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This article may incorporate text from a large language model. (June 2025) |
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Research Integrity Risk Index (RI²) is a bibliometric-based risk indicator developed by Lokman Meho, bibliometrician, research evaluation expert and the University Librarian at the American University of Beirut, to assess research integrity vulnerabilities in global academic institutions.[1] RI² evaluates universities based on the rate of retracted articles and the proportion of publications in delisted journals, offering an alternative to conventional research rankings.[2][3]
Traditional global university rankings have transformed the definition of academic success, prioritizing metrics like publication counts and citation rates over scholarly integrity.[4][5][6] The Research Integrity Risk Index (RI²) index offers a complementary lens focused on research reliability and ethical publishing practices. It was created to highlight patterns of publication misconduct or structural weaknesses in institutional oversight.[2][7]
The Research Integrity Risk Index (RI²) assesses academic institutions using two independent and verifiable metrics:[8][2] (1) the R Rate, which represents the number of retracted articles per 1,000 publications; and (2) the D Rate, which measures the proportion of an institution’s publications that appear in journals recently delisted from Scopus or Web of Science. These indicators, reflecting research quality and integrity, are combined into a 0–1 score that places institutions into five risk tiers, from Red Flag to Low Risk, based on the top 1,000 publishing universities.
Describing his RI², Dr. Lokman Meho stated that “RI² helps shift the focus from sheer volume and visibility to structural signals of ethical risk, offering universities a path towards more sustainable and transparent academic performance,” adding: “Its reliance on existing public data ensures it can be adopted globally without costly infrastructure changes.”[3]
The RI² score is computed using two indicators:[9]
The data from both components act as indicators of wider research integrity issues, including paper mills (entities that sell authorship), citation cartels (mutual citation schemes to boost impact), citation farms (networks that produce or trade citations), unethical authorship practices, and other tactics used to manipulate academic metrics. Both components reflect verifiable outcomes rather than inferred behaviors, providing strong and reliable indicators of institutional-level risk.[15][12][13][11][16][17][18]
RI² applies a fixed reference group: the 1,000 most publishing universities worldwide, ensuring consistency and comparability across regions and disciplines, and stable thresholds.
Each indicator is scaled to a 0–1 range using Min-Max normalization relative to the global reference group. The composite RI² score is the simple average of the two:
RI² = (Normalized Retraction Rate + Normalized Delisted Rate) / 2
RI² is updated semiannually. The next update of the database and rankings will be released in December 2025.[8]
Institutions are assigned to tiers based on their RI² percentiles:[9]
Tier | Percentile Range | Interpretation | Score Range (June 2025 edition) |
Red Flag | ≥ 95th | Extreme anomalies; systemic integrity risk | RI2 ≥ 0.251 |
High Risk | ≥ 90th and < 95th | Significant deviation from global norms | 0.176 ≤ RI2 < 0.251 |
Watch List | ≥ 75th and < 90th | Moderately elevated risk; emerging concerns | 0.099 ≤ RI2 < 0.176 |
Normal Variation | ≥ 50th and < 75th | Within expected global variance | 0.049 ≤ RI2 < 0.099 |
Low Risk | < 50th | Strong adherence to publishing integrity norms | RI2 < 0.049 |
Full rankings and methodology are available online on the official RI² website.
