EXAMINING LEADERSHIP PRACTICES FOR FOSTERING INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION IN STEM EDUCATION: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS

This bibliometric analysis examines leadership practices aimed at fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in STEM education. Recognizing the critical need for effective collaboration in STEM to enhance innovation and educational quality, this study addresses a gap in understanding the impact of various leadership styles on cross-disciplinary efforts. The methodology involves a comprehensive analysis of research articles from 2004 to 2024 using the Scopus database. Key metrics, including absorption patterns, keyword trends, and co-author researcher networks, were analysed to identify significantly influential leadership practices. The results indicate a notable shift in research trends of leadership practices for fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration in STEM education from 2004 to 2024, based on SCOPUS data. The early period (2004-2011) saw few publications, suggesting a lack of recognition for this collaboration. However, since approximately 2012, there has been a significant increase, reflecting growing awareness of the importance of leadership practices in nurturing cross-disciplinary collaboration. Although peaking around 2019-2020 with over 200 documents annually, there was a decline towards 2024. Top researchers such as Hallinger, P. and others contributed evenly, suggesting a collaborative research environment. The dominance of social sciences in document distribution reflects the primary focus on educational theory and practice in STEM collaboration, with significant contributions from other fields such as psychology and business. The United States' global dominance, along with research centres in Malaysia and South Africa, indicates increasing influence in this field. In conclusion, this study highlights the need for further research and continued collaboration in understanding and improving leadership practices for fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in STEM education. It also emphasizes the importance of regional and global cooperation in formulating holistic and effective STEM education strategies and solutions to address the complex challenges of the 21st century.