Sriwijaya University

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND STRATEGIC VISION

Sriwijaya University demonstrates a robust scientific integrity profile, marked by a commendable overall score of 0.254 and notable strengths in maintaining low rates of hyper-authorship, hyper-prolific authorship, and output in institutional journals. These positive indicators are counterbalanced by two significant areas of concern: a significant level of institutional self-citation and a medium-risk rate of publication in discontinued journals. The institution's research prowess is clearly reflected in its national standing within the SCImago Institutions Rankings, particularly in key thematic areas such as Energy (ranked 6th in Indonesia), Mathematics (8th), and both Chemistry and Computer Science (17th). However, the identified integrity risks directly challenge the university's mission to foster an "accountable," "effective," and "quality" research environment. High self-citation and reliance on low-quality journals can undermine the "application value" of its science and its goal of meaningful national and international cooperation. To fully align its practices with its vision, Sriwijaya University is advised to leverage its strong governance in authorship and publication channels to develop targeted strategies that mitigate endogamous citation patterns and enhance due diligence in journal selection, thereby ensuring its research excellence is both genuine and globally recognized.

ANALYSIS BY INDICATOR

Rate of Multiple Affiliations

The institution exhibits an exceptionally low rate of multiple affiliations, with a Z-score of -1.232, which is significantly below the already low national average of -0.674. This result indicates a highly transparent and stable approach to declaring institutional affiliations, aligning perfectly with the national standard of low risk. While multiple affiliations can be a legitimate outcome of collaboration, the university's data confirms an absence of any signals related to strategic "affiliation shopping" or attempts to artificially inflate institutional credit, reflecting a clear and commendable policy in this area.

Rate of Retracted Output

With a Z-score of -0.193, Sriwijaya University maintains a low-risk profile for retracted publications, demonstrating notable institutional resilience when compared to the medium-risk national average (0.065). This suggests that the university's internal control mechanisms are effectively mitigating systemic risks that may be more prevalent across the country. Retractions are complex events, but a rate significantly lower than the national context indicates that the institution's quality control and supervision mechanisms prior to publication are robust, successfully preventing the kind of recurring malpractice or lack of methodological rigor that could otherwise damage its integrity culture.

Rate of Institutional Self-Citation

A critical alert is raised by the institution's rate of self-citation, which, at a Z-score of 3.508, reaches a significant risk level and markedly amplifies the vulnerability already present in the national system (Z-score of 1.821). This disproportionately high rate signals a concerning level of scientific isolation, potentially creating an 'echo chamber' where research is validated internally rather than by the broader scientific community. This practice poses a serious risk of endogamous impact inflation, suggesting that the institution's perceived academic influence may be oversized by internal dynamics. An urgent review is needed to ensure that research impact is driven by global recognition and not by closed-loop citation patterns.

Rate of Output in Discontinued Journals

The university presents a medium-risk Z-score of 2.311 for its rate of publication in discontinued journals. Although this figure warrants attention, it demonstrates a degree of relative containment, as it is considerably lower than the critical national average of 3.408. This suggests that while the institution is not immune to the challenge, it operates with more order than its national peers. Nevertheless, a medium-risk score is a critical alert regarding due diligence in selecting dissemination channels. It indicates that a portion of scientific production is being channeled through media that may not meet international ethical or quality standards, exposing the institution to reputational risks and highlighting a need to strengthen information literacy to avoid 'predatory' practices.

Rate of Hyper-Authored Output

Sriwijaya University demonstrates a prudent profile regarding hyper-authored publications, with a Z-score of -1.025 that is slightly more rigorous than the national standard of -0.938. This low-risk indicator suggests that the institution effectively manages authorship practices to ensure transparency and accountability. Outside of 'Big Science' contexts where extensive author lists are normal, a low score like this is a positive signal that the university is successfully avoiding issues such as author list inflation or the inclusion of 'honorary' authors, thereby preserving the value of individual contributions.

Gap between Impact of total output and the impact of output with leadership

The institution shows a Z-score of -1.043, indicating a very low risk and a healthy balance between the impact of its overall scientific output and the publications where its researchers hold leadership roles. This performance is stronger than the low-risk national average (-0.391) and signals a high degree of research sustainability. A negative score suggests that the impact of internally led research is robust, confirming that the university's scientific prestige is built on genuine internal capacity rather than being dependent on the leadership of external collaborators. This reflects a mature and structurally sound research ecosystem.

Rate of Hyperprolific Authors

With a Z-score of -0.683, the university maintains a prudent and low-risk profile in the rate of hyperprolific authors, performing with slightly more rigor than the national standard (-0.484). This indicator suggests a healthy balance between productivity and scientific quality. By avoiding extreme individual publication volumes, the institution mitigates risks such as coercive authorship, data fragmentation, or the assignment of authorship without meaningful intellectual contribution. This responsible approach ensures that the focus remains on the integrity of the scientific record over the simple inflation of metrics.

Rate of Output in Institutional Journals

Sriwijaya University demonstrates a clear commitment to external validation, with a very low-risk Z-score of -0.268 for publications in its own journals. This represents a case of preventive isolation, as the institution does not replicate the medium-risk dynamics observed at the national level (0.189). By minimizing its reliance on in-house journals, the university effectively avoids potential conflicts of interest and academic endogamy. This practice ensures that its scientific production is subjected to independent, external peer review, which strengthens its global visibility and credibility while preventing the use of internal channels as 'fast tracks' for publication without standard competitive validation.

Rate of Redundant Output

The institution's rate of redundant output, or 'salami slicing,' registers a Z-score of -0.081. While this is within the low-risk category, it signals an incipient vulnerability, as the score is slightly higher than the national average of -0.207. This suggests that while the issue is not currently a problem, the university shows slightly more signals of this behavior than its peers, warranting a review before it escalates. This practice, which involves dividing a single study into minimal publishable units to inflate productivity, can distort the scientific evidence base. Monitoring this trend is advisable to ensure that the focus remains on publishing significant new knowledge rather than on maximizing publication volume.