| Indicator | University Z-score | Average country Z-score |
|---|---|---|
|
Multi-affiliation
|
0.426 | -0.823 |
|
Retracted Output
|
-0.381 | -0.096 |
|
Institutional Self-Citation
|
-0.287 | -0.210 |
|
Discontinued Journals Output
|
-0.139 | 0.075 |
|
Hyperauthored Output
|
-0.532 | -0.336 |
|
Leadership Impact Gap
|
-0.452 | 0.912 |
|
Hyperprolific Authors
|
-1.413 | -1.248 |
|
Institutional Journal Output
|
-0.268 | 0.153 |
|
Redundant Output
|
-1.186 | 0.031 |
The University of Mostar demonstrates a robust scientific integrity profile, with an overall risk score of -0.390 that indicates a performance significantly stronger than many of its peers. The institution's primary strength lies in its effective insulation from several systemic risks prevalent at the national level, particularly concerning the selection of publication venues, reliance on institutional journals, and the integrity of its research output. This is evidenced by very low risk signals in indicators such as the Rate of Retracted Output, Rate of Hyperprolific Authors, and Rate of Redundant Output. The main area requiring strategic attention is a moderate deviation in the Rate of Multiple Affiliations, which is higher than the national average. According to SCImago Institutions Rankings data, the university's scientific leadership is concentrated in key areas, ranking first in Bosnia and Herzegovina for Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology; Chemistry; and Medicine. This strong performance aligns with its mission to achieve "excellence" in education and research. However, the elevated risk in multiple affiliations could potentially undermine this mission by creating a perception of strategic credit inflation rather than genuine collaboration. To safeguard its commitment to excellence and community development, it is recommended that the University of Mostar maintain its current high standards of governance while proactively investigating the drivers behind its multiple affiliation patterns to ensure they fully support its strategic goals.
The University of Mostar presents a Z-score of 0.426, which contrasts with the national average of -0.823. This moderate deviation suggests the institution exhibits a greater sensitivity to risk factors in this area than its national peers. While multiple affiliations are often a legitimate result of researcher mobility or partnerships, the university's higher rate warrants a review. A disproportionately high value can signal strategic attempts to inflate institutional credit or “affiliation shopping,” which could dilute the perceived value of its collaborative efforts and misrepresent its research footprint. A closer examination of these patterns is advisable to ensure they reflect genuine, substantive collaborations aligned with the university's mission.
With a Z-score of -0.381, the institution's performance is well-aligned with the low-risk national context (Z-score -0.096). This low-profile consistency demonstrates that the absence of significant risk signals is in line with the national standard. The very low rate of retractions suggests that the university's quality control mechanisms prior to publication are functioning effectively. This is a positive indicator of a healthy integrity culture, showing no signs of systemic failure or recurring malpractice and reflecting a responsible approach to research supervision and execution.
The institution's Z-score of -0.287 is slightly lower than the national average of -0.210, indicating a prudent profile in this area. This suggests the university manages its citation practices with more rigor than the national standard. A certain level of self-citation is natural and reflects the continuity of established research lines. The university's controlled rate indicates a healthy balance, successfully avoiding the creation of scientific 'echo chambers' and ensuring its work receives sufficient external scrutiny, thereby validating its academic influence through global community recognition rather than internal dynamics.
The University of Mostar shows a Z-score of -0.139, demonstrating significant institutional resilience when compared to the national average of 0.075. This performance indicates that the university's control mechanisms are effectively mitigating a systemic risk observed across the country. By maintaining a low rate of publication in such journals, the institution shows strong due diligence in selecting dissemination channels. This protects it from the severe reputational risks associated with 'predatory' or low-quality practices and suggests a high level of information literacy among its researchers, which prevents the misallocation of resources.
With a Z-score of -0.532, which is lower than the national average of -0.336, the institution exhibits a prudent profile. This indicates that the university manages its authorship attribution processes with more rigor than the national standard. In fields outside of 'Big Science,' a low rate of hyper-authorship is a positive sign that individual accountability and transparency are being upheld. The university's performance suggests it is successfully distinguishing between necessary large-scale collaboration and practices like 'honorary' or political authorship, thereby preserving the integrity of its research credits.
The institution's Z-score of -0.452 contrasts sharply with the national average of 0.912, highlighting strong institutional resilience. This result suggests that internal control mechanisms are successfully mitigating a systemic risk of dependency that is more pronounced at the national level. A small gap between overall impact and the impact of institution-led research signals that the university's scientific prestige is not overly reliant on external partners. This demonstrates that its excellence metrics are a result of genuine internal capacity and intellectual leadership, ensuring a sustainable and structural foundation for its academic reputation.
The University of Mostar has a Z-score of -1.413, indicating a complete absence of risk signals that is even more pronounced than the already low national average of -1.248. This state of total operational silence is a strong positive indicator. It suggests a research environment that prioritizes quality and meaningful intellectual contribution over sheer publication volume. The data show no evidence of practices such as coercive authorship or extreme 'salami slicing,' which can arise from hyper-prolificacy, thus reinforcing the integrity of the university's scientific record.
With a Z-score of -0.268, the university demonstrates a pattern of preventive isolation from the risk dynamics observed in its environment, where the national average is 0.153. By not over-relying on its own journals, the institution avoids the potential conflicts of interest that arise when acting as both judge and party in the publication process. This practice ensures that its scientific production consistently undergoes independent external peer review, which is crucial for limiting academic endogamy, enhancing global visibility, and confirming that its research is validated through standard competitive channels.
The institution's Z-score of -1.186 signifies a state of preventive isolation, as it does not replicate the risk dynamics present in the national environment (Z-score 0.031). This very low rate of redundant output is a clear indicator of high scientific integrity. It demonstrates a commitment to publishing coherent and significant studies rather than artificially inflating productivity by fragmenting a single body of research into minimal publishable units. This practice upholds the value of the scientific evidence base and avoids overburdening the peer-review system with duplicative content.
