About the Journal

1. ABOUT THE JOURNAL

Souphanouvong University Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development (SUJMRD) is the official journal of Souphanouvong University. It is a peer-reviewed international journal published be the SOUPHANOUVONG JOURNAL: Multi-disciplinary Journal of Souphanouvong University since 2015. It is a continued publication of Souphanouvong University (SU).

The current journal title was adopted in 2021 and biannual online publications. The SUJMRD online publication has been recorded permanently in the ISSN register as ISSN 2521-0653.

Manuscripts should be written in a clear, concise, and direct style so that they are intelligible to the professional reader who is not a specialist in the particular field. Anyone who would like to submit a manuscript is advised to carefully read the instruction for author section of this journal. The only manuscripts acceptable are original research articles (regular papers) that have not been previously published elsewhere, except in a preliminary form (abstract, thesis, poster, oral presentation, etc…).

2. Aims and Scope

The SUJMRD aims to publish the original research results of the various disciplines of knowledge such as Science and Technologies, Innovations, Educations, Humanities and Social Sciences.

3. Peer review process

Author Submission: Authors submit their manuscript to a journal, usually through an online submission system. They provide the manuscript, cover letter, and often supplementary materials such as datasets or figures. Initial Checks: The journal staff performs an initial screening to ensure the submission meets basic formatting, scope, and ethical guidelines (e.g., plagiarism check, authorship verification). 2. Editorial Screening Editor-in-Chief / Associate Editor Review: The editor evaluates the manuscript for overall relevance, novelty, and fit for the journal’s scope. Desk Rejection: Manuscripts that do not meet basic standards or are out of scope may be rejected without external review. Selection of Reviewers: If the manuscript passes, the editor identifies potential peer reviewers who have expertise in the manuscript’s subject area. Reviewers are typically academics, researchers, or industry experts. 3. Reviewer Invitation Invitation to Review: The editor contacts selected reviewers to invite them to assess the manuscript. Acceptance or Decline: Reviewers accept or decline based on expertise, availability, and potential conflicts of interest. 4. Peer Review Evaluation Review Types: Single-blind: Reviewers know the authors’ identities; authors do not know reviewers. Double-blind: Neither authors nor reviewers know each other’s identities. Open Review: Identities of both authors and reviewers are known; sometimes reviews are published alongside the article. Review Criteria: Reviewers typically evaluate: Originality and significance of the research Methodological rigor and validity Clarity and quality of writing Appropriateness of references and citations Ethical compliance (e.g., human or animal research guidelines) Review Report: Reviewers submit detailed comments, recommendations, and often a confidential note to the editor. Recommendations usually fall into categories: Accept without revision Minor revision Major revision Reject 5. Editorial Decision Synthesis of Reviews: The editor evaluates all reviewer reports. They may weigh conflicting opinions and consider the manuscript’s alignment with the journal’s standards. Decision Notification: Authors are informed of the decision, along with reviewer comments. Typical decisions include: Accept: Manuscript is ready for publication. Revise: Authors must address reviewer comments before further consideration. Reject: Manuscript is not suitable for publication. 6. Revision Process (if applicable) Author Revision: Authors revise the manuscript according to reviewer feedback. They submit a revised version and a response letter detailing how each comment was addressed. Second Round of Review: Editors may send the revised manuscript back to the original reviewers or assess themselves whether the revisions are sufficient. This process may iterate multiple times. 7. Final Decision and Publication Acceptance: Once the manuscript meets all reviewer and editorial requirements, it is accepted. Copyediting and Proofing: The manuscript undergoes professional editing for style, grammar, formatting, and typesetting. Authors usually approve proofs before publication. Online/Print Publication: The article is published in the journal and indexed in relevant databases. 8. Post-Publication Some journals encourage post-publication commentary or “post-publication peer review” to address ongoing discussions, corrections, or updates. Key Considerations in Peer Review Integrity: Reviewers must be unbiased, objective, and maintain confidentiality. Timeliness: Reviewers are expected to return evaluations within a reasonable time (usually 2–6 weeks). Transparency: Increasingly, journals adopt open peer review practices to enhance transparency. Ethics: Editors ensure that conflicts of interest, plagiarism, and research misconduct are managed appropriately.

4. Editorial Office

Office of Research and Academic Services, Souphanouvong University

Ban Done Mai, 13th North Road, Luang Prabang Province, LAO PDR

Tel: +856-20-22957893

E-mail : sujournal2018@gmail.com