Plagiarism Policy

1. Policy Statement

The Indonesian Journal of Community Service in Education (IJCSE), published by PT. Intelektiva Global Nusantara, is committed to maintaining academic integrity, originality, and responsible reporting in educational community service and community engagement publications.

All submitted manuscripts must report authentic community service activities and original scholarly contributions. Plagiarism, inappropriate textual overlap, undisclosed duplicate publication, misrepresentation of sources, and other forms of publication misconduct are prohibited.

IJCSE conducts initial similarity screening using Turnitin or other appropriate plagiarism-detection software before manuscripts enter peer review. Editorial assessment considers both the similarity report and the underlying scholarly evidence.

2. Purpose of Similarity Screening

The screening process aims to:

• Identify unacknowledged copying of scholarly text, ideas, or educational materials.
• Detect excessive overlap with previously published community service reports or journal articles.
• Identify duplicate publication of substantially the same community engagement activities or outcomes.
• Detect inappropriate reuse of photographs, figures, tables, program instruments, or training materials.
• Promote accurate acknowledgment of community partners and prior work.
• Support fair and transparent editorial evaluation of manuscript originality.

3. Similarity Threshold

Manuscripts exceeding the threshold may be returned for revision, clarification, or rejection depending on the severity and nature of the identified overlap.

Similarity below 20% does not automatically demonstrate originality or guarantee acceptance. Substantial copying from a specific source may constitute plagiarism even when the total similarity percentage is low.

Editors examine the sources, location, distribution, concentration, citation practices, and context of matched material before making editorial decisions.

4. Similarity Report Exclusions

Where justified, the following materials may be excluded from automated similarity calculations or considered separately during editorial interpretation:

• Reference lists and bibliographic entries.
• Properly cited and appropriately formatted direct quotations.
• Article titles, institutional names, partner organization names, and standard declarations.
• Conventional terminology used in educational community service methodologies.
• Short incidental matches that do not indicate meaningful unattributed copying.

Exclusion of these materials does not authorize inappropriate copying. Authors must provide proper attribution for borrowed words, ideas, illustrations, instructional materials, program instruments, and other third-party resources.

Exclusions must be applied consistently and must not be used to mask substantive textual overlap.

5. Forms of Plagiarism and Unacceptable Overlap

6. Screening Stages

IJCSE conducts similarity screening at relevant stages of the editorial process:

1. Before peer review: All manuscripts undergo initial similarity screening.
2. After revision: Manuscripts may be rescreened when significant text, program descriptions, results, or supporting materials have been changed.
3. Before final acceptance or publication: Additional checks may be performed to confirm originality and compliance.
4. After publication: Published articles may be examined when allegations of plagiarism, duplicate reporting, or other inappropriate overlap are raised.

7. Author Responsibilities

Authors must ensure that all submitted community service articles comply with academic integrity and responsible reporting requirements. In particular, authors must:

• Report authentic, original community service or community engagement activities.
• Appropriately cite previous publications, program frameworks, training modules, and educational resources.
• Acknowledge source materials, community partners, and relevant intellectual contributions.
• Use appropriate quotation and responsible paraphrasing.
• Disclose previously published reports or articles arising from the same community service program.
• Clearly identify substantive new contributions when reporting follow-up activities or continuing programs.
• Avoid simultaneous submission and undisclosed duplicate publication.
• Obtain necessary permissions for copyrighted photographs, instructional materials, and other third-party content.
• Respect participant privacy and obtain appropriate consent for publication of identifiable documentation.
• Verify citations and AI-assisted content and cooperate with editorial inquiries.

8. Editorial Assessment and Actions

The Editorial Board considers the nature, extent, and evidence of suspected plagiarism or duplicate reporting. Possible actions include:

• Requesting clarification or supporting documentation from authors.
• Requiring correction of citations, quotation practices, or inadequate paraphrasing.
• Returning manuscripts for substantial revision or further assessment.
• Rejecting manuscripts containing substantial plagiarism or unacceptable duplicate publication.
• Reconsidering or withdrawing acceptance when serious misconduct is established before publication.
• Consulting relevant institutions or community partner organizations where appropriate.
• Publishing corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions following post-publication investigation.

Editorial decisions must be based on evidence and the opportunity for appropriate author response, rather than on the numerical similarity score alone.

9. Complaints, Investigation, and Confidentiality

Suspected plagiarism or duplicate publication may be reported by reviewers, readers, institutions, community partners, or other relevant parties. Reports should include sufficient detail or supporting sources to allow initial editorial assessment.

IJCSE will consider credible allegations, request clarification where appropriate, and protect reasonable confidentiality during the assessment process. Potential conflicts of interest must be considered in the handling of each allegation.

The editorial office may consult independent experts or relevant institutions when additional investigation is necessary. Findings and editorial decisions will be appropriately documented.

10. Post-Publication Plagiarism and Corrections

Allegations of plagiarism, duplicate publication, or substantial unattributed overlap arising after publication will be assessed under the journal's Publication Ethics and Retraction Policies, taking account of relevant COPE guidance.

Depending on the seriousness of the case and its implications for the publication record, IJCSE may issue a correction, expression of concern, or retraction. Such notices should clearly identify the affected article, describe the editorial action, and remain linked to the published record.

11. Ethical Standards and Policy References

IJCSE supports responsible scholarly reporting, transparent acknowledgement of sources, fair editorial assessment, and appropriate responses to substantiated publication misconduct.

• Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Guidance
• Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing

The journal's 20% similarity threshold is a screening criterion and does not constitute a universal definition of plagiarism.