Workshop Report: “Reasons for Article Rejection by High-Impact Journals”

College of Nursing – Hawler Medical University
Held on 17 November 2025

The College of Nursing at Hawler Medical University successfully conducted a focused academic workshop titled “Reasons for Article Rejection by High-Impact Journals.” This workshop was organized under the direct supervision of the Dean’s Office and aligns with the college’s ongoing commitment to enhancing academic writing quality and strengthening research capacity among faculty members.

The session was delivered by Assist. Lect. Malik Fariq Sabir, a distinguished faculty member in the College of Nursing. During the workshop, he provided a detailed and practical explanation of the key reasons behind manuscript rejection, including issues related to poor methodological design, inadequate literature review, weak problem statements, unclear research aims, insufficient data analysis, and failure to follow journal-specific formatting and ethical requirements.

Mr. Malik also addressed the core principles of preparing a strong scientific article, guiding participants through essential steps such as structuring each manuscript section, ensuring methodological transparency, presenting results accurately, strengthening discussion arguments, and selecting suitable journals with appropriate scopes. He emphasized the importance of originality, scientific rigor, and adherence to international publishing standards.

Throughout the workshop, real examples of editorial and peer-review feedback were discussed, enabling participants to recognize common pitfalls and adopt strategies to improve manuscript readiness. The interactive dialogue encouraged faculty members to refine their writing techniques, enhance the clarity of their arguments, and improve overall research impact.

The workshop took place on Monday, 17 November 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:45 PM, with the support and approval of Assistant Professor Dr. Vian Othman Naqshbandi, Dean of the College of Nursing, who issued the official administrative order for this academic activity.

This initiative reflects the College of Nursing’s long-term strategy to foster a culture of high-quality research, promote scholarly productivity, and prepare faculty members for successful engagement with leading international journals.