Bibliometric mapping of intercultural competence research in Web of Science (2015–2024): A CiteSpace analysis

Intercultural competence is widely recognized as a key capability for effective communication across cultural boundaries in an increasingly globalized world. This study employs bibliometric analysis and CiteSpace to map the intellectual structure, thematic development, and emerging trends of intercultural competence research indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) from 2015 to 2024. Drawing on a dataset of 1319 English-language journal articles, the analysis examines publication trends, identifies active countries, influential authors and journals, and explores research hotspots and emerging directions through keyword co-occurrence, clustering, and burst analyses. The findings reveal substantial growth in WoS-indexed intercultural competence research over the past decade, with the United States, China, and the United Kingdom playing leading roles in knowledge production and international collaboration. Major research domains include intercultural competence and education, internationalization, professional development, and technology-mediated intercultural learning. Emerging trends indicate increasing scholarly attention to virtual exchange, workplace applications of intercultural competence, and digitally supported intercultural interaction. In addition, a qualitative interpretive reading of influential works highlights enduring conceptual tensions concerning the nature, assessment, and application of intercultural competence across contexts. This study provides an updated overview of the development of intercultural competence research within the WoS-indexed literature and identifies key directions for future inquiry. The findings offer valuable insights for educators, policymakers, and researchers seeking to promote intercultural competence in educational, professional, and digitally mediated environments.