Bibliometric analysis of cross discipline education in higher education based on WoS database

Abstract

Interdisciplinary education is a core direction in the reform of contemporary business higher education. This study aims to systematically map the development trajectory, global landscape, knowledge foundation, and emerging trends of interdisciplinary business education research through a bibliometric approach. Based on the Web of Science Core Collection database, this study conducts a bibliometric analysis of literature on interdisciplinary business education from 1967 to 2024. Using tools such as CiteSpace, the analysis encompasses multiple dimensions, including temporal publication trends, contributions by countries/regions and institutions, journal co-citation, author collaboration and co-citation, and keyword co-occurrence and clustering, employing both quantitative and visualization methods. (1)Publication output has shown significant temporal growth, divided into three phases: low output (1967–1999), steady growth (2000–2009), and rapid expansion (2010–2024), indicating the field’s transition from a niche to a mainstream focus. (2) Global research exhibits a multipolar pattern: the United States maintains a dominant position, European countries provide stable support, and the Asia-Pacific region emerges as a new growth pole; large public university systems stand out in academic output and collaboration networks. (3) The knowledge foundation is robust, rooted in theoretical cornerstones from journals like Academy of Management Review and Journal of Marketing, while also addressing cutting-edge topics such as technological innovation and sustainability. (4) Research themes have evolved from internal capability development to external network integration and from economic performance orientation to social value co-creation, forming an “umbrella” knowledge structure centered on “innovation and management” and radiating toward frontier areas such as “social media and gig economy” and “business ethics and sustainability.”This study is the first to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of interdisciplinary business education research spanning nearly six decades, clearly delineating its developmental trajectory and knowledge structure. The findings provide scholars with a macro-level map to quickly grasp field dynamics, identify core literature, and explore collaboration opportunities, while offering educational institutions empirical evidence and decision-making references to optimize resource allocation and advance interdisciplinary education practices.