Quantifying the STEM Research Landscape in Higher Education: A Scientometric Study

Background Synthesizing STEM education research has been the focus of many research articles during the past few years. However, little is known about the trending research issues conducted during almost two decades past, particularly in the higher education context. Methods This study conducts a comprehensive scientometric analysis of STEM education research in higher education from 2006 to 2023, utilizing document co-citation analysis. We employed our search in the Web of Science Core Collection to identify relevant works, using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Word Cloud to analyze and visualize research findings. Results The analysis reveals five major research clusters: STEM student, active learning, intersectional application, pedagogical knowledge, and facilitating video-based professional development. These clusters reflect a shift towards student-centered, inclusive, and technologically integrated approaches in STEM education. The study identifies influential works among the STEM research community by addressing the most cited and co-cited articles and sources of publication, showing that journals specialized in STEM research were the most influential venues of publication. Keyword analysis confirms a focus on undergraduate STEM education and reveals a growing emphasis on gender and diversity issues. Conclusions The findings suggest implications for STEM education practice, including the adoption of active learning strategies, emphasis on inclusive practices, and integration of technology.