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Review Article Volume 10 Issue 4
Trends and global collaborations in education research in fragile contexts related to the Middle East and North Africa
Ömer Cem Karacaoğlu, Berrin Güner
Received: July 06, 2026 | Published: July 22, 2026
Citation: Karacaoğlu OC, Güner B. Trends and global collaborations in education research in fragile contexts related to the Middle East and North Africa. Soc Int J. 2026;10(4):105-114. DOI: 10.15406/sij.2026.10.0046
Abstract
This study analyzes academic production in education in Africa and the Middle East (MENA) between 1972 and 2025 using bibliometric methods. 1,019 documents obtained from the Web of Science and Scopus databases were evaluated for publication trends, collaboration networks, thematic density, and citation impact. The findings indicate a significant increase in production after 2000 and an accelerated academic interest, particularly in the period after 2011. The most productive countries are the United States, Iran, and the United Kingdom, while countries like Lebanon stand out with their high citation rates. Keyword analyses revealed the prominence of concepts such as “education,” “public health,” “sustainability,” and “migration.” Conceptual cluster and network analyses revealed thematic diversity as well as emerging research areas such as digitalization, inequality, and youth. While the United States and the United Arab Emirates are prominent in international collaborations, the low representation of countries close to the region, such as Turkey, is noteworthy. The study reveals the multidimensional nature of education in the MENA region, intersecting with crises, development and public health, and offers strategic recommendations to guide future research.
Keywords: Middle East and North Africa (MENA), education, sustainability and migration, public health and disasters, migration and crisis
©2026 Karacaoğlu, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.