Growth of Science Research and Its Reflections on Academic Performance at the University of Kerala

Abstract

This study explores the science research output of the University of Kerala based on data derived from the web of science. By limiting the number of articles published in journals under the science citation index- expanded from 2013 to 2022, the study brings insights into the various patterns of academic publishing in an Indian university. The study also identifies the impact of the university’s academic publishing on its performance in different academic rankings and accreditation processes in India- a total of 1877 journal articles published during this period. The analysis highlights the contributions of the top ten authors, with Anirudhan T.S. leading in citations with 3217 and H-index with 34. The productivity metrics show a fluctuating citation impact over the years, reaching a peak in publications in 2021 with 327 articles. The top 20 journals by research output reveal diverse fields of publication, with significant contributions to journals like the Journal of Molecular Structure and the Journal of Alloys and Compounds. Geoscience Frontiers has the highest average citations per article, at 77.82. Despite the modest number of publications, these articles have significantly enhanced the university’s academic reputation and ranking. The findings suggest the need for strategic measures to boost research output, particularly in the social sciences and humanities departments.