Complaints & Appeals

Teaching, Learning, and Development welcomes concerns and complaints about its editorial processes, publication ethics, published content, and the conduct of editors or reviewers. Please submit complaints to telad.journal@gmail.com, providing relevant details, supporting evidence, and the manuscript or article reference where applicable.

Receipt will normally be acknowledged within five business days. The Editor-in-Chief will assess the complaint and arrange an investigation proportionate to its nature, referring to relevant COPE guidance. The investigation may include reviewing submission records, editorial correspondence, reviewer reports, and information from the parties involved.

Complaints concerning the Editor-in-Chief will be referred to the publisher, Education and Development Research. The publisher will appoint a representative or independent editor who has no involvement in the matter and no relevant conflict of interest. Anyone whose conduct is being investigated will not make the final decision on the complaint.

The journal aims to provide a written outcome within six weeks. If additional time is required, the complainant will be informed of the delay and, where possible, given a revised timeframe. Information will be shared only as necessary to investigate the matter fairly. Confidentiality will be protected as far as reasonably possible, although complete anonymity cannot always be guaranteed.

1. Complaints About Published Content

Concerns about the accuracy, integrity, authorship, or ethical conduct of published work will be assessed regardless of the complainant’s identity or affiliation. Complainants should identify the article and explain their concerns with supporting evidence where available.

The journal may seek explanations from the authors, consult independent experts, or contact relevant institutions when appropriate. Depending on the findings, action may include a correction, an expression of concern, a retraction, or no change to the published record. The complainant will receive an explanation of the outcome, subject to confidentiality requirements.

2. Appeals Against Editorial Decisions

Authors may appeal a rejection, including a rejection made before external peer review, if they can identify a substantive factual or technical error, a relevant conflict of interest, or a failure to follow the journal’s stated editorial procedures. Disagreement with an editorial decision alone is insufficient grounds for an appeal.

Appeals should be sent to telad.journal@gmail.com within 30 calendar days of the decision. The corresponding author should provide the manuscript reference, a clear explanation of the grounds for appeal, and a point-by-point response to the relevant editorial or reviewer comments, supported by evidence where appropriate.

The appeal will be assessed by an editor who was not responsible for the original decision and has no relevant conflict of interest. Appeals concerning a decision made by the Editor-in-Chief will be referred to the publisher for the appointment of an independent editor or expert.

The assessment may uphold the original decision, identify a need for further review, or reopen editorial consideration. A successful appeal does not guarantee acceptance. Authors will receive a written explanation of the outcome. Normally, only one appeal will be considered for each manuscript; further consideration requires substantial new evidence.

3. Appeals Against Post-Publication Actions

Authors may appeal a proposed or completed correction, expression of concern, or retraction if they provide evidence of a substantive error in the assessment or a failure to follow the journal’s procedures.

Appeals should be submitted to telad.journal@gmail.com within 30 calendar days of notification of the action. They will be assessed by an editor or independent expert who was not responsible for the original decision and has no relevant conflict of interest. Appeals involving the Editor-in-Chief will be handled through the publisher.

The journal will communicate the outcome and its reasons in writing. An appeal will not automatically delay action needed to protect the reliability of the scholarly record. If the appeal establishes that a published notice or action was incorrect, the journal will update the record transparently.