| Indicator | University Z-score | Average country Z-score |
|---|---|---|
|
Multi-affiliation
|
-1.615 | -0.386 |
|
Retracted Output
|
-0.296 | 2.124 |
|
Institutional Self-Citation
|
1.664 | 2.034 |
|
Discontinued Journals Output
|
2.527 | 5.771 |
|
Hyperauthored Output
|
-0.572 | -1.116 |
|
Leadership Impact Gap
|
-1.898 | 0.242 |
|
Hyperprolific Authors
|
-1.413 | -0.319 |
|
Institutional Journal Output
|
-0.268 | 1.373 |
|
Redundant Output
|
2.622 | 1.097 |
Al-Hadi University College presents a complex integrity profile, with an overall score of 0.178 indicating a performance that balances significant strengths with specific, critical vulnerabilities. The institution demonstrates exceptional control in areas such as researcher affiliation management, intellectual leadership, and the avoidance of hyperprolific or endogamous publication practices. These strengths are particularly noteworthy as they often run counter to national trends, showcasing robust internal governance. According to SCImago Institutions Rankings data, the university's research is most prominent within Iraq in the fields of Psychology, Energy, and Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics. However, the significant risk identified in the Rate of Redundant Output (Salami Slicing), coupled with medium risks in self-citation and publication in discontinued journals, poses a direct challenge to its mission of achieving "high-quality academic programs" and "continuous improvement." These practices, which favor publication volume over substantive contribution, can undermine the very scientific excellence the university aims to foster. To fully align its practices with its strategic vision, the institution is encouraged to leverage its clear governance strengths to implement targeted policies that address these specific integrity risks, thereby safeguarding its long-term reputation and impact.
The institution demonstrates exemplary management of researcher affiliations, with a Z-score of -1.615, which is well below the already low national average of -0.386. This absence of risk signals aligns perfectly with the national standard, indicating that the university's collaborative practices are transparent and well-governed. There is no evidence of strategic attempts to inflate institutional credit or engage in “affiliation shopping,” reflecting a culture of clear and legitimate partnership.
With a Z-score of -0.296, the institution effectively insulates itself from the significant national trend of retracted publications (country Z-score: 2.124). This stark contrast suggests the university functions as a firewall against the systemic risks present in its environment. While retractions can sometimes signify responsible error correction, the country's high score points to widespread issues. Al-Hadi University College's low rate indicates that its pre-publication quality control mechanisms are robust and successful in preventing the kind of recurring malpractice or lack of methodological rigor that appears to be a vulnerability elsewhere in the national system.
The institution exhibits a moderate rate of self-citation (Z-score: 1.664), a risk that is also present at the national level (Z-score: 2.034). However, the university's score is notably lower than the country's average, suggesting a more differentiated management of this issue. While a certain level of self-citation is natural, the current rate warrants attention as it can signal scientific isolation or 'echo chambers'. The institution's ability to moderate this risk better than its national peers is positive, but continued monitoring is needed to ensure its academic influence is validated by the global community rather than being oversized by internal dynamics.
The university shows a medium risk of publishing in discontinued journals (Z-score: 2.527), but this figure represents a significant degree of containment when compared to the critical national average (Z-score: 5.771). Although the institution is not immune to this risk, it appears to operate with more order and diligence than the national system. This indicator is a critical alert regarding the selection of dissemination channels, as a high proportion suggests that production may be channeled through media lacking international ethical or quality standards. The university's relative control is commendable, but it highlights an urgent need for enhanced information literacy to fully avoid reputational risks and the waste of resources on predatory practices.
A slight divergence from the national norm is observed in the rate of hyper-authored output. While the country shows virtually no risk signals (Z-score: -1.116), the institution presents a low-level signal (Z-score: -0.572). This suggests the emergence of risk activity that is not yet apparent elsewhere in the country. This indicator serves as a signal to distinguish between necessary massive collaboration and potential 'honorary' or political authorship practices that dilute individual accountability. Although the current level is low, this deviation warrants a proactive review to ensure authorship criteria remain transparent and rigorous.
The institution demonstrates exceptional scientific autonomy, with a Z-score of -1.898, indicating a very low gap between its overall impact and the impact of research where it holds a leadership role. This performance represents a preventive isolation from the national trend, where a medium-risk gap is observed (country Z-score: 0.242). A wide gap often signals that prestige is dependent on external partners rather than internal capacity. Al-Hadi University College's result confirms that its excellence metrics are driven by genuine internal capabilities and intellectual leadership, mitigating any risk of sustainable impact.
The institution maintains a very low-risk profile regarding hyperprolific authors (Z-score: -1.413), a finding that is consistent with the low-risk national standard (Z-score: -0.319). The complete absence of risk signals at the university, even below the national average, suggests a healthy balance between productivity and quality. This indicates that the institution is not exposed to risks such as coercive authorship or the assignment of authorship without real participation, reinforcing a culture that prioritizes the integrity of the scientific record over inflated metrics.
Al-Hadi University College effectively avoids the risks associated with academic endogamy, showing a very low rate of publication in its own journals (Z-score: -0.268). This stands in sharp contrast to the medium-risk dynamic observed at the national level (Z-score: 1.373), demonstrating a clear institutional policy of seeking external validation. By not replicating this national trend, the university ensures its scientific production bypasses potential conflicts of interest and undergoes independent external peer review, which is essential for achieving global visibility and competitive validation.
This indicator represents the most critical area of concern for the institution. With a significant-risk Z-score of 2.622, the university not only participates in but actively accentuates a vulnerability already present in the national system (country Z-score: 1.097). This high value is a strong alert for the practice of 'salami slicing,' where studies are fragmented into minimal publishable units to artificially inflate productivity. This behavior distorts the scientific evidence base and overburdens the review system. It is imperative that the institution urgently reviews its research evaluation policies to discourage this practice, which prioritizes publication volume over the generation of significant new knowledge.
