Scientific Production in Higher Education and Sustainable Development: A Bibliometric and Scientometric Analysis

Abstract

The pivotal role of higher education as a catalyst for sustainable development has been discussed in various global summits, which in turn emphasize the need to strengthen its contribution to society, the economy, and the planet. The aim of this research was to analyze the scientific production on higher education and sustainable development during the period 2014–2023. A bibliometric and scientometric study was conducted, applying indicators of productivity, collaboration, relationships, and impact to 1,306 articles from the Scopus database. The results reveal that the countries with the highest scientific output are Germany, the United States, and Portugal. The journal Sustainability, based in Switzerland, stands out for the number of articles published, citation count, and level of bibliographic coupling. The most prolific authors include Walter Leal Filho, Amanda Lange Salvia, and Luciana Londero Brandli. The most cited article addresses pedagogical approaches and competencies for sustainable development, with Rodrigo Lozano as the lead author. The study concludes that scientific production on higher education and sustainable development has increased significantly, showing a total growth rate of 1,452% between 2014 and 2023. This trend followed a potential growth curve with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.94.