American University of Sharjah

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND STRATEGIC VISION

The American University of Sharjah (AUS) demonstrates a robust scientific integrity profile, with an overall score of -0.236 indicating a performance that is generally stronger than the global average. The institution exhibits remarkable resilience, maintaining low or very low risk levels across the majority of indicators, effectively insulating itself from the more pronounced systemic risks observed at the national level in the United Arab Emirates. This strong governance is particularly evident in its management of publication channels and authorship practices. The university's commitment to quality is further reflected in its strong positioning in the SCImago Institutions Rankings, particularly in key scientific fields such as Physics and Astronomy, Chemistry, and Agricultural and Biological Sciences. However, to fully align with its mission of promoting "excellence," "open intellectual inquiry," and "ethical behavior," strategic attention is required for two specific areas: the moderate rate of institutional self-citation and the gap in impact between collaborative and institution-led research. Addressing these vulnerabilities will not only mitigate potential risks of academic endogamy and dependency but also solidify AUS's reputation as a leader in ethical and impactful research. A proactive approach to these areas will ensure that the institution's recognized excellence is built upon a foundation of sustainable, transparent, and globally integrated scientific practices.

ANALYSIS BY INDICATOR

Rate of Multiple Affiliations

The university shows a low rate of multiple affiliations (Z-score: -0.354), a figure that contrasts sharply with the medium-risk trend observed nationally (Z-score: 1.157). This suggests that AUS has effective control mechanisms in place, successfully mitigating the systemic risks present in its environment. The institution's prudent profile avoids any signal of strategic attempts to inflate institutional credit or engage in “affiliation shopping,” reinforcing its commitment to transparent and authentic research collaboration.

Rate of Retracted Output

With a Z-score of -0.306, the American University of Sharjah maintains a low rate of retracted output, demonstrating institutional resilience against the moderate risk signals seen across the United Arab Emirates (Z-score: 0.057). This favorable position indicates that the university's quality control and supervision mechanisms are functioning effectively prior to publication. Unlike a systemic trend that might suggest recurring malpractice or a lack of methodological rigor, AUS's performance reflects a healthy integrity culture where potential errors are managed proactively, safeguarding the reliability of its scientific record.

Rate of Institutional Self-Citation

The university presents a moderate rate of institutional self-citation (Z-score: 0.166), a level that deviates from the low-risk national standard (Z-score: -0.199). This indicates a greater sensitivity to this risk factor compared to its national peers. A certain level of self-citation is natural, but this value warrants attention as disproportionately high rates can signal concerning scientific isolation or 'echo chambers' where the institution validates its own work without sufficient external scrutiny. This trend warns of a potential for endogamous impact inflation, suggesting that the institution's academic influence may be at risk of being oversized by internal dynamics rather than by broader recognition from the global community.

Rate of Output in Discontinued Journals

The institution demonstrates a low rate of publication in discontinued journals (Z-score: -0.247), effectively filtering out the medium-risk practices prevalent at the national level (Z-score: 0.432). This strong performance highlights the university's institutional resilience and successful due diligence in selecting dissemination channels. By avoiding media that fail to meet international ethical or quality standards, AUS protects its reputation and ensures its research resources are not wasted on 'predatory' or low-quality practices, reinforcing a culture of informed and responsible publication.

Rate of Hyper-Authored Output

The university maintains a prudent profile regarding hyper-authored output, with a Z-score of -0.992 that is significantly lower than the national average of -0.474. This indicates that the institution manages its authorship processes with more rigor than the national standard. The data suggests that AUS effectively distinguishes between necessary massive collaboration and practices like author list inflation. This careful management helps maintain individual accountability and transparency, avoiding the dilution of responsibility that can occur with 'honorary' or political authorship.

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

The university shows a medium-risk gap between the impact of its total output and that of its leadership-driven output (Z-score: 0.355), a value that indicates higher exposure to this risk compared to the national average (Z-score: 0.219). This wide positive gap signals a potential sustainability risk, suggesting that the institution's scientific prestige may be more dependent on external partners than on its own structural capacity. This metric invites strategic reflection on whether the university's excellence in impact results from its own internal capabilities or from strategic positioning in collaborations where it does not exercise primary intellectual leadership, a dynamic that could challenge long-term research autonomy.

Rate of Hyperprolific Authors

With a low Z-score of -0.054, the university effectively mitigates the risks associated with hyperprolific authors, a notable achievement given the medium-risk trend at the national level (Z-score: 1.351). This demonstrates strong institutional resilience and governance. The university's practices appear to successfully prevent imbalances between quantity and quality, avoiding signals of coercive authorship or the assignment of authorship without real participation. This focus ensures that productivity metrics do not compromise the integrity of the scientific record.

Rate of Output in Institutional Journals

The university's rate of output in its own institutional journals is very low (Z-score: -0.268), a value that is in perfect alignment with the national standard (Z-score: -0.268). This integrity synchrony reflects a shared environment of maximum scientific security in this area. By not relying on in-house journals, AUS avoids potential conflicts of interest and academic endogamy, ensuring its scientific production undergoes independent external peer review. This practice enhances the global visibility and competitive validation of its research, reinforcing a commitment to transparency and meritocracy.

Rate of Redundant Output

The institution shows a low rate of redundant output (Z-score: -0.081), successfully resisting the medium-risk pattern observed across the country (Z-score: 0.194). This display of institutional resilience suggests that the university's research culture prioritizes significant new knowledge over artificially inflated productivity. The data indicates an absence of widespread 'salami slicing,' a practice that fragments studies into minimal units. By promoting coherent and substantial publications, AUS contributes positively to the scientific record and avoids overburdening the peer review system.