Artificial Intelligence Policy

Research and Editorial Integrity

Artificial Intelligence Policy

This policy establishes the responsible, transparent and ethically appropriate use of artificial intelligence in manuscripts, research activities, peer review and editorial decision-making.

Policy statement

The International Journal of Education and Skills for the Green Economy recognizes that artificial intelligence tools may support certain research, writing, analysis and editorial activities. Their use must not compromise authorship responsibility, originality, confidentiality, transparency or research integrity.

Human authors remain fully responsible for every part of a submitted manuscript, including its accuracy, arguments, citations, data, images, conclusions and compliance with ethical and legal requirements.

Artificial intelligence cannot be an author

Artificial intelligence systems, language models, chatbots and automated software cannot be listed as authors or co-authors.

Authorship requires accountability, approval of the submitted and published work, management of conflicts of interest and responsibility for research integrity. An artificial intelligence system cannot fulfil these obligations.

Permitted uses

Authors may use artificial intelligence tools for legitimate supporting purposes, provided that the use is lawful, carefully supervised and disclosed when it materially affects the work.

Language assistance

Improving grammar, spelling, readability or language clarity without changing the scholarly meaning of the manuscript.

Research support

Supporting coding, data organization, transcription or analytical workflows when the method is validated and transparently described.

Literature organization

Assisting with the organization of literature or research notes when every source is independently located and verified by the authors.

Visual or technical support

Assisting with diagrams, visualizations or technical formatting when such use is disclosed and does not misrepresent research evidence.

Prohibited or unacceptable uses

Fabricated information

Authors must not submit fabricated facts, quotations, references, datasets or research findings produced by an AI system.

Undisclosed generation

Substantial AI-generated text, analysis, images or data must not be presented as entirely human-created without appropriate disclosure.

False citations

AI-generated references must not be included unless the authors have independently verified the existence, accuracy and relevance of every source.

Manipulated evidence

AI must not be used to create or alter research evidence in a manner that misrepresents participants, observations, experiments or results.

Confidential data exposure

Confidential, personal, copyrighted or unpublished data must not be uploaded to external AI systems without lawful authority and appropriate safeguards.

Replacement of judgement

AI output must not replace the authors’ independent scholarly reasoning, interpretation, critical assessment or responsibility.

Disclosure requirement

Authors must disclose the use of generative or analytical AI when it has materially contributed to the preparation of the manuscript, research design, data processing, coding, analysis, image creation or interpretation.

Disclosure is generally not required for basic spelling checks, reference formatting or conventional software functions that do not generate substantive scholarly content.

Recommended disclosure format

Declaration of AI-assisted technologies:
During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [name and version of the tool] for [specific purpose]. All generated output was reviewed, verified and revised by the authors, who accept full responsibility for the content of the manuscript.

Verification responsibilities

Authors using artificial intelligence tools must:

  • Verify every factual statement generated or suggested by the tool;
  • Locate and read every cited source independently;
  • Confirm that references, DOIs, quotations and numerical results are accurate;
  • Review the output for bias, distortion and inappropriate generalization;
  • Protect personal, sensitive and confidential information;
  • Check that the output does not infringe copyright or reproduce unattributed material;
  • Maintain sufficient records to explain how AI-supported results were obtained when requested by the editor.

AI-generated images

AI-generated or substantially altered images must be clearly identified. They must not be used as research evidence unless their generation and validation form a legitimate and transparently documented part of the methodology.

AI-assisted analysis

When AI is used for coding, classification, modelling or analysis, authors must describe the tool, version, purpose, inputs, validation procedure and relevant limitations.

Human participants

Personal or identifiable information from research participants must not be processed through an AI service unless consent, legal authority, ethical approval and adequate data protection arrangements permit such use.

Policy for peer reviewers

Reviewers must treat manuscripts as confidential documents. They must not upload a submitted manuscript, any part of it, supplementary files or unpublished research data to a public or external generative AI system.

Reviewers remain personally responsible for the content, accuracy, fairness and confidentiality of their reports. Artificial intelligence must not replace their independent expert evaluation.

If an authorized AI-assisted tool is used in preparing a review, this must be disclosed to the editor and must comply with the journal’s confidentiality and data-protection requirements.

Policy for editors

Editors must protect the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and must not upload unpublished manuscripts or sensitive submission information to external generative AI systems.

AI tools may support administrative or technical processes only when confidentiality, security, accuracy and human oversight are maintained. Final editorial decisions must always be made by qualified human editors.

AI-detection tools

Automated AI-detection results are not treated as conclusive proof of misconduct. Such tools may produce inaccurate or discriminatory results. Any concern will be assessed through editorial review, supporting evidence and an opportunity for the authors to respond.

Non-compliance

Undisclosed or inappropriate use of artificial intelligence may result in a request for clarification, manuscript revision, rejection or withdrawal of acceptance.

If a violation is identified after publication, the journal may issue a correction, expression of concern or retraction in accordance with its publication ethics and corrections policies.

Governing principle

Artificial intelligence may assist scholarly work, but it cannot replace human accountability. Transparency, verification, confidentiality and responsible human judgement remain mandatory throughout the publication process.

Policy owner: Editorial Office of the International Journal of Education and Skills for the Green Economy

Effective date: 2026

Last reviewed: August 2026