Mapping Educational Policy Research in Southeast Asia: A Bibliometric and Systematic Review of Equity and Access Issues

Abstract

Educational equity remains one of the most pressing challenges confronting policymakers across Southeast Asia, where socioeconomic stratification, geographic remoteness, and ethnic diversity create persistent barriers to universal access. Despite growing scholarly attention, no comprehensive bibliometric mapping of educational policy research focusing on equity and access in this region has been undertaken for the period 2010 to 2019. This study addresses that gap by combining bibliometric analysis with a systematic literature review of 247 peer-reviewed articles retrieved from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Using VOSviewer for co-occurrence and collaboration network visualization, Biblioshiny for thematic evolution mapping, and Publish or Perish for citation metrics, the analysis reveals a steady upward trajectory in publication output, with notable acceleration after 2014. Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia emerge as the most productive countries, while the National University of Singapore and University of Malaya lead institutional contributions. Keyword clustering identifies five dominant research fronts: inclusive education policy, decentralization and governance, rural access disparities, gender equity, and educational financing reform. The systematic review synthesizes findings across these thematic clusters and demonstrates that policy discourse has shifted from supply-side infrastructure concerns toward demand-side quality and participation issues. The study highlights significant research voids in cross-national comparative analyses and longitudinal policy impact evaluations. Implications for regional educational governance and equity-oriented reform are discussed.