This table lists the universities flagged as highest-risk (Red Tier) in the Research Integrity Risk Index (RI²).[8][19][20]
RI2 Rank | Institution Name (per SciVal/Scopus) | Country | Articles 23-24 | D 23-24 | % D 23-24 | R 22-23 | R rate 22-23 | Norm D Rank | Norm R Rank | RI2 Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Graphic Era University | India | 2525 | 171 | 6.77 | 59 | 37.29 | 55 | 1 | 0.916 |
2 | Vel Tech University | India | 1927 | 226 | 11.73 | 38 | 26.08 | 7 | 3 | 0.868 |
3 | Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation | India | 3827 | 575 | 15.02 | 50 | 18.50 | 3 | 9 | 0.834 |
4 | Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad | India | 8071 | 959 | 11.88 | 159 | 23.05 | 6 | 5 | 0.817 |
5 | Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Anantapur | India | 1905 | 219 | 11.50 | 37 | 22.32 | 9 | 6 | 0.791 |
6 | Saveetha Institute of Medical And Technical Sciences | India | 10429 | 872 | 8.36 | 170 | 26.82 | 34 | 2 | 0.772 |
7 | Anna University | India | 16871 | 1712 | 10.15 | 374 | 23.54 | 21 | 4 | 0.770 |
8 | Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University | India | 2736 | 303 | 11.07 | 46 | 18.88 | 13 | 8 | 0.713 |
9 | University of Pune | India | 4411 | 677 | 15.35 | 36 | 9.64 | 2 | 61 | 0.680 |
10 | Daffodil International University | Bangladesh | 1652 | 151 | 9.14 | 26 | 17.82 | 30 | 13 | 0.630 |
11 | Bina Nusantara University | Indonesia | 1721 | 309 | 17.95 | 2 | 1.28 | 1 | 512 | 0.609 |
12 | Al-Mustaqbal University | Iraq | 2430 | 158 | 6.50 | 49 | 20.28 | 61 | 7 | 0.590 |
13 | Visvesvaraya Technological University | India | 6637 | 746 | 11.24 | 71 | 11.73 | 11 | 37 | 0.585 |
14 | Taif University | Saudi Arabia | 5179 | 385 | 7.43 | 126 | 18.04 | 45 | 11 | 0.578 |
15 | SRM Institute of Science and Technology | India | 8292 | 697 | 8.41 | 102 | 15.35 | 32 | 19 | 0.560 |
16 | Middle East University | Jordan | 1796 | 259 | 14.42 | 4 | 4.77 | 4 | 177 | 0.559 |
17 | Majmaah University | Saudi Arabia | 1844 | 158 | 8.57 | 28 | 14.55 | 31 | 24 | 0.550 |
18 | Northern Borders University | Saudi Arabia | 2001 | 210 | 10.49 | 12 | 10.88 | 16 | 45 | 0.545 |
19 | Chitkara University | India | 2882 | 184 | 6.38 | 29 | 17.14 | 62 | 16 | 0.528 |
20 | Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University | Saudi Arabia | 8556 | 683 | 7.98 | 123 | 14.30 | 39 | 25 | 0.527 |
21 | Zhongnan University of Economics and Law | China | 1722 | 104 | 6.04 | 28 | 16.59 | 76 | 17 | 0.506 |
22 | Annamalai University | India | 2013 | 226 | 11.23 | 13 | 6.82 | 12 | 117 | 0.493 |
23 | Riphah International University | Pakistan | 2081 | 90 | 4.32 | 39 | 18.29 | 141 | 10 | 0.482 |
24 | University of Education | Pakistan | 1853 | 89 | 4.80 | 31 | 17.33 | 124 | 14 | 0.480 |
25 | Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management | India | 2666 | 286 | 10.73 | 15 | 6.95 | 15 | 106 | 0.479 |
26 | GLA University | India | 3074 | 179 | 5.82 | 35 | 15.10 | 84 | 20 | 0.471 |
27 | Al-Balqa Applied University | Jordan | 2195 | 227 | 10.34 | 14 | 7.19 | 18 | 98 | 0.471 |
28 | University of Management and Technology | Pakistan | 1819 | 99 | 5.44 | 30 | 14.97 | 97 | 22 | 0.456 |
29 | The University of Lahore | Pakistan | 2905 | 156 | 5.37 | 41 | 14.95 | 103 | 23 | 0.454 |
30 | Al Jouf University | Saudi Arabia | 3406 | 272 | 7.99 | 40 | 10.20 | 38 | 55 | 0.450 |
31 | University of Jeddah | Saudi Arabia | 2800 | 220 | 7.86 | 26 | 10.26 | 41 | 53 | 0.447 |
32 | Symbiosis International University | India | 2904 | 295 | 10.16 | 12 | 5.96 | 20 | 140 | 0.442 |
33 | Hainan Medical University | China | 2740 | 91 | 3.32 | 42 | 17.84 | 194 | 12 | 0.441 |
34 | Applied Science Private University | Jordan | 2382 | 249 | 10.45 | 8 | 5.36 | 17 | 155 | 0.441 |
