Leadership and Governance in Higher Education: A Systematic and Computational Review (2000–2025)

• In Event: Measured Response to Policy Changes

Abstract

Over the past two decades, higher education governance has been reshaped by neoliberal reforms that intensify tensions between autonomy, academic freedom, and state control—especially in contexts of democratic backsliding. This study conducts a systematic and computational review (PRISMA 2020, bibliometric analysis, and topic modeling via LDA) of empirical literature (2000–2025) on leadership, governance, and justice in higher education. Results reveal five dominant thematic clusters and a growing but fragmented field shaped by managerial and technocratic logics. Ethical and participatory dimensions remain underexplored, particularly in the Global South. The study exposes epistemic and geographical asymmetries in global research agendas and calls for repoliticizing governance debates through more plural, context-sensitive, and justice-oriented approaches.

Authors

• Andres Bernasconi, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile

• Francisca Beroíza Valenzuela, Centro de Estudios de Conflicto y Cohesión Social (COES)

• Daniela Véliz Calderón, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile