Tishreen University

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND STRATEGIC VISION

Tishreen University presents a profile of notable scientific integrity, marked by a solid foundation in core research practices but with specific areas requiring strategic attention. With an overall score of 0.120, the institution demonstrates significant strengths, particularly in its exceptionally low rates of retracted output, redundant publications, and output in institutional journals, indicating robust quality control and a commitment to external validation. However, this positive performance is counterbalanced by medium-risk signals in the rates of hyperprolific authors, output in discontinued journals, and multiple affiliations, which warrant a review of institutional policies. These findings are critical in the context of the university's leadership in key thematic areas, as evidenced by SCImago Institutions Rankings data, which place it as a national leader in Earth and Planetary Sciences (#1 in Syria) and a top contender in Agricultural and Biological Sciences (#2) and Chemistry (#2). To fully align with its mission of producing "high-quality educational, research and service programs" that serve society, it is imperative to address these integrity vulnerabilities. Mitigating risks associated with publication channels and authorship practices will not only protect but enhance the credibility and impact of its excellent research, ensuring its contributions to sustainable development are both genuine and recognized globally. A proactive focus on these areas will solidify Tishreen University's reputation for excellence and responsible science.

ANALYSIS BY INDICATOR

Rate of Multiple Affiliations

The university's Z-score for this indicator is 0.028, which is considerably lower than the national average of 0.164. This suggests a pattern of differentiated management, where the institution successfully moderates a risk that appears more common at the national level. While multiple affiliations can be a legitimate outcome of collaboration, disproportionately high rates can signal strategic attempts to inflate institutional credit. Tishreen University's more controlled rate indicates that its collaborative practices are less exposed to the risk of "affiliation shopping," reflecting a clear and well-governed policy on how institutional credit is assigned and shared.

Rate of Retracted Output

With a Z-score of -0.409, the institution shows a near-total absence of risk signals, a figure that aligns with and even improves upon the low-risk national standard (Z-score of -0.334). This demonstrates a low-profile consistency in research quality. Retractions can sometimes signify responsible supervision through the correction of honest errors. In this context, the university's extremely low rate is a strong positive indicator, suggesting that its quality control mechanisms prior to publication are highly effective and that its institutional culture of integrity successfully prevents the types of methodological or ethical failures that often lead to retractions.

Rate of Institutional Self-Citation

The institution exhibits a prudent profile with a Z-score of -0.550, which is significantly lower than the national average of -0.206. This indicates that the university manages its citation practices with more rigor than the national standard. While a certain degree of self-citation is natural to reflect ongoing research lines, Tishreen University's low rate demonstrates a healthy reliance on external validation from the global scientific community. This effectively mitigates the risk of creating scientific 'echo chambers' and shows that its academic influence is built on broad recognition rather than being inflated by internal dynamics.

Rate of Output in Discontinued Journals

The university's Z-score of 1.665, while indicating a medium risk, demonstrates relative containment when compared to the critical national average of 3.057. Although risk signals are present, the institution operates with more order than its environment. A high proportion of publications in discontinued journals is a critical alert regarding due diligence in selecting dissemination channels, as it exposes the institution to severe reputational risks. The university's ability to maintain a lower rate than the national trend suggests that some control mechanisms are in place, but it also highlights an urgent need to strengthen information literacy and guidance for researchers to avoid channeling valuable work through media that fail to meet international ethical or quality standards.

Rate of Hyper-Authored Output

With a Z-score of -0.624, the institution's rate is slightly higher than the national average of -0.763, both of which fall within the low-risk category. This subtle difference points to an incipient vulnerability that warrants review before it escalates. While extensive author lists are legitimate in 'Big Science,' their appearance in other contexts can indicate author list inflation, which dilutes individual accountability. The university's score, though low, suggests a need to proactively monitor authorship practices to ensure they reflect genuine collaboration and not a drift toward 'honorary' or political authorship, thereby preserving transparency and accountability.

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

The institution demonstrates significant resilience with a Z-score of -0.540, contrasting sharply with the medium-risk national average of 0.457. This indicates that the university's control mechanisms are effectively mitigating a systemic risk present in the country. A wide positive gap suggests that an institution's prestige may be dependent on external partners rather than its own intellectual leadership. Tishreen University's negative score is a strong sign of sustainability, indicating that its scientific impact is driven by research where it holds a leadership role. This reflects a robust internal capacity for generating high-impact science, rather than a strategic dependence on collaborations.

Rate of Hyperprolific Authors

The university's Z-score of 0.523 marks a moderate deviation from the national standard, which sits at a low-risk -0.580. This indicates that the institution shows a greater sensitivity to this risk factor than its national peers. Extreme individual publication volumes can challenge the limits of meaningful intellectual contribution and often signal an imbalance between quantity and quality. This alert suggests a potential risk of practices like coercive authorship or assigning credit without real participation. It calls for a review of the causes behind this trend to ensure that institutional incentives prioritize the integrity of the scientific record over sheer publication metrics.

Rate of Output in Institutional Journals

The university's Z-score of -0.268 is identical to the national average, reflecting perfect integrity synchrony with an environment of maximum scientific security in this area. This shared very low-risk score indicates a total alignment on best practices. While in-house journals can be valuable, excessive dependence on them raises conflict-of-interest concerns. The institution's minimal reliance on such channels demonstrates a strong commitment to independent, external peer review, which enhances the global visibility and competitive validation of its research, effectively avoiding any risk of academic endogamy.

Rate of Redundant Output

The institution shows a pattern of preventive isolation, with a Z-score of -0.662 indicating a virtually nonexistent risk, in stark contrast to the medium-risk national average of 0.314. This performance demonstrates that the university does not replicate the risk dynamics observed in its environment. A high rate of redundant output, or 'salami slicing,' points to the practice of fragmenting studies into minimal units to inflate productivity, which distorts scientific evidence. Tishreen University's excellent score in this area is a testament to a research culture that values significant, coherent contributions over artificially inflated publication counts, thereby upholding the integrity of the scientific record.