IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/scient/v130y2025i1d10.1007_s11192-024-05199-6.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The changing world dynamics of research performance

Author

Listed:
  • Marko Marhl

    (University of Maribor
    University of Maribor
    University of Maribor)

  • Rene Markovič

    (University of Maribor
    University of Maribor)

  • Vladimir Grubelnik

    (University of Maribor)

  • Matjaž Perc

    (University of Maribor
    Community Healthcare Center Dr. Adolf Drolc Maribor
    Complexity Science Hub Vienna
    Kyung Hee University)

Abstract

In recent years, a notable diversification in the geographical representation of the World’s top universities could be observed. Chinese universities play an increasingly prominent role in these rankings, thus indicating that we might be in the midst of a regional shift in academic performance. To explore this dynamics, we analyze seven years’ worth of data used for university rankings by academic subjects from the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). We focus on China, Europe, the USA, and other global regions of the world. We find that China has indeed seen an unprecedented growth in Engineering and Life Sciences research, positioning itself rather firmly as a leader in these fields. Conversely, the USA leads in the Social Sciences, while Europe excels in Geography, Ecology, Public and Business Administration, and Pharmacy. Other regions worldwide stand out in Transportation Science, Nursing, and Hospitality & Tourism Management. These results reveal the evolving landscape of global academic research, highlighting regional strengths and emerging world trends in subject-specific excellence.

Suggested Citation

  • Marko Marhl & Rene Markovič & Vladimir Grubelnik & Matjaž Perc, 2025. "The changing world dynamics of research performance," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 130(1), pages 469-488, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:130:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s11192-024-05199-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-024-05199-6
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11192-024-05199-6
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11192-024-05199-6?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:130:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s11192-024-05199-6. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.