Background on University Rankings and Publication Pressures in India

Indian higher education institutions face intense pressure to climb global and national rankings such as those from QS, Times Higher Education, and the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). Research output, measured through publications in indexed journals and citations, forms a critical component of these evaluations. Private universities in particular have expanded rapidly, often relying on strategies to accelerate their visibility in these metrics.

One emerging concern involves arrangements where institutions affiliate with external researchers to produce papers and patents that count toward institutional outputs. These practices aim to enhance perceived research productivity without necessarily building internal capacity.

The Recent Exposure Involving Woxsen University

In May 2026, economist Mohd Asif Shah, currently serving as dean of the faculty of economics at Kardan University in Kabul, publicly highlighted issues with Woxsen University in Hyderabad, India. Shah alleged that the university had engaged him as an adjunct professor in 2022 to publish research papers and file patents under its affiliation, promising incentives that later became disputed.

According to documentation shared by Shah, including offer letters and lists of outputs, approximately 59 papers and patents appeared on the university's website attributed to his work. When payments were not forthcoming after several years, he raised concerns through formal channels and social media, prompting the university to respond that compensation had been provided where appropriate and that policy issues around multiple affiliations had arisen.

Woxsen University maintains a strong position in certain business school rankings in Asia and has described the arrangement as standard for adjunct roles focused on research output. The episode echoes a similar 2023 incident involving Shah and another Indian institution, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences.

How Publication Incentive Schemes Operate

These arrangements typically involve universities contacting academics worldwide, offering financial rewards for papers published with the institution's affiliation. Incentives may cover article processing charges indirectly or provide direct payments scaled to journal impact factors or citation counts. Patents filed under the university name can also trigger bonuses.

Step-by-step, the process often begins with outreach via professional networks, followed by an adjunct or visiting appointment agreement. The researcher then lists the Indian university affiliation on submissions. Once published or granted, outputs contribute to the institution's h-index, publication volume, and ranking scores. Disputes arise when promised sums are reduced, delayed, or withheld due to internal policy reviews, such as rules against concurrent affiliations.

Examples from other private universities include reported payments per citation, such as small amounts at institutions like Chandigarh University, though government-funded bodies have largely avoided such direct cash-for-publication models following expert criticism in 2019.

Broader Context of Research Output Growth in India

India ranks among the top countries globally in publication volume, with millions of Scopus-indexed papers in recent years. Private institutions have driven much of the recent increase, sometimes outpacing traditional public research powerhouses in raw counts. However, questions persist about quality, collaboration rates, and actual research funding levels at these newer players.

Analyses show that while top government institutions receive substantial sponsored research funding, many private universities operate with far smaller research budgets, raising questions about sustainability of output-driven strategies. International collaboration remains a factor in roughly one-fifth of recent Indian papers.

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Impacts on Academic Integrity and Researcher Experiences

Such schemes can incentivize quantity over quality, potentially contributing to issues like paper mills or diluted peer review standards in some cases. Researchers like Shah, who maintain multiple affiliations across countries, highlight the complexities of tracking genuine contributions versus affiliation shopping.

Stakeholders including university administrators argue these partnerships help build international profiles and support accreditation efforts. Critics, including voices from the research integrity community, warn that they may discourage sustained, high-quality domestic research ecosystems.

Real-world cases demonstrate both sides: universities gain ranking points and visibility, while individual academics may secure short-term income or publication opportunities, though long-term trust and payment reliability vary.

Regulatory and Institutional Responses

Indian authorities and accreditation bodies monitor research practices closely, particularly around NIRF data and global ranking submissions. Formal complaints, such as the one filed by Shah with government entities, can trigger reviews.

Universities have begun clarifying policies on affiliations and multiple concurrent claims to avoid disputes. Professional organizations in scholarly publishing continue to emphasize ethical authorship and affiliation standards.

Perspectives from Experts and Affected Parties

Economists and higher education analysts note that while rankings drive positive competition, over-reliance on metrics can distort priorities. Faculty at established institutions often emphasize deep, funded research programs rather than incentive-driven outputs.

International researchers involved in such arrangements provide mixed feedback, citing opportunities for collaboration alongside frustrations over administrative hurdles and compensation clarity.

Implications for Global Higher Education Trends

The Indian experience reflects wider global patterns seen previously in other regions, where institutions seek rapid ranking gains through targeted recruitment of prolific authors. Similar practices have prompted pushback in Europe and scrutiny elsewhere.

Long-term, these developments may influence how rankings agencies weight research indicators or how funders assess institutional quality beyond publication counts.

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Future Outlook and Potential Reforms

Looking ahead, greater transparency in affiliation policies, stronger emphasis on research funding disclosure, and adoption of responsible metrics frameworks could mitigate risks. Initiatives promoting open science and registered reports may further support quality-focused publishing.

Indian universities investing in genuine research infrastructure, international partnerships based on substance rather than affiliation alone, and faculty development stand to benefit most sustainably.

Actionable Insights for Academics and Institutions

Researchers considering adjunct or affiliation arrangements should review contracts carefully for payment terms, affiliation rules, and dispute resolution mechanisms. Documenting all agreements in writing helps manage expectations.

Institutions can strengthen practices by aligning incentives with verifiable research quality, ensuring timely compensation, and fostering internal research cultures supported by adequate funding rather than external affiliations alone.

Readers interested in related discussions on scholarly publishing trends may explore additional resources on academic integrity and university strategies.

For more on career opportunities in higher education research roles, consider faculty positions or research-focused opportunities listed on AcademicJobs.com.