Ranking

About the Ranking Unit

The Ranking Unit at the University of Zakho (UoZ) leads the university's work to improve its position in national, regional, and global university rankings. We work with colleges, departments, researchers, and administrative offices to make UoZ's achievements visible, measurable, and accurately reported.

Our mission

To raise the academic reputation and international standing of the University of Zakho by supporting research quality, open knowledge, international collaboration, and transparent reporting of institutional data.

Our vision

A university recognized in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and worldwide for academic excellence and social impact.

Our goals

1. Strengthen UoZ's position in the Times Higher Education (THE), QS, Webometrics, and other major rankings.
2. Increase the volume, quality, and visibility of UoZ research.
3. Expand international partnerships, exchange, and visiting academics.
4. Promote sustainability and the UN Sustainable Development Goals across the university.
5. Ensure that every data submission is accurate, complete, and on time.

What we do

• Monitor rankings: we track UoZ's performance in each ranking and explain what the results mean.
• Manage data: we collect and verify institutional data and prepare ranking submissions.
• Support staff: we offer guidance on researcher profiles, publication, and open access.
• Coordinate across the university: we work with a ranking coordinator in each college and department.
• Plan and report: we develop the annual ranking improvement plan and report progress to university leadership.
• Communicate results: we publish UoZ's rankings, achievements, and updates on this website.

Global Rankings leaderships

The University of Zakho is a leading Iraqi university in the major international rankings. Our results reflect the work of our researchers, teachers, and students, and our commitment to quality, openness, and international collaboration.

Highlights

#1 in Iraq
Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027
Global band: 1001–1200

Institutional Performance

Our Strategy

The University of Zakho's ranking strategy is built on a simple idea: rankings reward real academic quality that is openly shared and accurately reported. Our strategy therefore focuses on improving research, openness, international engagement, and impact, and on making sure UoZ's achievements are visible to the world.

Our strategic pillars

1. Research quality and output
We support researchers to publish more, and in higher-quality journals.

• A uniform UoZ affiliation in every publication
• Support for language editing, statistics and methods, and journal selection
• Priority for Q1 and Q2 journals, and a firm stance against predatory publishing
• Recognition for high-impact research

2. Visibility and open access
We make UoZ's work easy to find and use.

• A fully indexed institutional repository for theses, papers, and data
• Up-to-date ORCID, Scopus, OpenAlex, and Google Scholar profiles for every researcher
• Complete English pages for every college and department
• Better web governance and strong links from other sites

3. International engagement
We turn partnerships into real collaboration.

• Joint research and co-authorship with international universities
• Exchange programmes and visiting academics
• Support for international students, including scholarships and short programmes

4. Sustainability and societal impact
We show how UoZ contributes to its community and to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

• Evidence and reporting for THE Impact Rankings, QS Sustainability, and UI GreenMetric
• Public policies on research ethics, equality, environment, and governance
• Community engagement and industry collaboration

5. Data quality and governance
We make sure every submission is accurate, complete, and on time.

• One central, verified system for ranking data
• A ranking coordinator in every college and department
• Quarterly reporting to university leadership

Our approach to each ranking

• THE and QS: we focus on research output and citations, international collaboration, reputation, and accurate institutional data.
• Webometrics: we focus on web visibility, researcher profiles, and highly cited research.
• Impact and sustainability rankings: we focus on documented evidence and public policies.

Annual plan and targets

Each year we publish an action plan with measurable targets, for example:

• All academic staff with verified researcher profiles.

Rankings are built from data about our publications, researchers, and activities. Small details, such as how you write the university's name or whether your profile is up to date, decide whether your work is counted for UoZ. This page explains what to do.

Use the standard UoZ affiliation in every paper.

Set up your researcher profiles

A complete, linked set of profiles makes your work visible to ranking bodies and to other researchers. Set them up in this order.

Step 1: ORCID (orcid.org)

1. Register for a free ORCID iD with your UoZ email.
2. Add your employment: University of Zakho.
3. Add your publications using the Add works → Search & link option, so they are imported automatically from sources such as Crossref and Scopus.
4. Set your profile and works to public.
5. Use your ORCID iD when you submit papers to journals.

Step 2: Scopus Author ID

1. Scopus creates an author profile automatically when you publish in an indexed journal. Search for your name in Scopus Author Search to find it.
2. Check that all your papers are in one profile and that the affiliation is University of Zakho.
3. If you have duplicate profiles or wrong details, request a correction with the Scopus Author Feedback Wizard.
4. Link the profile to your ORCID iD.

Step 3: OpenAlex

1. OpenAlex builds author profiles automatically from publications and uses ORCID to connect papers to the right person. This is why ORCID is step 1.
2. Search for your name on openalex.org and check that your papers and affiliation are correct.
3. If anything is wrong, submit a correction request through OpenAlex.

