Understanding Research Rankings: Why Western Is Moving to SciVal
Published on July 14, 2025
Two of the most influential global university rankings, Times Higher Education (THE) and QS, rely on data from Scopus, a comprehensive database of peer-reviewed articles, books, and conference papers. To better understand and improve Western’s position in these rankings, we are adopting Elsevier’s SciVal analytics platform built on interdisciplinary Scopus data.
Why This Matters
With Western’s move to SciVal, access to Clarivate’s InCites (built on Web of Science data) will end on October 31.
What is SciVal?
SciVal turns publication and citation data into insight. It allows the institution to:
- Benchmark Western’s research performance against peer institutions worldwide.
- Analyze collaboration networks and research trends.
- Identify strengths, gaps, and emerging opportunities for strategic growth.
For the individual researcher, you can:
- Benchmark Yourself – Compare your own publication output and citation impact against peers at your institution, in Canada, or globally.
- Track Collaboration Networks – See who you are co-authoring with, what institutions and countries you are connected to, and identify potential new collaborators.
- Spot Emerging Topics – Explore research areas where you’re already publishing or discover adjacent areas where you might want to publish next.
For more information, see our SciVal Guide or contact rsclib@uwo.ca.
