Özet:

Higher education studies as an academic field is getting more and more attention. To examine the development of higher education studies as an academic field within the worldwide trends of expansion and massification in higher education is important to contribute to the recognition of the field. The purpose of this study is to review the literature to examine how higher education studies as an academic field has evolved within this expansion and massification trends both in the world and in Turkey. This study has two main sections: The first section describes the definition of higher education studies along with the field/discipline discussions, the important historical events, works, and developments, and highlights the present state of the field within a broad perspective. The second section examines the development of higher education studies as a field in Turkey via higher education studies focused activities. Finally, the possible contributions of defining and developing higher education studies as an academic field are explored. The literature review conducted within the scope of this study indicates that the development of higher education studies field and the increase in the higher education enrollment rates seem to coincide. The literature review highlights that the higher education studies field has emerged as a consequence of the increased enrollment demand and ever-changing expectations and needs. Another conclusion of the study is that the aim of the higher education studies field in the world and in Turkey is to improve higher education systems and contribute to social development.

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