IIUI REIF: 105 Faculty Publish 331 Ranking Papers in 2025

IIUI says 105 faculty produced 331 ranking-relevant publications in 2025 under its Research Excellence Incentive Framework (REIF). The university secured Rs4.83m for incentives, with top researchers capped at Rs150,000. 105 faculty members deliver high-quality research under year-old excellence framework Faculty of Sciences leads with 221 publications; Rs4.83m secured for research incentives Eight researchers reach Rs150,000 cap as university eyes stronger global ranking footprint ISLAMABAD: Coinciding with the festivities marking the 79th Independence Day, the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) has achieved a significant research milestone, with 105 faculty members producing 331 high-quality, ranking-relevant research publications during 2025 under its Research Excellence Incentive Framework (REIF), strengthening the university's research profile at both national and international levels. The achievement comes one year after the launch of the REIF in August 2025 by IIUI President Prof. Dr. Ahmed Saad Alahmed under his Initiative for Scholarly Recognition, placing research excellence at the centre of institutional progress and creating a structured mechanism to recognize and reward high-impact scholarly work. The IIUI President's personal efforts also secured Rs4.83 million, with support from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to reward eligible publications under the framework. Working as a team under the President's leadership, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Shuja Syed, Vice President (Research and Enterprise), guided the implementation of the framework and ensured its alignment with national research standards and international university ranking indicators. Dr. Rashid Farooq, Director of the Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC), coordinated the submission and review process. Their collective efforts transformed the initiative into a transparent and workable mechanism that delivered measurable results within its first year. Under the REIF, W-category publications carry an honorarium equivalent to USD 100, while X-category publications carry USD 80, with the amounts converted into Pakistani rupees at the prevailing exchange rate. The framework also recognizes the five researchers whose publications recorded the highest impact, with each set to receive Rs150,000 in prize money. W-category publications served as the benchmark for sciences and engineering, while both W- and X-category publications were considered for social sciences, humanities and Islamic sciences. Researchers uploaded their work to the IIUI Research Database, after which the Quality Assurance Directorate (QAD) verified the publications' authenticity and eligibility. Of IIUI's 501 PhD faculty members, 105 — approximately 21 percent — produced research that contributed to the university's international ranking profile. Their 331 publications represent an average of 0.66 ranking-relevant paper per PhD faculty member and include more than 300 W-category and over 20 X-category papers, providing an encouraging baseline for broader faculty participation and stronger research output in the future. The Faculty of Sciences led the university with 221 publications, while the Faculty of Engineering and Technology and Faculty of Social Sciences were also among the leading contributors. In terms of publications relative to the number of PhD faculty members, the Centre of Excellence in Advanced Electronics and Photovoltaic Engineering (CAEPE), Faculty of Sciences and Faculty of Engineering and Technology occupied the leading positions. The Faculty of Computing and Information Technology and Faculty of Management Sciences shared the fourth position, followed by the Faculty of Social Sciences. Eight faculty members reached the Rs150,000 cap for producing a high number of W-category publications. They are Dr. Ahmed Zeeshan, Dr. Tahir Mahmood, Dr. Robina Khan Niazi, Dr. Rahmat Ellahi, Dr. Imran Murtaza, Dr. Zafeer Saqib and Dr. Waqar Un Nisa from the Faculty of Sciences, and Dr. Sabir Zaman from the Faculty of Social Sciences. Furthermore, the five faculty members who produced the highest number of W-category publications are Dr. Ahmed Zeeshan, Dr. Tahir Mahmood, Dr. Robina Khan Niazi and Dr. Rahmat Ellahi from the Faculty of Sciences, and Dr. Ahmed Shuja Syed from CAEPE. The IIUI President said the milestone demonstrated the university's growing contribution to knowledge production and laid a strong foundation for greater research productivity, wider faculty participation and a stronger institutional presence in global university rankings. Expressing pride in the colleagues who achieved the distinction, President IIUI Prof. Dr. Ahmed Saad Alahmed will distribute the prizes among the researchers, marking the university's Independence Day celebrations with a recognition of scholarly achievement and research excellence.