35 | Uttaranchal University | India | 1709 | 99 | 5.79 | 14 | 13.50 | 85 | 28 | 0.440 |
36 | University of Kufa | Iraq | 1739 | 197 | 11.33 | 5 | 3.13 | 10 | 280 | 0.427 |
37 | University of Petroleum and Energy Studies | India | 2641 | 130 | 4.92 | 39 | 13.81 | 120 | 26 | 0.418 |
38 | Government College University Faisalabad | Pakistan | 2909 | 158 | 5.43 | 39 | 12.90 | 98 | 34 | 0.417 |
39 | Ajman University | United Arab Emirates | 2226 | 150 | 6.74 | 20 | 10.53 | 56 | 50 | 0.416 |
40 | Universitas Airlangga | Indonesia | 5994 | 694 | 11.58 | 11 | 1.99 | 8 | 406 | 0.414 |
41 | Chandigarh University | India | 4490 | 295 | 6.57 | 36 | 10.49 | 58 | 52 | 0.410 |
42 | Shanghai University of Finance and Economics | China | 1624 | 65 | 4.00 | 24 | 14.97 | 155 | 21 | 0.410 |
43 | Hubei University of Medicine | China | 1599 | 52 | 3.25 | 23 | 16.23 | 200 | 18 | 0.409 |
44 | L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University | Kazakhstan | 1643 | 162 | 9.86 | 6 | 4.63 | 24 | 185 | 0.408 |
45 | University of Agriculture Faisalabad | Pakistan | 3288 | 192 | 5.84 | 41 | 11.64 | 82 | 40 | 0.407 |
46 | Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology | India | 2336 | 230 | 9.85 | 10 | 4.62 | 25 | 187 | 0.407 |
47 | University of Tabuk | Saudi Arabia | 3353 | 196 | 5.85 | 30 | 11.49 | 81 | 42 | 0.405 |
48 | Osmania University | India | 2034 | 143 | 7.03 | 17 | 9.39 | 50 | 66 | 0.404 |
49 | Universitas Sumatera Utara | Indonesia | 1898 | 226 | 11.91 | 1 | 0.67 | 5 | 684 | 0.400 |
50 | Bahauddin Zakariya University | Pakistan | 2382 | 104 | 4.37 | 33 | 13.33 | 139 | 32 | 0.391 |
51 | King Khalid University | Saudi Arabia | 11122 | 658 | 5.92 | 106 | 10.58 | 78 | 49 | 0.390 |
52 | King Faisal University | Saudi Arabia | 4875 | 396 | 8.12 | 28 | 6.72 | 36 | 122 | 0.390 |
53 | Sichuan Normal University | China | 2122 | 44 | 2.07 | 32 | 17.25 | 401 | 15 | 0.389 |
54 | Vellore Institute of Technology | India | 10388 | 529 | 5.09 | 99 | 11.88 | 110 | 36 | 0.387 |
55 | Princess Nourah Bint Abdul Rahman University | Saudi Arabia | 8730 | 531 | 6.08 | 78 | 9.76 | 74 | 58 | 0.380 |
56 | Jazan University | Saudi Arabia | 4147 | 288 | 6.94 | 29 | 7.78 | 53 | 89 | 0.371 |
57 | Government College University Lahore | Pakistan | 1835 | 107 | 5.83 | 16 | 9.58 | 83 | 64 | 0.369 |
58 | University of Babylon | Iraq | 2440 | 248 | 10.16 | 4 | 1.96 | 19 | 412 | 0.368 |
59 | Umm Al-Qura University | Saudi Arabia | 5718 | 363 | 6.35 | 51 | 8.60 | 65 | 74 | 0.367 |
60 | University of the Punjab | Pakistan | 4275 | 297 | 6.95 | 32 | 7.47 | 52 | 94 | 0.366 |
61 | Hebei University of Engineering | China | 1903 | 65 | 3.42 | 23 | 13.36 | 188 | 30 | 0.360 |
62 | INTI International University | Malaysia | 1627 | 179 | 11.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 14 | 1343 | 0.358 |
63 | Qassim University | Saudi Arabia | 5278 | 375 | 7.10 | 34 | 6.81 | 48 | 119 | 0.358 |
64 | University of Hail | Saudi Arabia | 3125 | 172 | 5.50 | 27 | 9.60 | 94 | 63 | 0.358 |
65 | Prince Sultan University | Saudi Arabia | 2474 | 172 | 6.95 | 16 | 6.94 | 51 | 109 | 0.356 |
66 | Lovely Professional University | India | 5169 | 280 | 5.42 | 34 | 9.47 | 99 | 65 | 0.353 |
67 | Shaqra University | Saudi Arabia | 1588 | 112 | 7.05 | 9 | 6.51 | 49 | 128 | 0.351 |
68 | Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia | Malaysia | 2005 | 168 | 8.38 | 8 | 4.15 | 33 | 209 | 0.350 |
69 | Universitas Hasanuddin | Indonesia | 2799 | 284 | 10.15 | 2 | 1.00 | 22 | 588 | 0.349 |
70 | Duy Tan University | Viet Nam | 1814 | 105 | 5.79 | 14 | 8.55 | 86 | 76 | 0.348 |
71 | Universiti Teknologi MARA | Malaysia | 6734 | 653 | 9.70 | 9 | 1.44 | 26 | 488 | 0.343 |
