The International Academic Research Consortium is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in research involving human participants. Our Informed Consent Policy ensures that all research involving human subjects adheres to principles of respect for individual autonomy, voluntary participation, and protection of participants' rights and welfare. Below, we detail our Informed Consent Policy:

Requirement for Informed Consent: (https://researchbasics.education.uconn.edu/ethics-and-informed-consent/)

• All research involving human participants, including studies, surveys, interviews, and clinical trials, must obtain informed consent from participants.
• Informed consent is a prerequisite for participation in research activities and is essential for ensuring voluntary involvement and respect for participants' autonomy.

Content of Informed Consent:

Informed consent documents provided to participants should contain clear and comprehensive information about the research study.

Key components of informed consent include:

• Explanation of the research purpose, objectives, and procedures.
• Description of potential risks, benefits, and discomforts associated with participation.
• Clarification of confidentiality protections and data handling procedures.
• Statement regarding voluntary participation and the right to withdraw from the study at any time without penalty.
• Contact information for researchers or institutional representatives to address questions or concerns about the study.

Consent Process:

• The informed consent process should involve a clear and transparent communication between researchers and participants.
• Participants should be given adequate time to review the consent document, ask questions, and make an informed decision about participation.
• Researchers should ensure that participants understand the information provided and provide opportunities for clarification or further discussion as needed.

Special Considerations:

• Special considerations should be given to vulnerable populations, including children, individuals with cognitive impairments, and those with limited decision-making capacity.
• Additional safeguards, such as parental consent, assent from minors, or surrogate decision-making, may be necessary to protect the rights and welfare of vulnerable participants.

Documentation and Record-keeping:

• Researchers are responsible for documenting the informed consent process thoroughly.
• Signed consent forms or documentation of verbal consent should be obtained and retained securely in accordance with institutional policies and regulatory requirements.
• Consent records should be kept confidential and accessible only to authorized personnel involved in the research.

The International Academic Research Consortium is committed to promoting ethical conduct in research involving human participants. Our Informed Consent Policy outlines clear guidelines and procedures to ensure that participants are fully informed and protected throughout the research process. By upholding principles of respect, autonomy, and integrity, we strive to maintain the trust and confidence of our participants and the broader research community.

Conflict of Interest-

The International Academic Research Consortium is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and objectivity in all aspects of scholarly publishing. Our Conflict of Interest Policy aims to identify, disclose, and manage any conflict of interest that may arise among authors, reviewers, editors, or other stakeholders involved in the publication process. Below, we outline our Conflict of Interest Policy in detail:

Definition of Conflict of Interest:

A conflict of interest exists when individuals involved in the publication process have personal, financial, professional, or other interests that may influence their objectivity, judgment, or decision-making.

Conflicts of interest may arise from relationships with commercial entities, financial investments, personal affiliations, professional obligations, or other factors that could potentially bias or compromise the integrity of the publication process.

Disclosure Requirements:

• Authors, reviewers, and editors are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could reasonably be perceived as influencing their work or decision-making.
• Authors should disclose any financial relationships, affiliations, or competing interests that may have influenced the design, conduct, or reporting of their research.
• Reviewers should disclose any personal, professional, or financial connections to the authors or the research topic that could affect their impartiality or objectivity in evaluating manuscripts.
• Editors should disclose any conflicts of interest that could impact their editorial decisions, such as personal relationships with authors or financial ties to sponsoring organizations.

Management of Conflicts of Interest:

• Conflict of interest disclosed by authors, reviewers, or editors are evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine the appropriate course of action.
• Depending on the nature and severity of the conflict, management strategies may include recusal from decision-making, appointment of alternative reviewers or editors, or disclosure of the conflict to relevant stakeholders.
• The goal of conflict management is to mitigate any potential biases or undue influences and uphold the integrity and credibility of the publication process.
• The Conflicts of Interest Policy is subject to continuous monitoring and review to assess its effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
• Feedback from stakeholders, including authors, reviewers, editors, and readers, is solicited and considered in the ongoing refinement of the policy.

The International Academic Research Consortium is committed to maintaining the integrity and credibility of the publication process by identifying, disclosing, and managing conflicts of interest effectively. Our Conflicts of Interest Policy provides clear guidelines and procedures for addressing conflicts of interest among authors, reviewers, editors, and other stakeholders, ensuring transparency, accountability, and trustworthiness in scholarly publishing.

Content Licensing-

The International Academic Research Consortium is dedicated to contributing to the research world. It does so by fostering open access to scholarly research, promoting the dissemination of knowledge, and facilitating collaboration among researchers worldwide. As part of our commitment to open-access publishing, we adhere to a Content Licensing Policy that governs the use, distribution, and sharing of published content. Below, we outline our Content Licensing Policy in detail.

Creative Commons License:

All articles published in the International Academic Research Consortium are made available under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. The CC BY license allows others to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the published content, even commercially, as long as proper attribution is given to the original source. This open licensing approach promotes the widest possible dissemination of research outputs while ensuring proper credit is given to authors.

Rights Retained by Authors:

Authors retain the copyright to their published work and grant the journal a non-exclusive license to publish and distribute the article under the CC BY license. This allows authors to retain ownership of their intellectual property while granting permission for others to use and share their work under the terms of the CC BY license.

Permissions and Reuse:

Adhering to the CC BY license, users are free to copy, distribute, and transmit published content. It can also be adapted or remixed to create derivative works. However, users are required to provide proper attribution to the original source by including the author(s), title, and journal name, and attaching a link to the original article. Commercial use of the published content is permitted under the CC BY license, provided that proper attribution is given and the terms of the license are adhered to.

Repository Archiving:

Authors are encouraged to deposit their published articles in institutional or subject-specific repositories to ensure the long-term preservation and accessibility of research outputs. This way the discoverability and visibility of research articles are enhanced. It further facilitates citation tracking and contributes to the scholarly record.

The International Academic Research Consortium is committed to advancing open access to scholarly research through its Content Licensing Policy. By adopting a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY NC ND) license, we promote the widest possible dissemination of knowledge while upholding the rights of authors and ensuring proper attribution of their work. Through transparency, accessibility, and compliance with open access mandates, we contribute to the global movement toward open science and facilitate collaboration and innovation in research.