Generative Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: A Keyword Cluster Analysis

Authors

  • Abdulrahman Saad Ghorm Allah AlGhamdi Master’s Researcher, Faculty of Education, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia
  • Dr. Basem bin Rafe AlShehri Associate Professor of Educational Technology, Faculty of Education, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia
  • Prof. Dr. Waleed Salim Alhalafawy Professor of Educational Technology, Faculty of Education, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33193/JALHSS.131.2026.1730

Keywords:

Generative Artificial Intelligence, Higher Education, Bibliometric Analysis, Cluster Analysis

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the intellectual structure and global research trends related to the use of generative artificial intelligence in higher education institutions by identifying interrelationships and conducting a keyword cluster analysis. To achieve the study’s objectives, a bibliometric approach was employed to analyze scholarly publications indexed in the Web of Science database from 2018 to 2025. Rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria resulted in a sample of (442) scientific articles, which were analyzed and visually mapped using VOSviewer and Microsoft Power BI. The three-level keyword analysis, comprising (1526) keywords, revealed a high concentration of scholarly output around specific concepts, with the matching keywords distributed across six thematic clusters. “Higher education” was the most frequently occurring keyword, appearing (165) times (10.33%) with a Total Link Strength - TLS of (540), followed by “ChatGPT” and “artificial intelligence” Furthermore, the analysis of seven thematic clusters revealed a significant variation in researchers’ interests: author keywords focused on direct practical and pedagogical challenges, such as academic integrity and assessment, whereas Keywords Plus, distributed across six thematic clusters, focused on conceptual models and behavioral theories, such as perceptions and the Technology Acceptance Model. The study concludes that research in this field has moved beyond the stage of initial exploration and technological fascination toward institutional evaluation, the consideration of ethical and pedagogical challenges, and an understanding of the behavioral drivers underlying the adoption of these technologies.

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Published

2026-06-12

How to Cite

Abdulrahman Saad Ghorm Allah AlGhamdi, Dr. Basem bin Rafe AlShehri, & Prof. Dr. Waleed Salim Alhalafawy. (2026). Generative Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: A Keyword Cluster Analysis. Journal of Arts, Literature, Humanities and Social Sciences, (131), 751–773. https://doi.org/10.33193/JALHSS.131.2026.1730

Issue

No. 131 (2026)

Section

المقالات

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Copyright (c) 2026 عبدالرحمن سعد غرم الله الغامدي، د. باسم بن رافع الشهري، أ.د. وليد بن سالم الحلفاوي

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