European Union values in teaching and learning in higher education: a bibliometric analysis

This study explores how the fundamental values of the European Union (EU), namely human rights, freedom, human dignity, the rule of law, democracy, and equality, are addressed in higher education through a bibliometric analysis. Drawing on 321 documents indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection, the study analyses publication trends, assesses the performance of authors, sources, and documents, and examines collaborative and conceptual structures within the field. Conceptually, the study situates EU values pedagogy within the broader literature on values education and citizenship education in higher education. The findings reveal a growing body of research, highlight thematic imbalances, such as the relative underrepresentation of human dignity and the rule of law, and point to limited international collaboration. Through the mapping of this fragmented and multidisciplinary field, the study provides a structured overview of research on democratic education and EU values pedagogy, offering guidance for future scholarly work.