AI cannot be listed as an author or co-author under any circumstances
• The use of AI for data analysis, statistical computation, or basic formatting assistance is discouraged but may be permissible with proper declaration

.....................................................................................................................................................................................
3.2 Mandatory AI Disclosure
All authors must complete an AI Declaration Statement with their submission, specifying:
1. No AI Use: "The authors declare that no generative artificial intelligence technologies were used in any aspect of this research or manuscript preparation."
2. Limited AI Use (if applicable): Authors must declare:
o Specific AI tools used (name, version, date of use)
o Exact areas of application (select from the following categories):
 Literature search and organization
 Language editing and grammar checking
 Figure/table formatting
 Reference formatting
 Statistical analysis assistance
 Translation support
 Other (specify in detail)
o Extent of use (percentage or description of content affected)
o Human oversight process employed to verify AI-generated content

.....................................................................................................................................................................................
3.3 Prohibited AI Applications
The following uses of AI are strictly forbidden:
• Writing of manuscript text (including abstracts, introductions, methods, results, discussions, or conclusions)
• Data interpretation or analysis of results
• Literature review synthesis
• Research design or methodology development
• Creation of figures, charts, or visual representations of data
• Peer review activities

.....................................................................................................................................................................................
3.4 AI Declaration Template
Authors must include the following statement in their cover letter and acknowledgments section.

Journal Standard Documents
.....................................................................................................................................................................................
Article Transfer Policy
Scope
This policy applies to manuscripts transferred from other journals within our publishing network or external journals with transfer agreements.
Transfer Eligibility
• Quality Standards: Manuscripts must meet basic scientific rigor requirements
• Scope Alignment: Research must fit within journal's subject areas
• Previous Review: Original peer review reports will be considered but not binding
• Author Consent: All authors must agree to transfer and new journal submission
Transfer Process
1. Editor Decision: Transferring editor recommends suitable alternative journal
2. Author Notification: Authors contacted within 5 business days
3. Consent Required: Authors have 10 days to accept/decline transfer
4. Document Transfer: Manuscript, reviews, and correspondence transferred securely
5. New Review: Receiving journal conducts independent editorial assessment
Conditions
• No guarantee of acceptance at receiving journal
• Transfer does not expedite review process
• Authors retain right to withdraw and submit elsewhere
• Original submission date preserved for priority purposes
.....................................................................................................................................................................................
Copyright Form
Copyright Transfer Agreement
Journal Name: [Journal Name]
Manuscript Title: ________________________________
Authors: _____________________________________
Grant of Rights
By signing below, the author(s) transfer copyright of the above manuscript to [Publisher Name], effective if and when the article is accepted for publication.
Author Warranties
The undersigned author(s) warrant that:
• The manuscript is original work
• No part has been published previously
• All necessary permissions for copyrighted material have been obtained
• The work contains no libelous or unlawful statements
• All authors have approved the final version
Author Rights (Retained)
Authors retain the right to:
• Use the work for teaching purposes
• Include in future books/compilations (with proper citation)
• Post preprint version to institutional repositories
• Share final published version after 12-month embargo period
Corresponding Author
Name: _________________________ Date: __________
Signature: _________________________
Institution: _________________________
Email: _________________________
Co-Author Agreement
All co-authors have read and approved this agreement:
Author 2: _________________________ Date: __________
Author 3: _________________________ Date: __________
Author 4: _________________________ Date: __________
Publisher Use Only
Editor: _________________________ Date Received: __________
Manuscript ID: _________________________ Status: __________

.....................................................................................................................................................................................
Note: This agreement must be signed and returned before publication. Electronic signatures are acceptable.

Open Access Policy
Open Access Options
Gold Open Access
• Immediate free access upon publication
• Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license
• Article Processing Charge (APC) 50 USD
• No embargo period
Green Open Access
• Author self-archiving permitted
• Preprint: Immediate deposit allowed
• Postprint: 12-month embargo period
• Institutional repositories encouraged

.....................................................................................................................................................................................
Licensing and Rights
CC BY 4.0 License
• Allows unrestricted use, distribution, reproduction
• Commercial use permitted
• Attribution required
• Modifications allowed with proper credit

.....................................................................................................................................................................................
Author Rights
• Retain copyright ownership
• Unrestricted reuse of own work
• Text and data mining rights included
• No transfer of exclusive rights to publisher

.....................................................................................................................................................................................
Fee Structure
APC Waivers Available For:
• Authors from World Bank low-income countries
• Corresponding authors without institutional funding
• Editorial board members (50% discount)
• Developing country researchers (sliding scale)
Payment Methods
• Institutional billing
• Credit card processing
• Grant funding direct payment
• Consortium agreements accepted
Quality Assurance

.....................................................................................................................................................................................
Peer Review Standards
• Same rigorous review for all articles
• Editorial independence maintained
• Transparent review process

Signed

Pacific Academic Journals

Email: editorial@pacadpub.com

Phone: ‪+264856571662

Editor-in-Chief

About PAPJ

Indexing & Open Access

Abstracting and Indexing

Developed By