National and International Research Collaboration across GCC Universities: Impact on Institutional Research Performance and Global Ranking
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Purpose: This paper examines how national and international research collaboration links with universities’ performance and their global rankings in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Design/methodology/approach: The empirical analysis is based on the bibliometric data from SciVal (2019-2024). This allowed us to apply Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression modelling to define predictors of research performance indicators and ranking among 114 universities in GCC countries. Findings: We found that international and national collaborations are strong predictors of citation impact, research visibility, and publication quality for ranked universities, while non-ranked universities experience much smaller impact. Originality/value: The paper provides the first comparative statistical analysis linking collaboration patterns with global rankings in the GCC countries and empirical evidence, demonstrating the impact of national/international collaboration on institutional visibility, and highlighting the limitations of existing ranking systems in the region. Practical Implications: This paper will guide university administrators and leadership in establishing national/international collaboration priorities to climb global rankings. Keywords: National and International Collaboration; Research Performance; QS Ranking; Gulf Universities; Gulf Cooperation Council Countries. Citation: Karabchuk, T., Shomotova, A. and Mohamad, M. (2026): National and International Research Collaboration across GCC Universities: Impact on Institutional Research Performance and Global Ranking. World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development (WJEMSD), Vol. 22, No. 6, pp. 545-567.
Language: English
Subfield: Library and Information Sciences
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7214217128