Complaints and Appeals Policy

Editorial Accountability

Complaints and Appeals Policy

IJESGE provides a fair, confidential and transparent procedure for addressing complaints concerning journal operations and appeals against editorial decisions.

Policy statement

The International Journal of Education and Skills for the Green Economy takes legitimate complaints and appeals seriously. Authors, reviewers, readers and other interested parties may raise concerns regarding editorial procedures, ethical matters, published content or the conduct of individuals acting on behalf of the journal.

Every submission will be considered objectively and without retaliation. Outcomes will be based on the available evidence, the journal’s policies and internationally recognized principles of publication ethics.

Complaint

A complaint concerns the journal’s service, conduct, procedure, ethical handling, communication or compliance with its published policies.

Appeal

An appeal is a reasoned request for reconsideration of an editorial decision because of a significant factual, procedural or academic error.

Matters that may be raised

Editorial or peer-review procedures
Unreasonable editorial delay
Possible conflicts of interest
Alleged publication misconduct
Authorship or contributor concerns
Plagiarism or duplicate publication
Data, image or citation integrity
Corrections, retractions or published notices
Discriminatory or inappropriate conduct

Editorial disagreement alone is not sufficient

An appeal must identify a significant error in the evaluation or decision-making process. Disagreement with reviewers’ opinions or dissatisfaction with a rejection, without specific academic or procedural evidence, is not normally sufficient for reconsideration.

How to submit a complaint or appeal

The submission should be sent in writing to the journal’s editorial office and should include:

  • The complainant’s full name and contact details;
  • The manuscript ID, article title or publication details, where applicable;
  • A clear description of the complaint or basis of appeal;
  • The relevant dates and correspondence;
  • Specific reference to any policy or procedure believed to have been breached;
  • Supporting evidence or documentation;
  • The outcome or remedy being requested.

Suggested subject lines

Complaint: IJESGE manuscript [manuscript ID or title]
Editorial appeal: IJESGE manuscript [manuscript ID or title]

Review procedure

1

Acknowledgement

The editorial office records the submission and acknowledges receipt within a reasonable period.

2

Initial assessment

The journal determines whether the matter falls within its responsibility and whether sufficient information has been supplied.

3

Evidence review

Relevant editorial records, reviewer reports, correspondence, policies and supporting documentation are examined.

4

Independent consideration

Whenever practicable, the matter is assessed by an editor or adviser who was not directly responsible for the disputed decision.

5

Written outcome

The complainant receives a reasoned response explaining the conclusion and any action to be taken.

6

Record keeping

The journal maintains an appropriate confidential record of the concern, evidence, evaluation and outcome.

Editorial appeals

An appeal should explain why the original decision was materially affected by:

  • A significant factual misunderstanding;
  • A serious procedural irregularity;
  • A reviewer comment based on demonstrably incorrect information;
  • An unmanaged conflict of interest;
  • Evidence that relevant material was not considered;
  • A decision inconsistent with the journal’s published policies.

Possible appeal outcomes

  • The original decision is upheld;
  • The manuscript receives an additional editorial assessment;
  • The manuscript is sent to a new independent reviewer;
  • The original decision is modified or withdrawn;
  • A procedural or published-record correction is made.

Editor-related concerns

Complaints concerning an editor will be handled by another editor or an appropriate independent representative who has no direct involvement in the matter.

Reviewer-related concerns

Concerns about reviewer conduct, confidentiality, bias or inappropriate comments will be assessed by the responsible editor without unnecessarily revealing reviewer identities.

Publisher-related concerns

Complaints involving a supporting institution will be referred to a person who can evaluate the matter independently of the disputed activity.

Confidentiality and data protection

Complaints and appeals are handled with appropriate confidentiality. Information is shared only with persons who need it to assess or resolve the matter.

Absolute confidentiality cannot be guaranteed when disclosure is necessary for a fair investigation, required by law or needed to protect participants and the scholarly record.

Good-faith communication

Submissions must be factual, respectful and made in good faith. Abusive, threatening, discriminatory, repetitive or knowingly false communications may be restricted. Legitimate criticism will not be rejected merely because it is critical of the journal.

Timeframe

IJESGE aims to acknowledge complaints and appeals promptly and resolve them within a reasonable period. Complex cases involving external institutions, extensive evidence or research-integrity investigations may require additional time. The complainant will be informed when a substantial delay is expected.

Final editorial responsibility

The purpose of this procedure is to provide meaningful review of possible error or unfairness. It does not guarantee reversal of an editorial decision. Once the appeal has been independently considered and a reasoned final response issued, the journal may regard the internal appeal process as complete.

Responsible office: Editorial Office of the International Journal of Education and Skills for the Green Economy

Effective date: 2026

Last reviewed: August 2026