Step 4: Google Scholar

1. Create a profile with your UoZ email and verify it.
2. Add your papers and check that duplicates are merged.
3. Make your profile public.

Check the journal is credible

• Is it indexed in Scopus or Web of Science? Check the official source lists, not the journal's own claims.
• What is its quartile (Q1 to Q4) in your field? Aim for Q1 and Q2 where possible.
• Does its scope match your paper, and have you read recent articles in it?
• Does it have a transparent peer-review process and a real editorial board?
• Are the fees (article processing charges), if any, clearly stated before submission?

Warning signs of a predatory journal

• Unsolicited emails inviting you to submit
• Very fast acceptance with little or no peer review
• Vague scope, or an unusually wide range of subjects
• Unverifiable impact factors or indexing claims
• Hidden fees, or a request for payment before review
• No clear editorial board, or editors who are not real or not aware of their listing.

Other advice

• Publishing in a retracted or delisted journal can harm your record and the university's metrics.
• If you are unsure about a journal, ask your department's ranking coordinator or the Ranking Unit before you submit.
• Consider open-access options, which make your work easier to find and cite.

Ranking Unit Policies

The Ranking Unit at the University of Zakho works openly, accurately, and with integrity. These policies explain how we collect and verify data, take part in rankings, and share results. They apply to the unit and to every college, department, and member of staff who provides information for rankings.

1. Ranking participation policy

Purpose: to decide which rankings UoZ takes part in, and why.

• UoZ takes part in rankings that are credible, transparent about their methods, and relevant to the university's mission, including THE, QS, Webometrics, and sustainability rankings.
• The Ranking Unit proposes each year which rankings to join, and the presidency approves the list.
• UoZ does not pay for a ranking position or take part in rankings that sell results.

2. Data governance and verification policy

Purpose: to make sure every figure we report is accurate and traceable.

• Each data item has a named owner (for example, the registrar for student numbers and the library for research output).
• Data comes from official university records, with the source and date recorded.
• The Ranking Unit checks data for completeness and consistency before use, and keeps the evidence for every submission.
• Data is stored securely, and records are kept for [number] years.

3. Data submission policy

Purpose: to make sure submissions are complete, approved, and on time.

• The Ranking Unit keeps a yearly calendar of submission deadlines.
• Colleges and departments must send requested data to the unit by the internal deadline.
• A senior university official signs off every submission before it is sent.
• The unit keeps a copy of everything submitted and any correspondence with the ranking body.

4. Integrity and ethical conduct policy

Purpose: to protect the university's credibility.

• UoZ improves its rankings through real improvement in quality, not by manipulating data or indicators.
• This means no false or inflated data, no artificial citation or authorship practices, no misleading affiliations, and no pressure on survey respondents.
• Anyone who suspects a breach should report it to the Ranking Unit or through the university's whistleblowing process. Confirmed breaches are handled under the university's disciplinary rules.

5. Transparency and publication of results policy

Purpose: to be open about our results and methods.

• We publish UoZ's positions in each ranking, with the ranking name, edition, and date.
• Where possible, we publish key institutional data and the plan we follow.
• Results are updated within [number] days of a new release.
• If we find an error in published information, we correct it and note the correction.

6. Communication of ranking results policy

Purpose: to make sure our claims about rankings are fair and accurate.

• Every claim names the ranking, edition, subject, and scope (for example, "first in Iraq", "1001–1200 band worldwide").
• We do not present a band as a single position, or compare results across different ranking years or bodies as if they were equal.
• Press releases and public statements about rankings are reviewed by the Ranking Unit before release.
• Ranking logos and badges are used only as permitted by the ranking body.

7. Privacy and confidentiality policy

Purpose: to protect personal information.

• Rankings use summary data. Personal data of staff and students is shared only when a ranking requires it, and only as allowed by data protection policy.
• Data from staff reports is used for official reporting and ranking submissions only.
• Access to unit data is limited to authorized members of the Ranking Unit.

8. Staff and department responsibilities policy

Purpose: to set out who must do what.

• Colleges and departments appoint a ranking coordinator and make sure staff meet reporting deadlines.
• Staff use the standard UoZ affiliation, keep their researcher profiles current, and report activities each quarter. See the Guidelines for staff.
• The Ranking Unit supports staff with training, advice, and templates.

9. Corrections, feedback, and appeals policy

Purpose: to handle questions and errors fairly.

• Anyone can ask about, or challenge, information we publish by contacting the Ranking Office.
• We reply within [number] working days.
• Where a ranking body has used incorrect data about UoZ, the unit contacts the body to request a correction and keeps a record of the request.

10. Review of these policies

• The Ranking Unit reviews these policies at least once a year and after any major change to a ranking's methodology.
• Changes are approved by [body] and published here with the new date and version.

Questions about these policies

To ask a question or make a suggestion, contact the Ranking Office.