INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES IN FINANCE, MANAGEMENT, AND ENTREPRENEURIAL STUDIES

Author Guidelines

The International Journal Of Sustainability Practices In Finance, Management, And Entrepreneurial Studies (IJOSPIFMAES) welcomes the submission of high-quality, original research articles, review papers, case studies, and book reviews related to business education, management studies, entrepreneurship, public policy, and allied disciplines. To ensure a smooth and timely review and publication process, authors are requested to adhere strictly to the following guidelines:

1. Manuscript Submission

• All manuscripts must be submitted electronically through the journal’s submission portal or email: editor@ijospifmaes.com.ng.
• Submissions must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere.
• A cover letter must accompany each submission, highlighting the manuscript's significance, originality, and conformity with the journal's scope.

2. Manuscript Structure

Authors should structure their manuscripts in the following format:

a. Title Page

• Title of the paper (concise, descriptive, and informative)
• Full names of all authors
• Institutional affiliations
• Corresponding author’s email address and phone number

b. Abstract

• A concise summary of the paper (150–250 words)
• Should highlight the objective, methodology, findings, and conclusion

c. Keywords

• Provide 4–6 relevant keywords for indexing and search optimization

d. Main Text Sections (for research articles)

• Introduction
• Literature Review
• Methodology
• Results and Discussion
• Conclusion and Recommendations
• References

For review papers, case studies, and conceptual articles, alternative headings may be used as appropriate.

3. Formatting Requirements

• Language: Manuscripts should be written in clear and grammatically correct English. British or American English is acceptable, but consistency must be maintained throughout.
• Font and Spacing: Times New Roman, 12-point font, 1.5 line spacing, and justified text alignment.
• Margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides.
• Page Limit: Articles should be between 4,000–8,000 words (excluding references and appendices). Longer manuscripts may be accepted with editorial approval.

4. Referencing Style

• The journal uses the APA 7th edition referencing style. Authors must ensure that in-text citations and reference lists follow APA guidelines.
• All references should be listed alphabetically at the end of the manuscript and cited appropriately in the body of the text.

5. Tables and Figures

• Tables and figures should be clearly labeled, numbered sequentially, and placed within the text close to where they are first referenced.
• Include a short title for each table or figure and cite the source if adapted.

6. Plagiarism and Ethical Considerations

• All submissions will undergo plagiarism checks using professional software. A similarity index above 15% may lead to desk rejection.
• Ethical approval must be obtained for studies involving human subjects, and informed consent should be documented.
• All authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest.

7. Authorship and Acknowledgements

• Only individuals who made significant contributions to the research should be listed as authors.
• Contributions from others (e.g., technical support, funding) should be acknowledged appropriately.
• Any changes to authorship after submission require written approval from all authors.

8. Peer Review Process

• Submitted manuscripts undergo a double-blind peer review by at least two independent reviewers.
• Authors should not include any identifying information within the manuscript to preserve anonymity.
• The review process typically takes 4–6 weeks, after which authors will receive a decision: accept, minor revision, major revision, or reject.

9. Copyright and Licensing

• Upon acceptance, authors will be required to sign a Copyright Transfer Agreement.
• IJIS uses the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), allowing others to share and adapt the work with appropriate credit.

10. Article Processing Charges (APC)

• IJIS currently operates under an open access model. Authors may be required to pay a modest Article Processing Charge to cover publishing and indexing costs. Fee waivers are available upon request and subject to editorial discretion.

11. Publication Frequency

• The journal is published quarterly (March, June, September, and December).
• Accepted manuscripts will be published online ahead of print as “Articles in Press.”