Complaints Policy

The International Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Higher Education (IJMSHE) is committed to promptly and constructively addressing all complaints. Each complaint is reviewed by the Editorial Team based on its nature and complexity, with guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to ensure fair and ethical resolutions.

Suggestions or complaints should be directed to the journal’s official email address: editor@ijmshe.com. We aim to respond to all complaints within thirty working days. If the issue requires additional time for investigation due to complexity, the complainant will be informed of the extended timeframe.

To facilitate an effective review, complaints should be clear, specific, and include sufficient details to illustrate potential breaches of the journal’s ethical standards. Supporting documents or evidence related to the complaint should be provided when possible.

Complaints that fall outside the journal’s scope, such as personal grievances against authors, editors, or reviewers, will be acknowledged with an explanation that the matter is beyond the journal’s purview. The journal will not respond to complaints that are submitted in an offensive, threatening, or defamatory manner and reserves the right to discontinue correspondence in such cases.

Appeals Policy

The journal is committed to a fair, transparent, and objective peer review process. Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions if they believe a rejection or major decision was based on a misunderstanding, factual error, or procedural irregularity.

Grounds for Appeal

An appeal may be considered if:

• There is evidence of a factual error in the review process.
• A reviewer has misunderstood significant aspects of the manuscript.
• There are concerns about bias, conflict of interest, or procedural irregularities.
• The editorial decision appears inconsistent with the journal’s stated policies.

Appeal Procedure

Authors who wish to appeal a decision must:

1. Submit a formal written appeal to the Editorial Office via the journal’s official email.
2. Clearly state the manuscript title and reference number.
3. Provide a detailed, point-by-point explanation of the grounds for appeal.
4. Include supporting evidence where applicable.

Appeals must be submitted within a reasonable period after notification of the decision.

Review of Appeals

• The Editor-in-Chief or a designated senior editor not involved in the original decision will review the appeal.
• The journal may consult the original reviewers, seek additional independent reviews, or request further clarification from the authors.
• The decision following an appeal is final.

The appeal process may take several weeks, depending on the complexity of the case.

Limitations

• Only one appeal per manuscript will be considered.
• Appeals will not guarantee acceptance or re-review.
• The journal reserves the right to decline appeals that are incomplete, abusive, or lack substantive grounds.

The journal is committed to maintaining editorial independence and integrity. All appeals are handled confidentially and objectively.