The Structural and Thematic Evolution of Education for Sustainable Development Research in Asia: A Bibliometric and Network Analysis

Antarjyami Mahala; Bhavin Chauhan

doi:10.70376/jerp.v4i1.417

Authors

Antarjyami Mahala The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1226-868X
Bhavin Chauhan The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70376/jerp.v4i1.417

Keywords:

education for sustainable development, bibliometric analysis, science mapping, knowledge diffusion, sustainable development goals, digital learning, asia

Abstract

Despite growing global commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the development of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) research remains uneven across regions, with limited understanding of its structural and thematic dynamics in Asia. Existing studies are largely descriptive and lack theoretical integration, particularly in explaining how knowledge production, collaboration, and thematic evolution interact within regional research systems. This study addresses this gap by examining the structural and thematic evolution of ESD research in Asia. Using a theory-informed bibliometric and network analysis, the study analyzes 1,700 Scopus-indexed journal articles published between 2019 and 2023. The analytical framework integrates performance indicators, coauthorship network analysis, and keyword co-occurrence mapping. The results reveal three key patterns: (1) a high concentration of research output in a small number of countries and institutions, indicating structural asymmetry; (2) moderately connected but highly modular collaboration networks, suggesting fragmented knowledge diffusion mediated by central actors; and (3) a thematic structure anchored in sustainability and SDGs, alongside the rapid emergence of digital learning and artificial intelligence. These findings suggest that ESD research in Asia is evolving as a semi-integrated knowledge ecosystem shaped by uneven research capacity and global policy influence. This study advances the literature by integrating structural, relational, and thematic dimensions within a theory-informed bibliometric framework. The findings provide practical implications for strengthening regional collaboration and aligning digital innovation with the transformative goals of sustainability education.

Author Biographies

Antarjyami Mahala, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India

Department of Education; Faculty of Education and Psychology; Centre for Advanced Studies in Education; The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India

Bhavin Chauhan, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India

Department of Education; Faculty of Education and Psychology; Centre for Advanced Studies in Education; The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India

References

Agbedahin, Adesuwa Vanessa. “Sustainable Development, Education for Sustainable Development, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Emergence, Efficacy, Eminence, and Future.” Sustainable Development 27, no. 4 (July 21, 2019): 669–80. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.1931.

Aria, Massimo, and Corrado Cuccurullo. “Bibliometrix : An R-Tool for Comprehensive Science Mapping Analysis.” Journal of Informetrics 11, no. 4 (November 2017): 959–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2017.08.007.

Chien, Shih Chieh, and Charles Knoble. “Research of Education for Sustainable Development: Understanding New Emerging Trends and Issues after SDG 4.” Journal of Sustainability Research 6, no. 1 (2024). https://doi.org/10.20900/jsr20240006.

Christinah Sadiki, Marubini. “Promoting Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education Through Human Rights to Achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4.” Educational Administration: Theory and Practice, 2024. https://doi.org/10.53555/kuey.v30i11.8324.

Ding, Ying. “Scientific Collaboration and Endorsement: Network Analysis of Coauthorship and Citation Networks.” Journal of Informetrics 5, no. 1 (January 2011): 187–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2010.10.008.

Dolowitz, David P., and David Marsh. “Learning from Abroad: The Role of Policy Transfer in Contemporary Policy‐Making.” Governance 13, no. 1 (January 17, 2000): 5–23. https://doi.org/10.1111/0952-1895.00121.

Donthu, Naveen, Satish Kumar, Debmalya Mukherjee, Nitesh Pandey, and Weng Marc Lim. “How to Conduct a Bibliometric Analysis: An Overview and Guidelines.” Journal of Business Research 133 (September 2021): 285–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.04.070.

Eck, Nees Jan van, and Ludo Waltman. “Software Survey: VOSviewer, a Computer Program for Bibliometric Mapping.” Scientometrics 84, no. 2 (August 31, 2010): 523–38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-009-0146-3.

Entang, Entang, Judhistira Aria Utama, Winny Liliawati, Jungjoo Sohn, and Ismu Wahyudi. “Research Trends About Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Science Learning: A Bibliometric Analysis During 2014-2024.” Jurnal Pendidikan MIPA 25, no. 3 (2024): 1317–28. https://doi.org/10.23960/jpmipa/v25i3.pp1317-1328.

Fekih Zguir, Mariem, Sana Dubis, and Muammer Koç. “Embedding Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and SDGs Values in Curriculum: A Comparative Review on Qatar, Singapore and New Zealand.” Journal of Cleaner Production 319 (October 2021): 128534. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128534.

