Academic writing
AUTHORS' GUIDE

IRIC 2027

Everything you need to prepare your submission

Formatting Requirements

Paper Format

  • Page size: A4 (210mm x 297mm)
  • Margins: 2.5cm all sides
  • Font: Times New Roman, 12pt
  • Line spacing: 1.5
  • Max length: 8-10 pages

Typography

  • Title: 16pt Bold, Centered
  • Headings: 14pt Bold, Left
  • Subheadings: 12pt Bold, Left
  • Body text: 12pt Regular
  • Captions: 10pt Italic

Language

  • Primary: English (UK or US)
  • Spelling: Consistent throughout
  • Grammar: Proofread carefully
  • Acronyms: Define on first use
  • Tense: Past tense for methods

Download Templates

Use these templates to ensure your submission meets our formatting requirements

Word Template

Microsoft Word (.dotx)

  • Pre-formatted styles
  • Page setup included
  • Easy to use
Download

Abstract Template

For abstract submission

  • 300-500 words
  • Structured format
  • Keywords section
Download

Poster Template

PowerPoint format

  • A0 size (841x1189mm)
  • Pre-designed layout
  • Editable
Download

Paper Structure

Follow this structure for your full paper submission

1

Title Max 20 words

Clear, concise, and descriptive. Use title case (capitalize main words). Should accurately reflect the content of your paper.

2

Author Information

Full names, institutional affiliations, and email addresses for all authors. Mark the corresponding author with an asterisk (*). Include ORCID IDs if available.

3

Abstract 300-500 words

A comprehensive summary including: objective/purpose, methodology, key findings/results, and conclusion/implications. Should stand alone without references.

4

Keywords 4-6 keywords

Separated by semicolons (e.g., "machine learning; healthcare; artificial intelligence; diagnostics"). Essential for indexing and searchability.

5

Introduction

Background context, problem statement, research gap, objectives, and significance of the study. Include brief literature review to establish context.

6

Literature Review

Critical analysis of existing research relevant to your topic. Identify gaps your research addresses. Demonstrate familiarity with key works in the field.

7

Methodology

Research design, data collection methods, sample characteristics, instruments used, and analytical procedures. Should be detailed enough for replication.

8

Results & Discussion

Present findings clearly using tables and figures where appropriate. Interpret results, compare with previous studies, and discuss implications. Address limitations.

9

Conclusion

Summarize main findings, highlight contributions, discuss implications, and suggest directions for future research. Avoid repeating the abstract.

10

References APA 7th Edition

Minimum 15 references from credible sources. All citations must appear in the reference list and vice versa. Use consistent formatting throughout.

Referencing Guide

APA 7th Edition format is required for all submissions

Journal Article

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of article. Journal Title, Volume(Issue), page range. DOI

Adjei, K., & Mensah, P. (2025). AI in healthcare. Journal of Medical Research, 15(2), 45-62. https://doi.org/10.1234/jmr.2025.001

Book

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of book. Publisher.

Asante, K. (2024). Research methods in African studies. Ghana Universities Press.

Conference Paper

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of paper. In Proceedings of the Conference Name (pp. xx-xx). Publisher.

Owusu, E. (2025). Sustainable energy. In Proceedings of IRIC 2025 (pp. 123-130). AIT Press.

Website

Author. (Year). Title of page. Site Name. URL

World Bank. (2025). Ghana economic update. World Bank. https://worldbank.org/ghana

Figures & Tables

Figures

  • Place figures near first reference in text
  • Number sequentially: Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.
  • Caption below figure, centered, 10pt italic
  • Resolution: minimum 300 DPI
  • Formats: JPG, PNG, TIFF (preferred)
  • Refer to figures in text: "as shown in Figure 1"

Tables

  • Number sequentially: Table 1, Table 2, etc.
  • Caption above table, left-aligned, 10pt
  • Use horizontal lines only (avoid vertical)
  • Font size can be 10pt if needed
  • Column headings should be clear
  • Refer to tables in text: "as shown in Table 1"

Example Figure Caption

Figure Placeholder

Figure 1. Research methodology flowchart showing the sequential steps from data collection to analysis.

Ethical Guidelines

Original Work

Submissions must be original and not published elsewhere or under review in any other conference or journal.

Plagiarism

All submissions will be checked for plagiarism using Turnitin. Similarity should be below 15% excluding references.

AI Generated Content

Disclosure required if AI tools were used. AI cannot be listed as an author. Authors are responsible for all content.

Ethical Approval

For research involving humans or animals, provide ethics committee approval number in the methodology section.

Authorship

All listed authors must have contributed significantly. No ghost or gift authors. Corresponding author responsible for consensus.

Conflict of Interest

Declare any financial or personal relationships that could bias the work. Include statement before references.

Final Submission Checklist

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I submit more than one paper?
A: Yes, authors may submit up to 2 papers as long as they are distinct contributions and meet the quality standards.
Q: Is there a word count for the full paper?
A: Maximum 5000 words or 8-10 pages (including figures and tables). References are not included in the word count.
Q: Can I include my references in the word count?
A: No, references are not included in the word count. They can exceed the page limit if necessary.
Q: What referencing style should I use?
A: APA 7th Edition is required for all submissions. Please ensure consistency throughout your paper.
Q: Can I use AI tools to write my paper?
A: AI tools can be used for assistance, but must be disclosed. AI cannot be listed as an author. Authors are fully responsible for content.
Q: When will I know if my paper is accepted?
A: Notification of acceptance will be sent within 4-6 weeks after the submission deadline.

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