Association of Arab Universities Receives the President of ARCIF to Discuss Prospects for Cooperation in Advancing Scientific Research and Academic Publishing

Amman – 13/10/2026

The General Secretariat of the Association of Arab Universities (AARU) received Professor Dr. Sami Al-Khazendar, President of the Arab Citation and Impact Factor (ARCIF) Initiative, at its headquarters in Amman, Jordan. He was welcomed by Professor Dr. Anas Ratib Al-Soud, Executive Director of the Association of Arab Universities. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation in academic and research fields and exploring opportunities to advance joint efforts in support of Arab universities and the development of scientific research across the Arab world.

The meeting comes within the framework of the ongoing cooperation between the Association of Arab Universities and the ARCIF Initiative, which was further strengthened by the signing of a memorandum of understanding and cooperation in July 2026, in partnership with the Arabic Digital Database Marefa. The agreement aims to support scientific research and academic publishing across the Arab world. This cooperation reflects the shared commitment of both parties to developing scientific indicators, improving the quality of Arab research output, and strengthening the presence of Arab universities in the regional and international academic landscape.

The discussions highlighted the importance of continuing cooperation between the Association of Arab Universities and ARCIF, particularly in light of the initiative’s role in evaluating Arab scientific output and tracking citations of research published in Arab academic journals. The initiative also provides scientific indicators that help assess the current state of Arab research and monitor its development, supporting efforts to improve academic publishing quality and promote research excellence.

The two sides also explored prospects for expanding cooperation to support Arab universities in enhancing their research output, improving the quality of their academic journals, and encouraging researchers to adhere to recognized scientific publishing standards. Discussions further addressed the importance of highlighting the contributions of Arab researchers across various scientific and academic disciplines and strengthening the visibility of Arab research in scientific databases and international research indicators.

The meeting also emphasized the importance of utilizing scientific indicators and specialized databases to help universities and higher education institutions evaluate their research performance, identify strengths and areas for improvement, and use relevant data to inform academic planning and the development of research policies. The discussions highlighted the value of fostering a culture of quality and excellence in scientific research and encouraging academic institutions to enhance their research output in line with recognized academic publishing standards.

Both sides stressed the importance of maintaining communication and coordination between the Association of Arab Universities and the ARCIF Initiative, building on their existing cooperation, and exploring new areas for joint work that serve researchers and Arab universities. These efforts aim to advance scientific research, improve the quality of research outputs, and strengthen the role of Arab higher education institutions in knowledge creation and dissemination.

This meeting reflects the Association of Arab Universities’ ongoing efforts to strengthen partnerships with specialized scientific institutions and initiatives, expand opportunities for cooperation and knowledge exchange, and support initiatives aimed at advancing higher education and scientific research. These efforts contribute to improving the quality of academic outcomes at Arab universities and enhancing their presence and standing in the international scientific community.