Author Guidelines

GCIT-JFT welcomes high-quality, original contributions in all areas of information technology and computing. The journal’s scope includes (but is not limited to) the following fields:

  • Core IT disciplines: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, Software Engineering, Networking, Cybersecurity, Human–Computer Interaction, Cloud Computing, etc.
  • Interdisciplinary applications: Educational Technology, Health Informatics, Smart Systems, Internet of Things, Business Analytics, e-Governance, Digital Transformation, etc.

The journal prioritises innovative, evidence-based work that advances practice and knowledge in IT.

Article Types

Authors must select one of the following article types when submitting:

  • Original Research Article: Full-length reports of original empirical research with substantive results. (Word limit ~8000–10000 words, up to 8–10 figures/tables in total.)
  • Review Article: Comprehensive literature reviews or surveys (systematic or narrative) in a focused area. (Word limit ~8000–12000 words, up to 10 figures/tables.)
  • Short Communication / Technical Note: Brief reports of important findings or novel tools/techniques. (Word limit ~3000–5000 words, up to 4 figures/tables.)
  • Case Study / Best Practice: Detailed accounts of real-world projects, implementations or deployments in IT. (Word limit ~5000–8000 words, up to 6 figures/tables.)

Each article type is subject to rigorous peer review. Authors should choose the category that best describes their work, as the type will appear in the published article. (For example, a “Review” should critically synthesise literature on a topic; a “Short Communication” should report concise innovations.)

Manuscript Formatting

  • Language: Manuscripts must be in clear, formal English. Use inclusive and accessible language. Authors from non-English-speaking backgrounds are encouraged to use professional language editing services before submission.
  • File Format: Submit in Word (.docx) or PDF (LaTeX-generated). The initial submission may use any consistent, readable format, but must adhere to the following layout.
  • Fonts & Layout: Use 10 pt standard fonts (e.g. Times New Roman, Arial). Double-space all text, and number lines continuously. Use single-column format (no multi-column layouts in initial submission). Pages should be consecutively numbered.
  • Headings: Use a clear hierarchy of headings (e.g. Heading 1, Heading 2, Heading 3). Do not exceed three levels of subheadings. Number or style headings consistently.
  • Abbreviations: Define each abbreviation on first use. Use short abbreviations sparingly and consistently thereafter.
  • Figures & Tables: Embed figures and tables in the manuscript file (near first mention) or upload them separately as high-resolution files. Graphics should be ≥300 dpi (vector formats like .eps or high-res .tif for line art, .jpg/.png for photos). Provide clear captions and label all figures (e.g. “Figure 1”). Tables must have a descriptive title and column headers. Cite each figure/table in text (e.g. “(see Table 2)” or “(Fig. 1)”).
  • Equations: Use a standard equation editor (e.g. MathType, LaTeX). Number important equations consecutively if they are referenced in the text.
  • File Size: Keep file sizes reasonable (typically ≤20–30 MB). If using LaTeX, upload the source files (e.g. .tex, bibliography, and figures) along with the PDF.

Length and Style

  • Word Count: Suggested maximum word counts (including references) are provided above for each article type. Shorter abstracts (150–300 words) are required. Unusually long articles should be justified by their content.
  • Abstract: A concise, self-contained summary (150–300 words) that states the objectives, methods, key results and conclusions. Avoid citations and uncommon abbreviations in the abstract.
  • Keywords: List 6 relevant keywords after the abstract to aid indexing.
  • Writing: Write in a clear, objective, and formal style. Use the active voice where appropriate. Avoid colloquialisms. Organise content so it is understandable to a broad IT and computing audience.
  • References: Use APA (Social Science) and IEEE (Technical)  reference style. Ensure all references are complete and consistently formatted (see examples below).

Ethical Requirements

  • Originality: Submission implies the work is original, has not been published before, and is not under consideration elsewhere. Any form of plagiarism (text, data or ideas) is strictly prohibited.
  • Ethical Oversight: For research involving human subjects, animals, or sensitive data, provide a statement in Methods about ethics committee approval or informed consent. If applicable, register clinical trials (e.g. at clinicaltrials.gov) and include the registration number.
  • Authorship Approval: All listed authors must approve the submitted version and agree to its submission.
  • Codes of Conduct: GCIT-JFT follows COPE, RUB and industry ethics standards. Submissions will be screened for plagiarism and duplicate publication. Authors found in violation will face rejection or retraction.

Author Contributions (CRediT Taxonomy)

Include an "Author Contributions" section at the end of the manuscript. Using the CRediT taxonomy, describe each author’s role (e.g., Conceptualisation, Methodology, Software, Data Curation, Writing: Original Draft, Writing: Review & Editing, etc.).


Example wording:

Author Contributions: A.A. conceived the study; A.A. and B.B. collected the data; B.B. analysed the data; A.A. wrote the first draft; C.C. and B.B. provided critical revisions; all authors approved the final manuscript.

The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring all contributions are accurate. All authors must agree with the contribution statement before submission.

Acknowledgments

Include an "Acknowledgements" section (before references) for non-author contributions. Acknowledge colleagues or institutions that assisted with the work but do not qualify for authorship (e.g. technical assistance, editorial feedback, discussion). Also acknowledge funding sources here if not listed separately (see below).

 Example:

Acknowledgements: The authors thank Dr. X for statistical advice and Ms. Y for laboratory assistance. This work was supported by Grant Z from the ABC Foundation.

Conflicts of Interest

All authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest. Include a "Conflict of Interest" (or “Competing Interests”) section stating:

  • Any financial, commercial, legal, or academic conflicts related to the work.
  • If no conflicts exist, use the statement “The authors declare no competing interests.”

Disclosures should be entered in the submission system and will be published with the article.

Funding Statement

List all funding sources in a "Funding" section (or as part of acknowledgements), including grant numbers and funding agencies. Indicate the role of funders (if any) in study design, data collection, analysis, decision to publish, or manuscript preparation. 

For example:

Funding: This work was supported by the National Science Foundation [Grant No. XYZ123 to A.A.]. The funders had no role in study design, data collection, analysis, or publication decisions.

If the research received no specific funding, include the statement “No external funding was received.”

Data Availability

GCIT-JFT encourages open research data. Authors should deposit underlying data in public repositories where possible (e.g. Dryad, Zenodo, figshare, institutional archives). Include a “Data Availability” statement with accession numbers or DOIs. For example:
Data Availability: The dataset supporting this study is available in the ABC Repository, DOI:10.xxxx/xxxxx.

If data cannot be shared (e.g. privacy restrictions), provide a brief justification and describe how qualified researchers may request access.

ORCID IDs

All authors are encouraged to provide ORCID identifiers. The corresponding author must supply an ORCID iD during submission. This ensures unique attribution. The ORCID iD will be published on the article.

Accessibility & Language Support

GCIT-JFT is committed to accessible publishing. Authors should ensure:

  • All images (figures) have descriptive captions and, where possible, alternative text for accessibility.
  • Clear, inclusive language and tone. Avoid jargon or explain it when first used.
  • Manuscripts and supplementary materials are formatted to be accessible (e.g., readable PDF).

For authors whose first language is not English, professional editing or proofreading is recommended before submission. (Several reputable editing services are available; authors should retain documentation of any language editing assistance and declare it if required.)