TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION RESEARCH IN HIGHER EDUCATION: A BIBLIOMETRIC PERSPECTIVE (2016-2026)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/IJEPC.1163037Keywords:
Environmental Sustainability, Sustainability Education, Environmental Education, Higher EducationAbstract
This study examines the trends and development of environmental education research within higher education. This field has gained increasing importance in response to global sustainability challenges and policy agendas. Despite the increasing volume of research, a thorough understanding of publication patterns, thematic evolution, influential contributions as well as international collaboration remains limited. To address this gap, a bibliometric analysis was conducted to systematically map the field’s intellectual structure and research dynamics. Data were retrieved from the Scopus database utilising an advanced search strategy based on four core keywords: Environmental Sustainability, Sustainability Education, Environmental Education, and Higher Education. The dataset was refined and standardized using OpenRefine, while Scopus Analyzer and VOSviewer were employed for quantitative analysis and visualization of publication trends, keyword co-occurrence networks, and country-level co-authorship patterns. The final dataset comprised 1,446 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2016 and April 2026. The findings reveal a strong upward trend in scholarly output, with notable acceleration after 2021 and a peak in 2025, indicating increasing academic interest and institutional commitment to sustainability in higher education. Keyword analysis demonstrates a dominant focus on sustainability, higher education, and environmental education. This includes emerging themes such as climate change, transformative learning, digital transformation, and pro-environmental behavior. Citation analysis highlights that highly influential publications are predominantly interdisciplinary and policy-oriented, linking higher education to broader sustainability and societal transitions. Furthermore, co-authorship analysis indicates that research collaboration is concentrated in developed regions, particularly the United States and Europe, while participation from emerging economies is growing, though it remains less integrated. Overall, the study demonstrates the field's maturation and diversification and gives valuable insights for researchers, institutions, and policymakers seeking to advance sustainability-oriented research and collaboration in higher education.
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