Big Fishes in a Big Pond: A Comparison Between Foreign and Chinese Academics’ Research Influence in Mainland China

This article investigates the research influence (as indicated by citations and SCImago quartile classification of target journal publication) as per Global Western standards foreign Chinese academics in mainland China. The focus on echoes policy shifts from quantity to quality. study analyses Scopus publications working 15 research-intensive universities, comparing them with colleagues same meso-institutional level (departments, schools, institutes) sex academic rank, but a doctoral degree attained Findings show that academics’ attract more citations, and, once checking covariates, they are also likely publish first Scimago journals. publications, comparison, tend be journals higher ranks average. reveals have international co-authorships than their counterparts, despite this latter point being not necessarily conducive influent research.