Mapping the Global Research Landscape of Clinical Supervision in Higher Education: A Decade-Long Bibliometric Analysis

Clinical supervision has gained increasing scholarly attention in higher education due to its role in professional development, instructional improvement, and quality assurance, yet a comprehensive mapping of its global research landscape remains limited. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of clinical supervision research indexed in the Scopus database from 2015 to 2025, using the search query TITLE-ABS-KEY (“clinical supervision”) and limiting results to English-language journal and review articles. A total of 4,076 publications were retrieved and analyzed using bibliometric indicators and science mapping techniques in VOSviewer (version 1.6.18) to examine publication growth, influential contributors, collaboration patterns, and thematic structures. The findings reveal a steady increase in research output over the decade, reflecting the field’s maturation, interdisciplinary engagement, and growing global relevance. Productivity and citation analyses identify leading countries, institutions, and influential authors shaping theory, empirical validation, and supervision models, while co-authorship networks highlight strengthening international collaboration. Keyword co-occurrence analysis indicates dominant themes in professional development, reflective practice, mentoring, and competency-based supervision, with emerging interest in digital tools, technology-enhanced practices, and cross-cultural approaches. The study provides a systematic and evidence-informed overview of the intellectual structure, thematic evolution, and practical relevance of clinical supervision research, offering insights to guide future scholarship, institutional policy, leadership strategies, and professional practice in higher education.