72 | Al-Ahliyya Amman University | Jordan | 1693 | 168 | 9.92 | 1 | 0.82 | 23 | 632 | 0.339 |
73 | University of Basrah | Iraq | 2053 | 188 | 9.16 | 4 | 2.13 | 29 | 391 | 0.338 |
74 | Ningxia Medical University | China | 2444 | 64 | 2.62 | 28 | 13.50 | 266 | 29 | 0.337 |
75 | Islamia University | Pakistan | 3102 | 131 | 4.22 | 30 | 10.60 | 146 | 48 | 0.335 |
76 | Najran University | Saudi Arabia | 2455 | 151 | 6.15 | 16 | 7.11 | 72 | 101 | 0.333 |
77 | Menoufia University | Egypt | 3389 | 203 | 5.99 | 24 | 7.18 | 77 | 99 | 0.329 |
78 | Al-Farabi Kazakh National University | Kazakhstan | 2267 | 122 | 5.38 | 17 | 8.19 | 102 | 83 | 0.328 |
79 | Shaoxing University | China | 2166 | 73 | 3.37 | 22 | 11.62 | 191 | 41 | 0.326 |
80 | Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan | Pakistan | 2029 | 95 | 4.68 | 19 | 9.33 | 129 | 67 | 0.326 |
81 | University of Baghdad | Iraq | 6518 | 612 | 9.39 | 6 | 1.06 | 28 | 567 | 0.326 |
82 | Jinzhou Medical University | China | 1594 | 32 | 2.01 | 18 | 13.75 | 421 | 27 | 0.322 |
83 | University of Mosul | Iraq | 2423 | 174 | 7.18 | 10 | 4.63 | 46 | 184 | 0.320 |
84 | Christ University | India | 2181 | 129 | 5.91 | 12 | 6.74 | 79 | 121 | 0.318 |
85 | Huizhou University | China | 2010 | 43 | 2.14 | 25 | 13.33 | 379 | 31 | 0.318 |
86 | Universitas Sebelas Maret | Indonesia | 2621 | 248 | 9.46 | 1 | 0.47 | 27 | 817 | 0.317 |
87 | Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology | India | 2056 | 127 | 6.18 | 13 | 6.16 | 70 | 134 | 0.316 |
88 | King Saud University | Saudi Arabia | 27268 | 988 | 3.62 | 215 | 10.51 | 172 | 51 | 0.314 |
89 | Universiti Teknologi Malaysia | Malaysia | 5797 | 437 | 7.54 | 22 | 3.66 | 44 | 239 | 0.314 |
90 | Wannan Medical College | China | 1698 | 39 | 2.30 | 18 | 12.81 | 326 | 35 | 0.314 |
91 | COMSATS University Islamabad | Pakistan | 5494 | 295 | 5.37 | 47 | 7.33 | 104 | 95 | 0.312 |
92 | University of Mumbai | India | 2163 | 179 | 8.28 | 4 | 2.15 | 35 | 387 | 0.310 |
93 | University of Madras | India | 2210 | 92 | 4.16 | 20 | 9.28 | 148 | 68 | 0.309 |
94 | Southwestern University of Finance and Economics | China | 2349 | 65 | 2.77 | 26 | 11.67 | 240 | 38 | 0.308 |
95 | National Institute of Technology Patna | India | 1660 | 134 | 8.07 | 3 | 2.11 | 37 | 394 | 0.302 |
96 | Linyi University | China | 1597 | 27 | 1.69 | 20 | 13.17 | 545 | 33 | 0.301 |
97 | Bharathiar University | India | 2645 | 173 | 6.54 | 12 | 4.63 | 59 | 186 | 0.299 |
98 | Hebei Medical University | China | 5435 | 192 | 3.53 | 51 | 9.83 | 181 | 57 | 0.298 |
99 | Taibah University | Saudi Arabia | 3274 | 217 | 6.63 | 13 | 4.40 | 57 | 197 | 0.298 |
100 | Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University | Saudi Arabia | 3451 | 182 | 5.27 | 17 | 6.70 | 105 | 123 | 0.297 |
101 | Al-Mustansiriya University | Iraq | 2465 | 195 | 7.91 | 4 | 1.76 | 40 | 439 | 0.290 |
102 | Xi'an Polytechnic University | China | 1724 | 48 | 2.78 | 17 | 10.63 | 237 | 47 | 0.289 |
103 | Future University in Egypt | Egypt | 1953 | 78 | 3.99 | 20 | 8.48 | 157 | 79 | 0.288 |
104 | Jimma University | Ethiopia | 1821 | 39 | 2.14 | 21 | 11.65 | 377 | 39 | 0.287 |
105 | King Abdulaziz University | Saudi Arabia | 11458 | 552 | 4.82 | 94 | 6.98 | 123 | 104 | 0.287 |
106 | Xuzhou Medical University | China | 4565 | 104 | 2.28 | 44 | 11.27 | 331 | 43 | 0.284 |
107 | University of Sargodha | Pakistan | 1826 | 74 | 4.05 | 14 | 7.82 | 151 | 87 | 0.278 |
108 | Lebanese American University | Lebanon | 5811 | 359 | 6.18 | 13 | 4.05 | 69 | 217 | 0.277 |
109 | Near East University | Turkey | 2206 | 134 | 6.07 | 9 | 4.20 | 75 | 207 | 0.276 |
110 | Firat University | Turkey | 2345 | 181 | 7.72 | 3 | 1.26 | 42 | 519 | 0.275 |
