MacEwan University

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND STRATEGIC VISION

MacEwan University demonstrates a robust scientific integrity profile, with an overall risk score of -0.499, indicating a very low exposure to questionable research practices. This strong performance is characterized by exceptional control over institutional self-citation, hyperprolific authorship, and publication in discontinued journals, reflecting a culture of high academic standards. The primary area for strategic attention is the medium-risk signal in the gap between its total research impact and the impact of its internally-led output, suggesting an opportunity to strengthen its independent research leadership. This integrity foundation strongly supports the university's thematic strengths, as evidenced by its national rankings in Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities, and Economics, Econometrics and Finance. The institution's commitment to a "transformative, academically rigorous personal learning experience" is well-served by this low-risk environment; however, addressing the impact dependency is crucial to ensuring that its academic rigor is structurally self-sufficient and fully aligned with its mission. By leveraging its solid integrity framework, MacEwan University is well-positioned to cultivate greater internal research capacity and solidify its role as a leader in its key disciplines.

ANALYSIS BY INDICATOR

Rate of Multiple Affiliations

With a Z-score of -0.570, MacEwan University exhibits a lower rate of multiple affiliations compared to the Canadian national average of -0.073. This prudent profile suggests that the institution manages its collaborative processes with more rigor than the national standard. While multiple affiliations are often a legitimate result of researcher mobility or partnerships, this controlled rate indicates that the university effectively avoids practices that could be perceived as strategic attempts to inflate institutional credit or "affiliation shopping," thereby maintaining clear and transparent attributions of its research output.

Rate of Retracted Output

The institution's Z-score for retracted output is -0.184, which is statistically normal and closely aligned with the national benchmark of -0.152. This indicates that the rate of retractions is as expected for its context and size. Retractions can be complex events, and this level suggests that the university's quality control and supervision mechanisms are functioning appropriately, addressing unintentional errors responsibly without signaling any systemic failure in its integrity culture. The data does not point to recurring malpractice or a lack of methodological rigor that would require further intervention.

Rate of Institutional Self-Citation

MacEwan University shows a Z-score of -0.973 in institutional self-citation, a figure significantly lower than Canada's national score of -0.387. This demonstrates a low-profile consistency, where the absence of risk signals aligns with and even surpasses the national standard. A certain level of self-citation is natural, but the university's very low rate confirms that its research is not confined to an 'echo chamber.' This result is a strong indicator of broad external validation and integration within the global scientific community, reinforcing that its academic influence is driven by external recognition rather than internal dynamics.

Rate of Output in Discontinued Journals

The university has a Z-score of -0.545 for output in discontinued journals, reflecting a near-total operational silence in this area and performing better than the already low national average of -0.445. This absence of risk signals, even below the national baseline, is a critical indicator of robust due diligence in selecting publication venues. It demonstrates that the institution's researchers are effectively avoiding channels that fail to meet international ethical or quality standards, thereby protecting the university from reputational risks and ensuring that research efforts are not wasted on 'predatory' or low-quality practices.

Rate of Hyper-Authored Output

With a Z-score of -0.968, MacEwan University shows a very low incidence of hyper-authored publications, contrasting sharply with the medium-risk national average of 0.135. This displays significant institutional resilience, as the university's control mechanisms appear to effectively mitigate the systemic risks of authorship inflation observed elsewhere in the country. Outside of 'Big Science' contexts, high rates can dilute individual accountability. The university's low score indicates a healthy culture of authorship, successfully distinguishing between necessary collaboration and practices like 'honorary' authorship, thus preserving transparency.

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

MacEwan University's Z-score of 0.392 for this indicator is classified as a medium risk and shows a higher exposure compared to the national average of 0.306. This suggests that the institution is more prone than its peers to a dependency on external collaborations for its scientific impact. While partnerships are vital, a very wide positive gap—where global impact is high but the impact of research led by the institution itself is low—signals a sustainability risk. This value suggests that a portion of its scientific prestige may be dependent and exogenous, inviting reflection on how to build more structural, internal capacity to ensure its excellence metrics are a direct result of its own intellectual leadership.

Rate of Hyperprolific Authors

The institution presents a Z-score of -1.413, indicating a near-complete absence of hyperprolific authors, a rate significantly lower than the national score of -0.151. This low-profile consistency aligns with a national environment of low risk but demonstrates an even stronger institutional commitment to research quality over sheer quantity. Extreme individual publication volumes can challenge the limits of meaningful intellectual contribution. The university's excellent result in this area signals a healthy balance, effectively preventing risks such as coercive authorship or the assignment of authorship without real participation, thus prioritizing the integrity of the scientific record.

Rate of Output in Institutional Journals

With a Z-score of -0.268, MacEwan University demonstrates a very low rate of publication in its own journals, showing integrity synchrony with the national average of -0.227. This total alignment with an environment of maximum scientific security is commendable. While in-house journals can be valuable, excessive dependence on them raises conflicts of interest. The university's minimal use of such channels confirms that its scientific production overwhelmingly undergoes independent external peer review, ensuring its research is validated competitively and achieves global visibility rather than being fast-tracked internally.

Rate of Redundant Output

The university's Z-score for redundant output is -0.637, a very low value that contrasts with the national Z-score of -0.003. This result demonstrates low-profile consistency, as the institution's absence of risk signals aligns with a low-risk national environment, but with a significantly better performance. Massive bibliographic overlap between publications can indicate 'salami slicing,' a practice of fragmenting studies to inflate productivity. MacEwan University's extremely low score suggests its research culture prioritizes the generation of significant new knowledge over the artificial inflation of publication volume, contributing positively to the scientific ecosystem.