Dissertations on Higher or Professional Arts Education in Spanish Universities: A Bibliometric Analysis

The aim of this study is to characterise the scientific production in higher arts education, to identify the universities with the highest production, the most researched topics, the directors of the theses, as well as the gender distribution of authors and directors. The production of doctoral theses in the period 1987-2021 was analysed from the TESEO database, identifying 387 doctoral theses, their distribution by university, number of directors and co-directors, and gender distribution of authors and directors. In addition, the Bradford areas of production by university were identified. The University Complutense of Madrid is the institution with the highest production of theses in higher arts education, being in general larger universities the ones with the highest production. Theses predominantly centered on music and performing arts, with less attention to plastic and visual arts. Women are more present than men as authors and directors. The importance of higher arts education as a field of research in Spain is highlighted and the need to promote thematic diversity and equal gender participation in scientific production is evident. The observed decrease in production since 2015 suggests the need to continue fostering research in higher arts education and to support researchers in this area.