Innovative Policies for Higher Education Financing in Response to the COVID-19 Crisis

This study analyzes innovative policies for higher education funding during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. It evaluates how these policies enhance financial sustainability, address existing inequalities in access, and how governments worldwide have tackled these issues post-pandemic. Using the PRISMA method for a systematic review and bibliometric analysis of research from 2019 to 2023, the study examines 143 papers from the Scopus database. A thematic network analysis via VOSviewer identifies key themes. The findings reveal the significant financial strain the pandemic placed on higher education systems, highlighting the need for innovative and diversified funding strategies. This study underscores the importance of balancing financial sustainability and equity, presenting challenges for governments to achieve stability while maintaining inclusivity. The originality lies in its comprehensive analysis of innovative funding policies, offering new insights into governmental responses to crisis-driven challenges in higher education funding.