Exploring E-Learning Publication Trends in Moroccan Universities: A Bibliometric Analysis and Forward-Looking Perspectives

This chapter identifies the current dynamics in the e-learning literature, focusing on the Moroccan context, to provide a research overview and suggest further research directions. The Web of Science database was used to retrieve 269 publications that were relevant to the topic in educational studies. Biblioshiny, for the Bibliometrix R package, is used to conduct this bibliometric analysis by decoding the results into several visual representations. We recognize the most influential authors, countries, and institutions and their significance within the current scientific literature. Key findings highlight the growing interest and investment in e-learning initiatives, the emergence of interdisciplinary research collaborations, and the prominence of topics such as e-learning during the Covid-19 pandemic, e-assessment and artificial intelligence and big data applied to e-learning, while also identifying areas for future research and development, namely intercultural development and international collaboration. Limitations include the reliance on the Web of Science, which may not capture all relevant publications, and a focus on English-language papers, which potentially overlooks important research in other languages. Overall, this bibliometric analysis provides valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and researchers seeking to understand and advance e-learning initiatives in Morocco and beyond.