Intellectual Evolution of Circular Economy Research in Sustainable Universities: A Bibliometric and Science Mapping Analysis
Abstract
The intensifying global environmental crisis has positioned the circular economy (CE) as a regenerative alternative to the linear economic model, with universities serving as pivotal agents for embedding sustainability principles across research, education, operations, and community engagement. Despite growing interest, the scholarly landscape at the intersection of CE and sustainable universities remains fragmented. This study addresses this gap through a comprehensive bibliometric review of 233 empirical journal articles retrieved from Scopus (2003–June 2026). Employing PRISMA-guided screening, data harmonization via Bibliomagika, and analytical tools including Biblioshiny and VOSviewer, the research examined publication trends, collaboration networks, intellectual structures, and thematic clusters. Results indicate exponential growth in publications since 2018, peaking in 2024–2025, reflecting heightened academic engagement aligned with global sustainability agendas. Collaboration networks reveal highly interconnected international communities, with prominent hubs in Europe and Asia facilitating knowledge exchange. Co-citation and bibliographic coupling analyses uncover an interdisciplinary intellectual foundation linking sustainability science, environmental management, and higher education studies. Keyword co-occurrence mapping identifies four major thematic clusters: educational and sustainability dimensions, operational resource recovery, institutional waste management and governance, and technological innovation with life cycle approaches. These findings position universities as living laboratories for circular practices while highlighting opportunities for deeper cross-regional collaboration and longitudinal impact studies. The review offers scholars, policymakers, and university administrators a structured roadmap to address research gaps and accelerate CE integration in higher education. By synthesizing evolutionary patterns, collaborative dynamics, and emerging frontiers, this study contributes to strengthening the theoretical and practical foundations for sustainable university transitions.