Privacy Policy

Global Interdisciplinary Research and Publishing Collective (GIRPC) Journal

Effective Date

The Global Interdisciplinary Research and Publishing Collective (GIRPC) is committed to respecting the privacy of authors, reviewers, editors, readers, website visitors, and all individuals who interact with the Journal and its online services.

This Privacy Policy explains how the Journal collects, uses, stores, protects, and discloses personal information obtained through its website, manuscript submission process, editorial activities, and related communications.

By accessing or using the Journal's website or submitting information to the Journal, users acknowledge that their information may be processed in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Purpose

The purpose of this Privacy Policy is to:

explain how personal information is collected and used;
protect the privacy of individuals interacting with the Journal;
promote transparency regarding information handling practices;
safeguard confidential editorial information; and
support responsible management of personal data.

Scope

This policy applies to all users of the Journal's website, including:

Authors
Reviewers
Editors
Editorial Board Members
Readers
Website Visitors
Conference Participants
Individuals contacting the Journal

This policy applies to information collected through the Journal's official website and related editorial activities.

Information We May Collect

Depending upon the nature of interaction with the Journal, we may collect information including:

Personal Information

Full name
Institutional affiliation
Position or designation
Email address
Postal address (where applicable)
Telephone number (where voluntarily provided)
ORCID iD (where applicable)
Academic biography
Research interests

Manuscript Information

Submitted manuscripts
Supplementary files
Cover letters
Reviewer reports
Editorial correspondence
Publication history
Author declarations

Website Information

The Journal's website may automatically collect limited technical information necessary for the operation, security, and maintenance of the website, including:

IP address
Browser type
Device information
Operating system
Date and time of access
Pages visited
Referring website

Such information is generally collected for website administration, security, and analytical purposes.

How Information Is Used

Information collected by the Journal may be used to:

process manuscript submissions;
administer peer review;
communicate with authors and reviewers;
manage editorial workflows;
publish accepted manuscripts;
maintain publication records;
improve website functionality;
respond to inquiries;
administer conferences or journal activities;
maintain the security and integrity of the website; and
fulfil legitimate editorial and publishing responsibilities.

Personal information shall not be used for purposes unrelated to the legitimate operation of the Journal without an appropriate legal basis or the individual's consent where required.

Confidentiality

The Journal treats manuscript submissions, reviewer reports, editorial correspondence, and unpublished research as confidential. Access to confidential information is restricted to individuals involved in the editorial and publication process who require such access to perform their responsibilities. Editors, reviewers, and editorial staff are expected to maintain strict confidentiality regarding unpublished material.

Information Sharing

The Journal does not sell, rent, or trade personal information. Information may be shared only where reasonably necessary for legitimate editorial or publishing purposes, including with:

Editors
Assigned Reviewers
Editorial Board Members
Publishing staff
Technical service providers supporting the Journal's operations

Information may also be disclosed where required by applicable law, a lawful court order, or other legal obligation.

Data Security

The Journal takes reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures to protect personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, misuse, or loss. While reasonable efforts are made to safeguard information, no method of electronic storage or internet transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Data Retention

The Journal may retain personal information and editorial records for as long as reasonably necessary to:

maintain the scholarly record;
administer editorial activities;
resolve disputes;
comply with legal obligations;
preserve publication history; and
support legitimate academic and publishing purposes.

Information no longer required may be securely deleted or anonymized where appropriate.

Cookies and Website Technologies

The Journal's website may use cookies or similar technologies to improve website functionality, enhance user experience, maintain security, and collect basic analytical information. Users may control or disable cookies through their browser settings, although doing so may affect certain website features.

Third-Party Services

The Journal's website may contain links to external websites or use third-party services to support website functionality. The Journal is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party websites and encourages users to review the privacy policies of those services before providing personal information.

User Rights

Subject to applicable law, individuals may request to:

access personal information held by the Journal;
request correction of inaccurate information;
request deletion of personal information where appropriate;
withdraw consent where processing is based on consent; or
contact the Journal regarding questions relating to personal information.

Requests shall be considered in accordance with applicable legal obligations and the Journal's responsibility to preserve the scholarly record.

Changes to this Policy

The Journal reserves the right to amend this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in legal requirements, editorial practices, website functionality, or operational needs. The most recent version of this policy shall be published on the Journal's official website.

Contact

Questions regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of personal information may be directed to the Editorial Office through the contact details provided on the Journal's official website.

Privacy Policy Statement

The Global Interdisciplinary Research and Publishing Collective (GIRPC) is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all individuals who engage with the Journal. The Journal strives to collect and process personal information responsibly, to safeguard confidential editorial materials, and to maintain transparent information-handling practices that support trustworthy scholarly publishing. Through reasonable security measures and responsible governance, the Journal seeks to foster confidence among authors, reviewers, readers, and the wider academic community.