Open Access Policy

The Arghand Journal of Social Sciences (AJSS) is committed to advancing knowledge by providing free and unrestricted access to all its published content. AJSS operates as an open access journal, ensuring that scholarly articles are available to readers worldwide without charge or subscription barriers.

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1. Current Open Access Model

1.1 Free and Universal Access

All AJSS articles are freely accessible online upon publication. Readers may read, download, and share the full texts without subscription fees.

1.2 Use and Sharing of Content

While AJSS supports the free dissemination of knowledge, users are asked to respect authors’ rights by properly citing the source when sharing or reusing content.

Currently, the journal has not yet adopted a formal Creative Commons license. However, authors and readers are encouraged to use AJSS content in accordance with fair use principles and academic integrity standards.

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2. Future Plans for Licensing

AJSS 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

This transition will strengthen AJSS’s alignment with global open access best practices and further enhance the visibility of published research.

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3. Author Rights

  • Authors Retain Copyright: Authors maintain full copyright ownership of their published work.
  • Non-Exclusive License to Publish: AJSS requires only a non-exclusive license to publish and distribute the articles.

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4. Publication Fees

4.1 No Article Processing Charges (APCs)

AJSS does not charge authors any fees for:
✅ Submission
✅ Peer review
✅ Publication
✅ Hosting articles online

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5. Archiving and Preservation

5.1 Digital Archiving

AJSS ensures the long-term preservation of its content through:
✅ Kandahar University Institutional Repository
✅ Planned partnerships with archiving services such as LOCKSS and CLOCKSS

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6. Cultural and Ethical Sensitivity

AJSS’s open access practices adhere to Afghan cultural values and Islamic principles while embracing global academic standards.

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Policy Review

This Open Access Policy will be updated once AJSS formally adopts the CC BY 4.0 license or any other recognized open access license.

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Contact for Open Access Queries

alimr.212@gmail.com
CC: rpashtoon@hotmail.com
Editorial Office – AJSS, Kandahar University