Friedman, Joseph, Hunter York, Nicholas Graetz, Lauren Woyczynski, Joanna Whisnant, Simon I. Hay, and Emmanuela Gakidou. “Measuring and Forecasting Progress towards the Education-Related SDG Targets.” Nature 580, no. 7805 (April 30, 2020): 636–39. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2198-8.

Ivada, Elvia. “Education For Sustainable Development in Preservice Teacher Program: A Bibliometric Method.” IJORER : International Journal of Recent Educational Research 5, no. 5 (September 30, 2024): 1290–1310. https://doi.org/10.46245/ijorer.v5i5.689.

Lim, Weng Marc, Satish Kumar, and Naveen Donthu. “How to Combine and Clean Bibliometric Data and Use Bibliometric Tools Synergistically: Guidelines Using Metaverse Research.” Journal of Business Research 182 (September 2024): 114760. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2024.114760.

Mukherjee, Debmalya, Weng Marc Lim, Satish Kumar, and Naveen Donthu. “Guidelines for Advancing Theory and Practice through Bibliometric Research.” Journal of Business Research 148 (September 2022): 101–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.04.042.

Nedungadi, Prema, Kai-Yu Tang, and Raghu Raman. “The Transformative Power of Generative Artificial Intelligence for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of Quality Education.” Sustainability 16, no. 22 (November 9, 2024): 9779. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229779.

Osman, Mohamed Ali, Abdirahman Ahmed Sheikh Farah, and Abdirahman Ibrahim Abdi. “A Bibliometric Analysis of Sustainable Development Research in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Key Trends, Global Collaborations and Influential Contributions (2015–2023).” Cogent Education 12, no. 1 (December 31, 2025). https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2490436.

Öztürk, Oğuzhan, Rıdvan Kocaman, and Dominik K. Kanbach. “How to Design Bibliometric Research: An Overview and a Framework Proposal.” Review of Managerial Science 18, no. 11 (November 6, 2024): 3333–61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11846-024-00738-0.

Pennell, Natasha, and Gabriela Sabau. “The Impact of Multidisciplinary Program Requirements on Student Attitudes toward Sustainability and Education for Sustainability.” International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education 25, no. 3 (February 19, 2024): 669–87. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-06-2022-0199.

Stone, Diane, Osmany Porto de Oliveira, and Leslie A Pal. “Transnational Policy Transfer: The Circulation of Ideas, Power and Development Models.” Policy and Society 39, no. 1 (January 2, 2020): 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/14494035.2019.1619325.

Tafese, Mestawot Beyene, and Erika Kopp. “Education for Sustainable Development: Analyzing Research Trends in Higher Education for Sustainable Development Goals through Bibliometric Analysis.” Discover Sustainability 6, no. 1 (January 23, 2025): 51. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-024-00711-7.

UNESCO. Global Education Monitoring Report 2020. Global Education Monitoring Report. UN, 2020. https://doi.org/10.18356/2ddb782c-en.

UNESCO. The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022. The Sustainable Development Goals Report. United Nations, 2022. https://doi.org/10.18356/9789210018098.

Vargas-Merino, Jorge Alberto, Cristian Armando Rios-Lama, and Miguel Humberto Panez-Bendezú. “Critical Implications of Education for Sustainable Development in HEIs - A Systematic Review through the Lens of the Business Science Literature.” The International Journal of Management Education 22, no. 1 (March 2024): 100904. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2023.100904.

Voulvoulis, N., T. Giakoumis, C. Hunt, V. Kioupi, N. Petrou, I. Souliotis, C. Vaghela, and WIH. binti Wan Rosely. “Systems Thinking as a Paradigm Shift for Sustainability Transformation.” Global Environmental Change 75 (July 2022): 102544. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2022.102544.

Yang, Chuang, and Qi Xiu. “A Bibliometric Review of Education for Sustainable Development, 1992–2022.” Sustainability 15, no. 14 (July 10, 2023): 10823. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151410823.

Zeyer, Albert. “Scientific Holism: A Synoptic (‘Two-Eyed Seeing’) Approach to Science Transfer in Education for Sustainable Development, Tested with Pre-Service Teachers.” Sustainability 16, no. 6 (March 8, 2024): 2279. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16062279.

Zeyer, Albert. “Teaching Two-Eyed Seeing in Education for Sustainable Development: Inspirations from the Science|Environment|Health Pedagogy in Pandemic Times.” Sustainability 14, no. 10 (May 23, 2022): 6343. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106343.

Zupic, Ivan, and Tomaž Čater. “Bibliometric Methods in Management and Organization.” Organizational Research Methods 18, no. 3 (July 22, 2015): 429–72. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428114562629.