EVALUATING THE IMPACTS OF SCIENTOMETRIC INDICATORS: A GENERAL APPROACH TO AZERBAIJAN UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

In recent decades, scientometric indicators have become essential tools for assessing research productivity and impact in academic institutions worldwide. This paper examines the impact of these indicators on Azerbaijani universities, providing a comprehensive and contextual evaluation of their current status and implications. The main objective of the study is to analyze the relationship between scientometric indicators and the performance of higher education institutions in Azerbaijan. The research employs a bibliometric analysis using data from international databases such as Scopus and SciVal, focusing on key metrics including publication count, citation count, h-index, Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI), and collaboration patterns. The results show that Azerbaijani universities have significantly increased their scientific output, with a notable 27% surge in publications in 2024 alone. While the overall FWCI (1.34) indicates above-average citation performance globally, challenges persist, including limited academic-industry collaboration and an overemphasis on quantitative indicators at the expense of qualitative assessments. The study highlights the need for national guidelines on responsible metric use and recommends capacity-building initiatives, interdisciplinary collaboration, and diversified evaluation frameworks to enhance research quality and integrity. These findings are valuable for policymakers, university administrators, and researchers seeking to align Azerbaijan’s research ecosystem with international standards while addressing local needs and priorities.