Mapping the historical development and landscape of research about transnational higher education: a scientometric analysis from comparative and international perspectives

Abstract

ABSTRACT Transnational higher education (TNHE) has become an important research topic in international higher education (HE). Many universities have actively engaged in developing TNHE for diverse development goals, such as enhancing the internationalisation of HE, gaining financial benefits, and improving HE quality. While many researchers have explored TNHE-related issues from various perspectives (e.g. policy and management, learning and teaching, employability), relatively few studies have reviewed the historical development and landscape of TNHE research from comparative and international perspectives by adopting scientometric analysis. To fill this gap, we utilised CiteSpace to analyse TNHE-related research systematically. Based on reviewing journal articles indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection database, we illustrate the landscape of TNHE research (e.g. the overview of publication development, researchers, and research themes). Then, we summarise the current research status of TNHE and provide suggestions for future research.