Peer Review Procces

Peer Review Process

Manuscript Screening

All manuscripts submitted to Vistar Islamica Journal undergo an initial screening process conducted by the Editor. The screening focuses on three main aspects: (1) the academic quality and originality of the manuscript, (2) plagiarism checking, and (3) grammatical accuracy and structural suitability. Plagiarism detection is conducted using plagiarism detection software such as Turnitin, with a maximum allowable similarity index of 25%.

Manuscripts that successfully pass the initial screening will proceed to the peer-review stage. Submissions that fail to meet originality standards, exceed the permitted similarity index, fall outside the journal’s scope, or lack sufficient scholarly merit may be rejected at this stage without entering the peer-review process. The Editor reserves the right to decline a manuscript prior to peer review if it does not meet the journal’s academic and ethical standards.

Peer Review

Vistar Islamica Journal applies a double-blind peer review process, ensuring that the identities of both authors and reviewers remain confidential throughout the review process. Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two independent reviewers who possess expertise relevant to the manuscript’s subject area. Additional reviewers may be appointed at the Editor’s discretion to ensure a comprehensive and balanced evaluation.

Reviewers assess manuscripts based on their originality, scholarly contribution, methodological rigor, clarity of presentation, and relevance to the journal’s focus and scope. Based on the reviewers’ evaluations and recommendations, the Editor makes the final decision regarding acceptance, revision, or rejection of the manuscript.

Editing and Publication Process

Manuscripts accepted for publication will proceed to the copyediting stage, which is conducted by a designated copy editor. This stage focuses on improving language quality, grammatical accuracy, typographical consistency, and formatting in accordance with the journal’s publication standards. Authors will be requested to review the copyedited manuscript and provide necessary corrections or approval before the manuscript advances to the layout stage.

Following copyediting, manuscripts will undergo layout editing to produce the final publication-ready version according to the journal’s official design and formatting. This process ensures uniformity and professional presentation across all published articles and results in a finalized PDF version for online publication.

Once the layout is completed, the manuscript enters the proofreading stage. Authors are required to carefully review the proof version using PDF annotation tools (such as Adobe Reader or Acrobat Reader DC) and return any corrections or comments to the Editor for final revision.

After all revisions have been completed, the finalized manuscript will be scheduled for publication in the appropriate Volume and Issue of Vistar Islamica Journal. All published articles are made openly accessible through the journal’s official website.

Review Platform

The entire editorial and peer-review process—including manuscript submission, communication between authors, editors, and reviewers, and final publication—is conducted through the Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform. This platform is managed by Vistar Islamica Journal and published by PT Vistar Indonesia Gemilang, ensuring transparency, traceability, and efficiency throughout the publication workflow.