Evolution and Intellectual Structure of Change Research in Higher Education: A Bibliometric Analysis

Higher education (HE) institutions are undergoing substantial organizational change in response to scientific and technological advances, globalization, accountability pressures and shifting societal expectations. As a result, universities are moving beyond traditional disciplinary models towards more hybrid, entrepreneurial and externally engaged forms. Research on organizational change in HE has therefore expanded from narrow managerial concerns to broader institutional and strategic debates. However, existing reviews remain fragmented and largely focused on specific domains rather than the field as a whole. Accordingly, this study examines the intellectual structure and evolution of organizational change research in HE through a bibliometric analysis of Scopus-indexed publications published between 1995 and 2025. Using VOSviewer, we identify key publication trends, influential authors and major thematic clusters. The findings show rising scholarly attention to barriers to change agendas, sustainability, digital transformation, entrepreneurial universities, institutional complexity, organizational identity and inclusion-related change agendas. The study offers a structured overview of the field and identifies future research directions with relevance for HE strategy and institutional development.