Information competence for higher education during 1998-2023: A bibliometric analysis from Scopus data

Abstract

    In the context of the rapid development of information technology, the need to enhance information literacy in higher education has become increasingly urgent. Improving information literacy helps lecturers and students effectively utilize various information resources and online learning tools. It also enables them to participate more fully in scientific research activities. This study examines the development of scientific publications related to information literacy in higher education. It focuses on publication volume, growth patterns, and research trends during the period 1998-2023. The authors employed a bibliometric analysis approach using specialized software tools for data processing and visualization. Specifically, VOSviewer and Biblioshiny (RStudio) were utilized in the analysis. A total of 279 publications on information literacy in higher education, spanning from 1998 to 2023, were retrieved from the Scopus database for analysis. Several notable findings emerged from the analysis: Publication output on this topic peaked in 2021 and 2022; several top-ranked Scopus-indexed journals were identified as prominent publication venues on this topic; keyword analysis revealed that research themes in this field have centered on information literacy; the analysis also identified the countries and institutions that contributed the most publications on this topic. These findings indicate that research on the information literacy of university faculty is attracting growing interest. This comprehensive bibliometric analysis provides a foundation for guiding further studies on the topic. It also assists educational administrators in formulating effective strategies to enhance information literacy in higher education.