Mapping the Internationalization of Higher Education in Latin America: Old Habits, New Themes

Abstract

This article presents the first comprehensive bibliometric mapping of research on the internationalization of higher education in Latin America. Drawing on 124 peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2024 across Web of Science, Scopus, and SciELO, it analyzes trends in authorship, collaboration, gender, thematic focus, and geographic distribution. Findings reveal a fragmented but expanding field shaped by tensions between global adaptation and regional counter-models rooted in epistemic justice, solidarity, and South–South cooperation. A thematic map identifies both dominant policy-oriented clusters and emerging critical perspectives that challenge neoliberal and colonial frameworks. The study exposes persistent asymmetries in academic visibility and access, while also highlighting the prominent role of female scholars. By integrating multilingual sources and emphasizing conceptual heterogeneity, this article contributes to reframing internationalization as a contested, plural, and politically charged field. It calls for more inclusive frameworks and regionally grounded research agendas to strengthen Latin America's contribution to global higher education debates.