Type of review

CJES uses double-blind peer review: author and reviewer identities are concealed from each other throughout the process. The handling editor knows both identities and is responsible for the decision.

Workflow

1. Submission — authors submit through the online portal.
2. Desk review (1–2 weeks) — the handling editor checks scope, quality, completeness, and integrity (e.g., plagiarism screening).
3. Peer review (4–6 weeks) — at least two independent external reviewers assess the manuscript.
4. Decision — accept, minor revisions, major revisions, or reject.
5. Revision — authors submit a revised manuscript with a point-by-point response.
6. Acceptance and production — typesetting, proofing, DOI assignment, and online publication.

Evaluation criteria

Reviewers assess: originality and significance, methodological rigour, validity of results and conclusions, clarity of writing, appropriateness of references, and compliance with research ethics standards.

Conflicts of interest

Reviewers must declare any conflicts of interest and decline review if a conflict exists. Editors recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have a competing interest (co-authorship within the past 3 years, institutional connection, personal relationship, or financial interest).

Reviewer recognition

CJES recognises reviewers via annual certificates and supports linking reviews to ORCID records and Web of Science Reviewer Recognition. Reviewers may opt-in to be acknowledged in an annual list of reviewers published in the December issue.

References and standards

• COPE — Ethical guidelines for peer reviewers ↗

Related policies

• Open access

  Open access policy

  All CJES articles are published in full open access — no embargo, no reading fees, free to read, download, and reuse with attribution.

• Ethics

  Publication ethics

  CJES adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices and Code of Conduct across every aspect of publication, with a strong commitment to research integrity, transparency, and accountability.

• Research integrity

  Plagiarism and research integrity

  Every submitted manuscript is screened for textual overlap. Plagiarism — in any form — leads to immediate desk rejection and may trigger further institutional action.