The status of the researcher was established by considering several academic network websites including Web of Science, Scopus, Sci-Val, ResearchGate, Publons, and Google Scholar. The classification of the researcher was weighted based on scientific contribution to multiple criteria for every index. For instance, Sci-Val academic index presented several scientific criteria such Academic /Field-Weighted Citation Impact, Publications in Top Journal Percentiles, Most cited publications, Field-Weighted Views Impact and international collaboration / Field-Weighted Citation Impact. Hence, the ranking scheme was developed in the manner where an appropriate weight was assigned for every sub criterion of those academic indices. Worth to mention, this is an evaluation per year research output.

Based on the selection criteria; the award committee decided after deep and long discussions to set the following Al-Ayen Award criteria

1-Scopus based database with a total weight of 25% divided as follows:

• Overall Citations, with a weight of 4%.
• H-index, with a weight of 5%.
• Number of papers published in 2021, with a weight of 10%.
• Total number of documents, with a weight of 6%.

2- SciVal based database with a total weight of 20% divided as follows:

• Academic /Field-Weighted Citation Impact, with a weight of 3%.
• Publications in Top Journal Percentiles, with a weight of 4%.
• Citation Count, with a weight of 3%.
• Field-Weighted Views Impact, with a weight of 4%.
• International collaboration, with a weight of 3%.
• Field-Weighted Citation Impact, with a weight of 3%.

3- Web of Science based database with a total weight of 30% divided as follows:

• Overall Citations, with a weight of 3%.
• H-index, with a weight of 5%.
• Number of papers published in 2021, with a weight of 9%.
• Number of citations in 2021, with a weight of 3%.
• Total number of documents, with a weight of 5%.
• Individual publications in 2021, with a weight of 5%.

4- Publons based database with a total weight of 8% divided as follows:

• Top reviewer award, with a weight of 2%.
• Total number of editorial contributions, with a weight of 2%.
• Total number of reviews contributions, with a weight of 2%.
• Highly-cited award, with a weight of 2%.

5- Google Scholar based database with a total weight of 12% divided as follows:

• Total number of documents, with a weight of 4%.
• Number of papers published in 2021, with a weight of 3%.
• H-index, with a weight of 2%.
• Overall Citations, with a weight of 3%.

5-Researchgate based database with a total weight of 8% for the researchgate score.

• Note: Some researchers might be not well recognized or fairly evaluated, and this is owing to the fact, not all Iraqi researchers having all those academic network websites. Hence, we are emphasizing all scholars to register with all those academic network websites. This is essential for multiple purposes such as promoting their research and novel ideas, reach out with more global academic network, explore or develop new ideas based on the existed innovations, and finally gives the opportunity to evaluate more accurately in the future ranking versions.

On Tuesday, March 1, 2022, Al-Ayen University held a ceremony for its Iraqi academic researcher award at the conference hall, in presence of many scholars from all over the country.

 The ceremony was inaugurated by recitation of verses of Holy Quran followed by the Iraqi National Anthem, then by recitation of Fatiha Chapter to bless the souls of Iraqi martyrs, before playing the University Anthem. later on a speech was delivered by the Chancellor of the University Prof. Dr. Shafik Al-Mowla,in which he stated "it is necessary to praise and commemorate the scientists who are the development foundation of any developed country or nation. He highlighted the great role of our beloved researchers who won the prizes of Al-Ayen Award who proved their great capabilities in making the scientific researches besides the enormous production specially during the past two years. We believe that there are some important comments that need to be seriously addressed".

Then two speeches were delivered by Vice-Chancellor for Scientific Affairs Asst. Prof. Dr. Haider Marhoon and Vice-Chancellor for Administrative Affairs Asst. Prof. Dr. Atheer Oudah

 The ceremony came in coincident with the Teacher day, the University honored a group of Iraqi academics who were able to meet the scientific committee terms. i.e. having the researcher current workplace at an Iraqi Institution exclusively, publishing their researches and contributions under the name of this institution, number of their published researches during the award year is no less than 12 researches, the H-Index is no less than 12 in Scopus and no less than 6 in Clarvet  indexes