111 | Bharathidasan University | India | 2340 | 122 | 5.21 | 12 | 5.58 | 107 | 149 | 0.274 |
112 | Anhui Jianzhu University | China | 1739 | 53 | 3.05 | 13 | 9.14 | 214 | 69 | 0.270 |
113 | Shijiazhuang Tiedao University | China | 1870 | 44 | 2.35 | 17 | 10.25 | 316 | 54 | 0.268 |
114 | Pondicherry University | India | 1801 | 97 | 5.39 | 8 | 4.76 | 100 | 179 | 0.264 |
115 | Universidade Federal de Uberlândia | Brazil | 2412 | 46 | 1.91 | 27 | 10.81 | 451 | 46 | 0.264 |
116 | Xinjiang Medical College | China | 2015 | 36 | 1.79 | 20 | 10.93 | 512 | 44 | 0.262 |
117 | Amity University, Noida | India | 4364 | 239 | 5.48 | 19 | 4.48 | 96 | 192 | 0.262 |
118 | Ibn Tofail University | Morocco | 2154 | 165 | 7.66 | 1 | 0.57 | 43 | 739 | 0.260 |
119 | Universiti Putra Malaysia | Malaysia | 7344 | 420 | 5.72 | 28 | 3.84 | 89 | 229 | 0.258 |
120 | Asia University | Taiwan | 2234 | 88 | 3.94 | 19 | 6.90 | 159 | 113 | 0.257 |
121 | Beni-Suef University | Egypt | 2833 | 135 | 4.77 | 15 | 5.40 | 127 | 153 | 0.256 |
122 | Yarmouk University | Jordan | 1835 | 131 | 7.14 | 2 | 1.19 | 47 | 542 | 0.255 |
123 | Quaid-i-Azam University | Pakistan | 2975 | 139 | 4.67 | 18 | 5.37 | 130 | 154 | 0.252 |
124 | Universiti Malaysia Sabah | Malaysia | 2036 | 117 | 5.75 | 8 | 3.48 | 88 | 255 | 0.252 |
Users can explore the interactive RI² world map, which displays average RI² scores by country to visualize geographic trends in research integrity risk.
RI² emphasize the pressing need for integrity-focused reforms in the way rankings, funding bodies, and institutions assess scholarly performance.[2] The index is designed as a risk monitor, not a ranking of prestige. According to its creator, over-reliance on flawed bibliometrics incentives may allow paper mills, unethical collaborations, or manipulation of editorial and peer-review processes to go undetected in standard rankings.[19]
The methodology and findings have drawn international attention.[21] A 2025 article in Nature spotlighted universities with unusually high numbers of retractions, citing RI² data in its analysis.[19][1]
Science Chronicle (India) article highlighted the 32 Indian universities that were red flagged according to the RI² index.[22] The Indian Society of Artificial Intelligence and Law (ISAIL) proposed a transformative approach to evaluating institutional excellence. They claimed that the RI² index resonates with its mission to champion ethical standards in technology and research.[23]
Commenting on the RI² index, an article in al-Ghad newspaper (Jordan) highlights its value as a critical alternative to traditional rankings, exposing ethical risks in academia. Citing Jordan universities as an example, the author notes that eight universities were listed—five red-flagged, two high risk, and one on the watch list.[24]
In an interview with University World News, Lokman Meho described his RI² tool as an “empirically grounded, conservative tool that flags institutions exhibiting structural integrity risks based on retraction rates and reliance on delisted journals”, he said, rather than a punitive tool, the index offers institutions a chance to detect integrity risks before they become reputational liabilities.[3] In a separate interview discussing the launch of three additional international universities in Dubai, stated that “With the notable exception of NYU Abu Dhabi, which performs well on the Research Integrity Risk Index (RI² ) and maintains a low research integrity-risk profile, most foreign branch campuses in the UAE, including those in Dubai, have had negligible research output or impact on the country’s academic landscape". [25]
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