University of Maribor

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND STRATEGIC VISION

The University of Maribor demonstrates a robust and commendable scientific integrity profile, reflected in an overall risk score of -0.262. This indicates a general operational environment with low exposure to questionable research practices. The institution's primary strengths lie in its exceptionally low rate of retracted output and its effective management of hyper-authorship and impact dependency, where it significantly outperforms national trends. These positive indicators are complemented by strong thematic positioning, with SCImago Institutions Rankings data highlighting excellence in areas such as Engineering, Physics and Astronomy, Arts and Humanities, and Medicine. However, moderate risk signals in the Rate of Multiple Affiliations and Output in Institutional Journals warrant strategic attention. These specific vulnerabilities could, if left unaddressed, subtly undermine the core tenets of the university's mission, particularly its commitment to "honesty," "cooperation," and a "culture of dialogue," by creating perceptions of insularity or strategic credit inflation. By proactively addressing these isolated areas of concern, the University of Maribor can further align its operational practices with its stated values, reinforcing its position as a leader in responsible and high-quality research both nationally and internationally.

ANALYSIS BY INDICATOR

Rate of Multiple Affiliations

The University of Maribor presents a Z-score of 0.053, while the national average for Slovenia is -0.470. This moderate deviation from the national standard suggests the institution is more sensitive to factors leading to multiple affiliations than its domestic peers. This divergence warrants a review of internal dynamics, as disproportionately high rates can signal strategic attempts to inflate institutional credit or “affiliation shopping,” even though multiple affiliations are often a legitimate result of researcher mobility or partnerships. The university should analyze whether this trend stems from organic collaboration or from practices that could dilute institutional identity and accountability.

Rate of Retracted Output

With an institutional Z-score of -0.465 compared to the national score of -0.299, the University of Maribor exhibits a very low-risk profile in this critical area. This low-profile consistency demonstrates that the absence of significant risk signals aligns with, and even improves upon, the national standard. This excellent result suggests that the university's quality control and supervision mechanisms prior to publication are robust and effective. The data indicates a strong culture of integrity and methodological rigor, where potential errors are likely identified and corrected before they can lead to retractions, reinforcing the institution's reputation for reliable scientific output.

Rate of Institutional Self-Citation

The institution's Z-score for self-citation is -0.156, which is notably lower than the national average of -0.022. This prudent profile indicates that the university manages its citation practices with more rigor than the national standard, effectively avoiding the "echo chambers" that can arise from excessive self-referencing. A certain level of self-citation is natural, reflecting the continuity of research lines. However, the university's lower-than-average rate suggests a healthy integration with the global scientific community, where its work is validated through broad external scrutiny rather than relying on internal dynamics to build impact.

Rate of Output in Discontinued Journals

The University of Maribor shows a Z-score of -0.255 in this indicator, whereas the national context registers a score of -0.338. This slight divergence reveals that the institution has some minimal signals of risk activity that are largely absent in the rest of the country. While the overall risk is low, this metric serves as a critical alert regarding due diligence in selecting dissemination channels. It suggests a need to reinforce information literacy among researchers to ensure that scientific production is not inadvertently channeled through media that fail to meet international ethical or quality standards, thereby preventing exposure to reputational risks and the misallocation of research efforts.

Rate of Hyper-Authored Output

With a Z-score of -0.550, the University of Maribor stands in stark contrast to the national average of 0.595. This demonstrates significant institutional resilience, as internal control mechanisms appear to be successfully mitigating the systemic risks of authorship inflation observed at the country level. While extensive author lists are legitimate in "Big Science," a low score outside these contexts is a positive sign. It indicates that the university fosters a culture where authorship is likely tied to meaningful contribution, effectively preventing practices like 'honorary' authorships and ensuring individual accountability and transparency in its collaborative research.

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

The institution records a Z-score of -0.784, a figure that is substantially lower and healthier than the national average of 0.586. This result points to strong institutional resilience, suggesting that the university's scientific prestige is built upon its own structural capacity and intellectual leadership. A low gap indicates that the impact of research led by the institution is commensurate with its overall collaborative impact. This is a sign of sustainable academic strength, showing that the university is not dependent on external partners for its scientific relevance but is a driver of high-impact research in its own right.

Rate of Hyperprolific Authors

The university's Z-score in this area is -0.485, slightly higher than the national average of -0.712. Although the overall risk level is low, this score points to an incipient vulnerability, as it shows signals that warrant review before they potentially escalate. Extreme individual publication volumes can challenge the limits of meaningful intellectual contribution and may point to risks such as coercive authorship or the assignment of authorship without real participation. This metric suggests a proactive review of authorship policies may be beneficial to ensure a continued balance between quantity and quality, upholding the integrity of the scientific record.

Rate of Output in Institutional Journals

The University of Maribor has a Z-score of 0.602, which, while indicating a medium risk, is considerably lower than the national average of 1.334. This reflects a pattern of differentiated management, where the university successfully moderates a risk that appears to be more common and pronounced across the country. While in-house journals can be valuable, excessive dependence on them raises conflict-of-interest concerns. The university's more controlled approach helps mitigate the risk of academic endogamy and ensures that a greater proportion of its research undergoes independent external peer review, thereby enhancing its global visibility and competitive validation.

Rate of Redundant Output

With a Z-score of -0.287, the institution demonstrates a more favorable position compared to the national average of -0.044. This prudent profile suggests the university's research community adheres to rigorous standards, managing its publication processes with more discipline than the national norm. A low rate of redundant output indicates that the practice of fragmenting a single study into multiple 'minimal publishable units' to inflate productivity is not a significant issue. This commitment to publishing complete and significant findings strengthens the scientific record and shows respect for the academic review system.