Information for Authors

Guidelines and policies for contributing to IJRML

1. Overview

The International Journal of Responsible Machine Learning (IJRML) invites the submission of original, high-quality research that advances our understanding of responsible, ethical, and transparent machine learning. We welcome contributions from researchers, practitioners, and interdisciplinary teams that emphasise rigour, reproducibility, and societal impact.

We are currently applying for accreditation with the South African Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and indexing in SCOPUS and the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ).

2. Scope

IJRML publishes articles on responsible machine learning, including but not limited to:

  • Transparent and interpretable models
  • Algorithmic fairness and bias mitigation
  • Ethical design and governance of ML systems
  • Privacy-preserving and secure ML
  • Societal impact assessments of AI/ML technologies
  • Reproducibility and robust evaluation practices
  • Human-AI collaboration and decision support
  • Philosophical, legal, and economic implications of ML
  • Responsible applications of ML across sectors (e.g., health, finance, education)

We accept both theoretical and applied contributions that push the boundaries of responsible machine learning practice. Survey articles may be considered by invitation.

3. Originality & Preprints

All submissions must represent original, unpublished work that is not under review elsewhere. However, we permit submission of manuscripts previously shared as preprints (e.g., arXiv, institutional repositories). Submissions that build upon prior conference papers must demonstrate substantial extension and novelty, with a clear description of the differences provided in the cover letter.

We uphold a strict policy against plagiarism.

4. Funding & Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Authors must disclose:

Funding sources directly or indirectly supporting the submitted work (e.g., grants, donations, computing credits).
Competing interests involving commercial, academic, or personal relationships that could be perceived to influence the work.

These disclosures should be included in the cover letter and in a dedicated section of the paper.

5. Submission Procedure

To submit your manuscript:

  1. Prepare your paper in LaTeX using the IJRML template Coming Soon. Alternatively you may use this MS WORD template Coming Soon.
  2. Ensure your submission includes:
    • Title, abstract (max 200 words), keywords
    • Full author details (including institutional affiliations and contact information)
    • A cover letter addressing originality, prior versions, funding, conflicts of interest, and suggestions for reviewers
  3. Submit via our submission platform: Coming Soon

We strongly encourage the inclusion of:

  • Reproducible code (e.g., via GitHub)
  • Data or simulation artifacts
  • Online appendices (e.g., technical proofs, ethical assessments, implementation guides)

Manuscripts exceeding 35 pages (including appendices) require justification and may take longer to review.

6. Reviewing Process

IJRML uses a double-blind peer review model. Each submission is:

Step 1

Screened by an Editor-in-Chief for scope and quality

Step 2

Assigned to an Associate Editor with expertise in the area

Step 3

Reviewed by at least two independent reviewers

Step 4

Evaluated based on rigour, contribution, clarity, and alignment with the journal's mission

Decisions may be: Accept Minor Revision Major Revision Reject

Detailed reviewer feedback is provided in all cases.

7. Publication & Licensing

Accepted papers are published online under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. Authors retain copyright. Articles are indexed upon publication and are permanently archived.

To support sustainable open-access publishing and editorial operations, the International Journal of Responsible Machine Learning (IJRML) charges an Article Processing Charge (APC) of R5,000 ZAR per accepted manuscript.

Key Details:

  • No fees are charged at the time of submission.
  • The APC is payable only upon acceptance of the paper.
  • There are no additional page charges or hidden fees.
  • Payment instructions will be provided upon acceptance and invoicing.

Fee Waivers and Discounts:

We are committed to equitable access to publication:

• Full or partial waivers may be granted to authors from low-income countries or those without institutional funding.
• Requests for waivers must be made at the time of submission via the cover letter and will not affect editorial decisions.

IJRML is a non-profit, scholar-led journal.

All revenue is reinvested into maintaining open access infrastructure, rigorous peer review, editorial quality, and long-term archiving.

A limited print edition may be made available through Open Reason Press or designated partners.

8. Style & Formatting

Please follow the [Author Guide] Coming Soon and use the official IJRML LaTeX template and style files.

Common formatting issues and FAQs are also addressed in our [Formatting Checklist] Coming Soon.

here!!!