Exploring the Research Landscape of Pakistan: A Data-driven Analysis of Scopus Indexed Scientific Literature

TL;DR

This paper presents a bibliometric tool that evaluates and benchmarks research performance of universities and institutes across disciplines and niche areas using Scopus data, aiding strategic planning.

Contribution

The paper introduces an innovative bibliometric-based tool for detailed benchmarking of research entities at fine-grained discipline and niche levels using Scopus data.

Findings

Small and medium universities excel in certain niche areas.

Investing in promising niche disciplines can yield better research outcomes.

The tool enables strategic allocation of research funding based on performance metrics.

Abstract

Scientific contribution and research performance of a university, research group, or institute needs to be evaluated all the more with the increasing volume and fast-developing disciplines of research. The need of the time is to develop tools for strategic planning and management that will help research bodies to rank and benchmark themselves against international standards. This will enable them to invest appropriately in research areas of promising strength and gain maximally from them, thus fulfilling the ultimate purpose of positive impact of research on society. Our tool is capable of rating and benchmarking universities as well as research institutes in not only the major disciplines and sub-disciplines, but at the finest level of niche areas of science and technology too with the help of its innovative bibliometric indicators based on publications and citation analysis. The tool accepts inputs like discipline/subject area, university, and country and time window while using data retrieved from bibliography database, Scopus, to benchmark and rate the research body under consideration. We have evaluated that there are many niche subject areas in which small or medium size universities are performing good in comparison to the large universities. Most of these subject areas are of more significance in the present day and the future. Government and funds allocating bodies should take this factor in account that investing the right money at right place will give far better results than we they are having right now