At Pen Academic, we uphold the highest standards of academic integrity and quality by strictly adhering to the peer review process, which is the cornerstone of reliable scientific publishing.

Every article submitted to our journals undergoes a rigorous peer review process. First, submissions are reviewed by the editorial team to ensure compliance with the journal’s scope, standards, and ethical guidelines. Qualified articles are subject to double-blind peer review, where independent and anonymous expert reviewers evaluate the work. During this process, reviewers remain unaware of each other’s and the authors’ identities, while authors similarly receive no information about the reviewers.

The editor makes the final decision to accept, revise, or reject the article based on the comprehensive reviewer reports. For articles requiring major or minor revisions, the peer review process is repeated to verify that all suggested improvements have been adequately addressed.

Our peer review policy reflects Pen Academic’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence and the principles of transparent and unbiased scholarly communication. By strictly adhering to internationally accepted ethical standards, including those set by COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics), we ensure a fair, comprehensive and robust review process that meaningfully contributes to the advancement of knowledge.

Academic Peer-Review Workflow

1. Initial Editorial Review
   The submitted manuscript undergoes an initial evaluation by the editor to ensure its suitability for the journal's scope and standards.

   • If inappropriate, the manuscript is rejected.
   • If appropriate, the manuscript proceeds to peer review.

2. Double-Blind Peer Review
   The manuscript is sent to at least two independent expert reviewers.

   • The peer review process typically takes 30-45 days to complete.
   • Reviewers remain anonymous, and their identities are concealed from the authors.

3. Reviewer Decision and Editorial Action
   Based on the reviewers' reports:

   • If the manuscript is deemed unacceptable, it is rejected.
   • If revisions (major or minor) are required, the manuscript is returned to the authors for improvement.
     • After revisions, the manuscript is re-submitted and re-evaluated.

4. Final Decision
   Once all reviewer comments are addressed and revisions are accepted:

   • The editor makes the final decision to accept the manuscript.
   • Authors are notified accordingly.

5. Copyright and Publication
   Upon acceptance:

   • Authors sign a copyright transfer agreement.
   • The manuscript is prepared for publication and made available in the journal.

Pen Academic Publishing adheres strictly to COPE criteria in its publishing processes: COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers. Version 2 September 2017 https://doi.org/10.24318/cope.2019.1.9