Plagiarism Policy and Academic Integrity

 Journal of Transformative Pedagogies and Learner Engagement (JTPLE), published by Synergy Publication, is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, originality, and ethical scholarly publishing.

In accordance with the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations on Promotion of Academic Integrity and Prevention of Plagiarism in Higher Educational Institutions, 2018 (as amended), JTPLE adopts a maximum permissible similarity threshold of less than 10% for manuscripts to be considered acceptable in terms of originality.

JTPLE also adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines on plagiarism, text recycling (self-plagiarism), duplicate publication, and related forms of academic misconduct.

Similarity Threshold and Screening Tools

  • Maximum permissible similarity: ≤ 10% (after excluding bibliography, quoted material, etc.)

  • Similarity is assessed using professional plagiarism detection software, iThenticate, provided by Crossref.

Exclusions from Similarity Calculation

The following are excluded from similarity assessment:

  • Properly quoted text with correct citation and quotation marks

  • References, bibliography, footnotes, and acknowledgements

  • Commonly used methodological descriptions and standard disciplinary phrases

  • Author(s) self-citations, when properly disclosed and cited

Manuscripts exceeding the 10% similarity threshold (after exclusions) are considered to contain unacceptable levels of overlap and are handled according to the procedures outlined below.

Author(s) Responsibilities (Pre-Submission)

Author(s) are strongly advised to:

  • Conduct plagiarism checks using UGC-recommended or equivalent software prior to submission

  • Ensure accurate paraphrasing, quotation, and citation of all sources

  • Clearly disclose and cite any overlap with their own previously published work (text recycling)

  • Submit only original work not published elsewhere, except in the form of preprints, theses, working papers, or conference papers, with full disclosure

By submitting a manuscript, the corresponding author certifies that the work:

  • Is original and free from plagiarism

  • Complies with the UGC <10% similarity requirement

  • Meets accepted standards of academic integrity

Plagiarism Screening Process

All submitted manuscripts undergo mandatory plagiarism screening before peer review:

  1. Automated similarity check using using iThenticate plagiarism detection software provided by Crossref

  2. Editorial review and manual evaluation of flagged content

  3. Assessment of the similarity report in context

Editorial Decisions Based on Similarity

  • Similarity ≤ 10% (after exclusions): Manuscript proceeds to peer review

  • Similarity > 10%: Manuscript is returned to author(s) for revision and resubmission (normally one opportunity)

  • Similarity substantially above acceptable limits or evidence of misconduct: Immediate desk rejection

Handling Plagiarism and Ethical Misconduct

In cases of confirmed plagiarism, JTPLE follows UGC Regulations (2018) and COPE guidelines.

Pre-Publication Actions

  • Rejection of the manuscript

  • Notification to the corresponding author

  • Where warranted, communication with the author’s institution or supervisor

  • Temporary restriction on future submissions to JTPLE or Synergy Publication journals, depending on severity

Post-Publication Actions

  • Publication of a Correction, Expression of Concern, or Retraction

  • Notification to relevant institutions, funding bodies, and indexing services where appropriate

  • Permanent submission restrictions in cases of serious or repeated misconduct

Self-Plagiarism / Text Recycling

  • Author(s) must disclose and cite reused material transparently

  • Limited overlap in methodology or background sections may be acceptable if properly referenced

  • Substantial undisclosed reuse is treated as plagiarism and subject to the same similarity threshold and sanctions