AI in education research drives international and interdisciplinary collaboration

This study analyzes recent trends in AI in education research and their effects on global and interdisciplinary collaboration. Using bibliometric methods, we examined 599 peer-reviewed articles (January 2021–April 2025) from The Internet and Higher Education, British Journal of Educational Technology, and Computers & Education. Of these, 236 addressed AI. AI-focused studies were significantly more likely to feature international (χ² = 19.4, p < .001) and interdisciplinary (χ² = 23.8, p < .001) collaboration than non-AI work, particularly in BJET and C&E. Leading international partnerships involved the United States, Australia, and Hong Kong, with education–computer science the dominant interdisciplinary link. The findings show AI in education is a key driver of global, cross-disciplinary research networks.