Bibliometric Analysis of Local Wisdom-Based Character Education: Mapping Models and Learning Innovations

Research on local wisdom-based character education has grown substantially, yet its intellectual structure, thematic development, and research trends remain fragmented. This study aims to analyze the research performance, intellectual structure, thematic clusters, and emerging trends in local wisdom-based character education. A descriptive bibliometric approach was employed to analyze 94 Scopus-indexed journal articles published between 2017 and 2025. Data were collected from the Scopus database using a structured search strategy and analyzed with Bibliometrix and Biblioshiny through performance analysis, co-authorship analysis, co-citation analysis, and keyword co-occurrence analysis. The findings reveal a substantial increase in publications since 2020, with research productivity concentrated among several institutions and collaboration networks remaining relatively fragmented. The intellectual structure of the field is still developing, with studies drawing on diverse theoretical perspectives rather than a clearly established theoretical foundation. Thematic analysis shows that “character education” and “local wisdom” constitute the central themes, while the thematic evolution indicates a shift from “moral education” toward “traditional values.” Emerging gaps include limited attention to character assessment, longitudinal evaluation, digital technology integration, and culturally responsive educational approaches. The study concludes that the field is expanding but requires stronger theoretical integration, interdisciplinary collaboration, and empirical evaluation. These findings provide a knowledge map for guiding future research, contextualized learning development, and evidence-based educational policymaking.