  Between 2019 and 2023, sixteen universities increased their research output
by over fifteen times the global average, alongside significant changes in
authorship dynamics (e.g., decreased first authorship, rise in hyperprolific
authors, increased multi-affiliations, and increased authors per publication
rate). Using bibliometric methods, this study detected patterns suggesting a
reliance on unconventional authorship practices, such as gift, honorary, and
sold authorship, to inflate publication metrics. The study underscores the need
for reforms by universities, policymakers, funding agencies, ranking agencies,
accreditation bodies, scholarly publishers, and researchers to maintain
academic integrity and ensure the reliability of global ranking systems.
