Open Access Policy

Open Access Policy

The Gandhara Journal of Natural Sciences (GJNS) is committed to advancing scientific knowledge and innovation by providing free, immediate, and unrestricted access to all its published content. By adopting open access principles, GJNS ensures that research outputs are widely disseminated, fostering collaboration and contributing to global scientific progress.

This policy reflects GJNS’s alignment with international standards such as the Budapest Open Access Initiative (BOAI), Plan S, and UNESCO’s Open Science Recommendations, while respecting Afghan cultural values and Islamic principles.

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1. Current Open Access Model

1.1 Free and Universal Access

All GJNS articles are made freely available online upon publication. Readers anywhere in the world can:
✅ Read
✅ Download
✅ Share
✅ Reuse (with proper attribution)

There are no subscription fees or paywalls, ensuring equitable access to scientific knowledge for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers globally.

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1.2 Use and Sharing of Content

While GJNS currently operates without a formal open license, it encourages users to:

  • Properly cite the original work.
  • Share and reuse content in accordance with fair use principles and academic integrity standards.

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2. Future Plans for Licensing

GJNS is actively working towards adopting the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Once implemented, this license will:
✅ Allow unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction of articles in any medium.
✅ Require appropriate credit to the original authors and source.
✅ Align with DOAJ best practices and Plan S compliance.

This transition will further enhance GJNS’s visibility, discoverability, and impact in the global research community.

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3. Author Rights and Copyright

3.1 Authors Retain Copyright

Authors retain full copyright ownership of their published work.

3.2 Non-Exclusive License to Publish

By submitting to GJNS, authors grant the journal a non-exclusive license to publish, distribute, and archive their work.

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4. Article Processing and Publication Fees

4.1 No Article Processing Charges (APCs)

GJNS is committed to removing financial barriers for authors. It does not charge any fees for:
✅ Submission
✅ Peer review
✅ Publication
✅ Online hosting of articles

This supports equitable participation from researchers in low- and middle-income countries.

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5. Archiving and Digital Preservation

5.1 Current Archiving Practices

GJNS ensures long-term preservation of its content through:
✅ Kandahar University Institutional Repository
✅ Google Scholar indexing for global discoverability

5.2 Future Archiving Plans

The journal plans to join:
✅ LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe)
✅ CLOCKSS (Controlled LOCKSS)
✅ Portico for additional redundancy and security

This guarantees permanent access to GJNS content, even in the event of technical or organizational disruptions.

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6. Cultural and Ethical Considerations

GJNS’s open access practices respect Afghan cultural norms and Islamic ethical principles, ensuring that scholarly communication remains inclusive and globally relevant.

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Policy Review and Updates

This Open Access Policy is reviewed annually and updated as needed to reflect changes in international open access practices and licensing arrangements.

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Contact for Open Access Queries

Email: [Insert official GJNS editorial email]
CC: rpashtoon@hotmail.com
Editorial Office – Gandhara Journal of Natural Sciences, Kandahar University

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Value Additions Planned for GJNS

✅ ORCID Integration – Linking author identities for transparent attribution.
✅ Altmetrics and CrossMark – Tracking online engagement and content updates.
✅ Data Sharing Policy – Encouraging authors to deposit datasets in open repositories (e.g., Zenodo, Dryad).
✅ Open Peer Review Option – Promoting transparency in the review process.