The journal Education in the 21st Century mandates the strict observance of ethical standards in all research involving human participants. The regulatory framework complies with the COPE Guidelines on Ethical Oversight and the foundational principles of research ethics in the social and educational sciences.

1. Ethical Approval

All empirical investigations involving human subjects must obtain prior approval from an institutional review board (IRB) or an equivalent independent ethics committee. Authors must explicitly state the name of the authorizing body and the reference number of the ethical approval within the manuscript. The Editorial Board reserves the right to formally request the original ethical approval documentation during the review process.

2. Informed Consent

Researchers must secure documented informed consent from all adult participants. For research involving minors or vulnerable populations, explicit written consent must be obtained from legal guardians. The manuscript must include a definitive statement confirming that informed consent was obtained prior to data collection.

3. Privacy and Confidentiality

Authors must protect the privacy and confidentiality of all participants. Identifying information, including names, photographs, or specific institutional affiliations that compromise anonymity, must be redacted unless explicit written permission for publication is provided by the subject.