Chat GPT in Higher Education: An Analysis of Research Trends and Themes

As it continues to advance and gain popularity, ChatGPT has made its first steps into the field of education, especially higher education. This chapter presents a literature review that digs into the integration of ChatGPT’s integration in higher education by exploring the relevant trends, topics, and implications it holds for the future of learning and teaching. Thus, we divided our findings into two sections. In the descriptive analysis section, we examined the timeline coverage and geographical distribution of the academic work. Moreover, we investigated the top authors and journals in the field, with an emphasis on the most widely utilized methodology and the fields of higher education that these studies address. In addition, we used VosViewer visual representation to identify the most frequently used terms and their relationships, which adds depth to our study. Aside from the descriptive study, we performed a thematic analysis to uncover the underlying themes in the chosen literature. Four major topics emerge as essential areas of focus: the Benefits of ChatGPT in higher education, the threats that ChatGPT poses to Higher Education, the constraints of ChatGPT in Higher Education, and the strategies to address its limitations and overcome its challenges. Finally, we identified limitations and future study areas that might motivate future research and assist higher education institutions, policymakers, and academics in realizing ChatGPT’s promise to improve learning and teaching in higher education.