University of Maragheh

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND STRATEGIC VISION

The University of Maragheh presents a robust scientific integrity profile, with an overall risk score of -0.466 indicating a performance that is healthier than the global average. The institution demonstrates significant strengths in maintaining low-risk practices, particularly in areas such as the Rate of Retracted Output, Rate of Hyperprolific Authors, and Rate of Output in Institutional Journals, where it effectively insulates itself from higher-risk trends observed at the national level. These strengths are complemented by a strong performance in key thematic areas, with SCImago Institutions Rankings data highlighting its competitive positioning within Iran in Earth and Planetary Sciences, Agricultural and Biological Sciences, and Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology. However, this solid foundation is contrasted by two areas of moderate concern: Institutional Self-Citation and, most notably, Redundant Output (Salami Slicing), where the university deviates from the lower-risk national benchmark. These vulnerabilities could potentially undermine the institution's mission "to adapt our services... in quality and efficiency," as practices that inflate output or rely on internal validation may conflict with the pursuit of genuine quality at the "science border." To fully align its operational reality with its strategic vision, it is recommended that the University of Maragheh leverages its clear strengths in research governance to develop targeted strategies that address these specific publication patterns, thereby ensuring its commitment to excellence is reflected across all dimensions of its scientific activity.

ANALYSIS BY INDICATOR

Rate of Multiple Affiliations

With a Z-score of -0.852, the University of Maragheh demonstrates a more rigorous management of institutional affiliations compared to the national average of -0.615. This prudent profile suggests that the university's collaborative practices are well-governed. While multiple affiliations are often a legitimate result of researcher mobility or partnerships, the institution's lower-than-average rate indicates a healthy focus on substantive collaborations rather than engaging in practices that could be perceived as strategic attempts to inflate institutional credit or “affiliation shopping.” This controlled approach reinforces the transparency and authenticity of its research partnerships.

Rate of Retracted Output

The institution exhibits an exceptionally strong integrity profile in this area, with a Z-score of -0.616, signifying a very low rate of retractions. This performance is particularly noteworthy as it represents a preventive isolation from the national context, which shows a medium risk level (Z-score: 0.777). This stark contrast suggests that the university's quality control mechanisms prior to publication are not only effective but also act as a bulwark against systemic vulnerabilities present in the wider environment. Such a low rate is a testament to a robust integrity culture and rigorous methodological supervision, indicating that the institution successfully fosters responsible research conduct from the outset.

Rate of Institutional Self-Citation

The University of Maragheh shows a moderate deviation from the national norm in this indicator, with a Z-score of 0.205 against a low-risk country average of -0.262. This suggests the institution is more sensitive to practices that can lead to academic insularity. A certain level of self-citation is natural, reflecting the continuity of research lines. However, this elevated rate signals a potential over-reliance on internal validation, which can create 'echo chambers' and risk endogamous impact inflation. This finding warrants a review to ensure that the institution's academic influence is being robustly validated by the global scientific community and not just by internal dynamics.

Rate of Output in Discontinued Journals

The institution demonstrates institutional resilience, with a low-risk Z-score of -0.296 in a national environment where this is a medium-risk issue (Z-score: 0.094). This indicates that the university's control mechanisms and researcher guidance are effectively mitigating a systemic national risk. By channeling its scientific production away from journals that fail to meet international ethical or quality standards, the university protects itself from severe reputational damage. This performance suggests a high level of due diligence and information literacy among its researchers, preventing the waste of resources on 'predatory' or low-quality dissemination channels.

Rate of Hyper-Authored Output

With a Z-score of -1.184, the university shows a very low incidence of hyper-authorship, a rate that is even more conservative than the low-risk national standard (-0.952). This low-profile consistency indicates an absence of risk signals related to inflated author lists. This is a positive sign of a healthy academic culture where authorship is likely tied to genuine contribution, thereby maintaining individual accountability and transparency. The data suggests that the institution successfully avoids practices like 'honorary' or political authorship, reinforcing the integrity of its collaborative research.

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

The university displays significant institutional resilience with a Z-score of -0.049, indicating a negligible gap between its overall impact and the impact of research it leads. This is a position of strength compared to the national average (Z-score: 0.445), which points to a medium-risk dependency on external partners. The university's balanced score suggests that its scientific prestige is structural and sustainable, stemming from real internal capacity and intellectual leadership. This avoids the risk of possessing an exogenous or dependent prestige, confirming that its excellence metrics are a reflection of its own scholarly contributions.

Rate of Hyperprolific Authors

The institution maintains an exceptionally low-risk profile in this area, with a Z-score of -1.413, far below the already low national average of -0.247. This absence of risk signals aligns perfectly with national standards of integrity and demonstrates a strong institutional focus on quality over sheer volume. The lack of authors with extreme publication volumes suggests a healthy balance between productivity and meaningful intellectual contribution, effectively mitigating risks such as coercive authorship, data fragmentation, or the assignment of authorship without real participation. This reinforces the integrity of the university's scientific record.

Rate of Output in Institutional Journals

The University of Maragheh shows a commendable preventive isolation from national trends, with a very low Z-score of -0.268 compared to the country's medium-risk score of 1.432. This indicates a strong commitment to seeking external validation and global visibility for its research. By avoiding over-reliance on its own journals, the institution sidesteps potential conflicts of interest and the risk of academic endogamy. This practice ensures its scientific production undergoes independent, external peer review, which is fundamental for competitive validation and prevents the use of internal channels as 'fast tracks' to inflate publication counts.

Rate of Redundant Output (Salami Slicing)

This indicator reveals a moderate deviation from the national standard, with the university's Z-score at 1.658 (medium risk) in contrast to the country's low-risk average of -0.390. This greater sensitivity to risk factors warrants careful review. The high value alerts to the potential practice of dividing coherent studies into 'minimal publishable units' to artificially inflate productivity metrics. This pattern, known as 'salami slicing,' can distort the available scientific evidence and overburden the peer-review system. An investigation into publication practices is advisable to ensure that the focus remains on generating significant new knowledge rather than prioritizing volume.