Adult Education Over the Last Two Decades: Exploring Research Trends With Bibliometrics and Topic Modeling

This study examines research trends and thematic developments in adult education (AE) from 2000 to 2023 using bibliometric analysis and topic modeling. A corpus of 3,248 peer-reviewed articles from eight comprehensive, high-impact AE journals was analyzed to delineate publication output, cross-national collaboration, authorship dynamics, and principal research foci. The findings indicate that the AE field has seen continuous expansion and heightened scholarly engagement, supported by enduring theoretical foundations. Keyword co-occurrence network analysis revealed three major domains: (a) Lifelong Learning and Adult Development , (b) Continuing Higher Education , and (c) Adult Learning and Workforce Development . Topic modeling identified 15 latent topics distributed across four broader thematic clusters: (a) Foundations of Adult Education , (b) Quality, Equity, and Inclusion in Continuing Education , (c) Work-related Learning and Workforce Development , and (d) Lifelong Learning and Social Justice . Additionally, the analysis distinguished emerging and less prominent topics. We discussed academic and practical implications for AE scholarship.