Definition of Plagiarism

The journal defines plagiarism as the use of another person's ideas, words, data, images, methods, or intellectual contributions without appropriate acknowledgment or attribution. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Plagiarism Screening Process

Every manuscript submitted to Universitas undergoes plagiarism screening before entering the peer-review process. The editorial office utilizes recognized plagiarism detection software, such as Turnitin, iThenticate, or equivalent similarity detection systems, to identify textual overlap with previously published literature and publicly available sources. Similarity reports are not evaluated solely on the basis of percentage scores. Editorial decisions are based on a qualitative assessment that considers:

• the source and context of matched text
• properly cited quotations and references
• commonly used scientific terminology
• standard methodological descriptions
• legally required statements
• the originality of the manuscript's intellectual contribution

The Editor-in-Chief and handling editors reserve the right to request clarification, revision, or additional documentation whenever concerns regarding originality arise.

Similarity Thresholds

Similarity percentages serve as editorial guidelines rather than automatic grounds for acceptance or rejection.

High similarity arising from properly cited references, legally required statements, standardized research methods, or commonly accepted terminology may not constitute plagiarism.

Author Responsibilities

Authors submitting manuscripts to Universitas affirm that:

• the submitted work is original and has not been plagiarized from any source
• all ideas, quotations, figures, datasets, and previously published materials are properly acknowledged and cited
• any prior publication, conference presentation, preprint, or related dissemination of the research has been fully disclosed to the editorial office
• the manuscript has not been submitted simultaneously to another journal unless permitted under applicable publishing agreements
• all co-authors have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript before submission

Authors remain solely responsible for the originality and ethical integrity of their work throughout the editorial and publication process.

Editorial Actions and Investigation

When potential plagiarism or other originality concerns are identified, the editorial office conducts a preliminary investigation in accordance with the COPE Core Practices and COPE Flowcharts. Depending on the severity of the findings, the journal may:

• request clarification or explanation from the authors
• require manuscript revision before peer review
• reject the manuscript
• suspend editorial processing while an investigation is conducted
• publish a correction, expression of concern, or retraction if misconduct is confirmed after publication
• notify the authors' affiliated institutions or funding agencies when warranted by serious ethical violations

Editorial decisions are made fairly, confidentially, and based on the available evidence.

Appeals

Authors who disagree with an editorial decision related to plagiarism or originality may submit a written appeal to the Editor-in-Chief within fourteen (14) calendar days from the date of notification. Appeals must provide clear supporting evidence demonstrating that the similarity findings resulted from legitimate scholarly practices, technical limitations of plagiarism detection software, or other verifiable circumstances. The appeal will be reviewed independently by the editorial board, whose decision shall be considered final.

Ethical Standards

Universitas adheres to internationally accepted publication ethics and follows the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in handling allegations of plagiarism and other forms of publication misconduct. The journal is committed to promoting originality, transparency, responsible authorship, and ethical research practices while safeguarding the integrity of the scholarly record.