๐Ÿง‘๐Ÿผโ€๐Ÿ’ป Research - December 9, 2025

The Landscape of Medical Education Internationalization in Iran Through a Scientometrics Lens.

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โšก Quick Summary

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the internationalization of medical education in Iran, revealing a significant upward trend in research outputs over the past decade. Key findings include an average citation impact of 2.32 per publication and emerging themes such as artificial intelligence and digital entrepreneurship.

๐Ÿ” Key Details

  • ๐Ÿ“Š Total Publications Analyzed: 94
  • ๐Ÿ“ˆ Research Trend: Significant growth over the past decade
  • ๐Ÿ’ฌ Average Citations: 2.32 per publication
  • ๐ŸŒ Key Themes: Internationalisation, faculty mobility, higher education
  • ๐Ÿš€ Emerging Topics: Artificial intelligence, digital entrepreneurship
  • ๐Ÿซ Leading Institutions: Tehran and Kerman universities of Medical Sciences
  • ๐Ÿค International Collaborations: Only 4.3% of publications

๐Ÿ”‘ Key Takeaways

  • ๐Ÿ“ˆ Research on medical education internationalization in Iran is on the rise.
  • ๐ŸŒ Global partnerships are crucial for enhancing research impact.
  • ๐Ÿ’ก Interdisciplinary collaborations can strengthen research outputs.
  • ๐Ÿ“š Focus on high-impact journals is necessary for greater visibility.
  • ๐Ÿ” Thematic areas are evolving, with a focus on technology and entrepreneurship.
  • ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ Future research should integrate Iranian initiatives into global networks.
  • ๐Ÿ“Š Citation metrics indicate a need for increased academic engagement.

๐Ÿ“š Background

The internationalization of medical education is increasingly recognized as vital for equipping healthcare professionals to tackle global health challenges. In Iran, this initiative has gained strategic importance, yet a systematic understanding of research trends in this area has been lacking. This study aims to fill that gap by quantifying research outputs and identifying key contributors and thematic developments.

๐Ÿ—’๏ธ Study

This scientometric study utilized data from international databases such as PubMed and Scopus, analyzing publications without time limitations. The researchers employed validated strategies to remove duplicate records and applied scientometric indicators to assess publication growth, citation impact, and collaboration networks. Data visualization was conducted using VOSviewer to map co-authorship and thematic networks.

๐Ÿ“ˆ Results

The analysis of 94 publications revealed a notable upward trend in research activity over the last decade. The average number of citations per publication was found to be 2.32. The core research areas identified included internationalisation, faculty mobility, and higher education, while emerging topics such as artificial intelligence and digital entrepreneurship were also highlighted. Notably, Tehran and Kerman universities of Medical Sciences were identified as leading contributors, although international collaborations represented only 4.3% of the total publications.

๐ŸŒ Impact and Implications

The findings of this study underscore the growing interest in the internationalization of medical education in Iran, yet they also highlight the need for enhanced global partnerships and interdisciplinary collaborations. By prioritizing publications in high-impact journals and integrating Iranian initiatives into international networks, the field can significantly increase its global influence. This research serves as a foundation for future studies aimed at addressing existing gaps and fostering cross-regional comparisons.

๐Ÿ”ฎ Conclusion

The study illustrates the nascent stage of research on the internationalization of medical education in Iran, with promising growth potential. Strengthening collaborations and focusing on impactful research will be essential for advancing this field. As we look to the future, it is crucial to integrate local initiatives into the broader global discourse on medical education.

๐Ÿ’ฌ Your comments

What are your thoughts on the internationalization of medical education in Iran? How can we further enhance global collaborations in this field? ๐Ÿ’ฌ Share your insights in the comments below or connect with us on social media:

The Landscape of Medical Education Internationalization in Iran Through a Scientometrics Lens.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The internationalization of medical education is essential for preparing healthcare professionals to address global health challenges. In Iran, while this initiative has become a strategic priority, a systematic understanding of research trends in this area remains elusive. Therefore, we quantified the trend of research outputs in this domain by identifying publication trends, influential contributors, and key thematic developments.
METHODS: This scientometric study was conducted based on a systematic analysis through the international databases PubMed and Scopus, without time limitation. Using validated strategies, duplicate records were removed, and eligible publications were analyzed using scientometric indicators: publication growth, citation impact, and collaboration networks. Data visualization was performed with VOSviewer to map co-authorship and thematic networks.
RESULTS: A total of 94 publications were analyzed, revealing a significant upward trend in research over the past decade. The average number of citations per publication was 2.32. Thematically, the core research areas included “internationalisation,” “faculty mobility,” and “higher education,” while emerging topics highlighted “artificial intelligence” and “digital entrepreneurship.” Tehran and Kerman universities of Medical Sciences emerged as leading contributors, although international collaborations accounted for only 4.3% of the publications.
CONCLUSION: While research on the internationalisation of medical education in Iran is growing, it is still in its nascent and developmental stage. Strengthening global partnerships, enhancing interdisciplinary collaborations, and prioritizing publications in high-impact journals are critical to increasing the field’s global influence. Future research should integrate Iranian initiatives into international networks and focus on cross-regional comparisons to address the existing gaps.

Author: [‘Shabani EA’, ‘Peykari N’]

Journal: Med J Islam Repub Iran

Citation: Shabani EA and Peykari N. The Landscape of Medical Education Internationalization in Iran Through a Scientometrics Lens. The Landscape of Medical Education Internationalization in Iran Through a Scientometrics Lens. 2025; 39:74. doi: 10.47176/mjiri.39.74

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