The rapid digital transformation of higher education has expanded opportunities for learning and participation. However, it has also raised concerns about online safety, digital ethics, cyberbullying and misinformation. Digital Citizenship Education (DCE) has therefore become important for preparing students to participate responsibly in digital environments. This study employed a Bibliometric-Systematic Literature Review (B-SLR) to examine DCE research among higher education students from 2021 to 2025. Data were retrieved from Scopus. A total of 201 open-access journal articles were included in the bibliometric analysis. Following the PRISMA framework, 24 empirical studies were retained for systematic review. Bibliographic coupling was conducted using VOSviewer to map the intellectual structure of the field. The analysis revealed four clusters centred on digital leadership and transformation, professional digital competence, online safety and inclusion and information literacy. The systematic review identified five themes covering digital citizenship competencies and measurement, digital skills and empowerment, online safety and cybersecurity, digital civic engagement and global citizenship and pedagogical innovation. The synthesis shows that higher education DCE increasingly integrates digital competence with ethical responsibility, online safety, civic participation and learner-centred pedagogy. Universities should therefore embed DCE across curricula and provide experiential opportunities for students to practise responsible participation in digital environments.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Pek et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: