Application of the English for Specific Purposes Approach in Teaching English to Business Administration Students at Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo University

Abstract

Introduction: English for Specific Purposes (ESP) has emerged as a learner-centered approach that tailors language instruction to the professional needs of students. However, its systematic implementation in Latin American universities, particularly for Business Administration programs, remains limited. Materials and methods: A bibliometric review was conducted using 239 documents indexed in Scopus (2000-2024). Performance analysis, co-occurrence keyword analysis with VOSviewer, citation analysis, and thematic mapping with bibliometrix were applied. Results: Publication output increased significantly after 2019, peaking at 38 in 2022. The most cited works include Hutchinson & Waters (1987; 612 citations) and Dudley-Evans & St. John (1998/2021; 298 citations). Four thematic clusters were identified: needs analysis and curriculum design (22 items), pedagogical skills (16 items), digital and online ESP (12 items), and teacher training (4 items)—the latter being severely under-researched. China (58), Malaysia (41), and Spain (32) lead production; Latin America is largely absent, with only one regional study among the top ten most cited. Discussion: The findings confirm that ESP for Business Administration is a consolidated and growing field, but geographical and thematic gaps persist. The peripheral position of teacher training in the co-occurrence network indicates that professional development for ESP instructors has been neglected despite its practical importance. The absence of Latin American research limits the applicability of existing findings to Ecuadorian contexts. Conclusions: ESPOCH University should conduct local needs analysis involving employers and alumni, design an ESP curriculum integrating business communication skills, implement teacher training programs, develop open digital educational resources, and publish regional case studies. Future research should employ quasi-experimental designs to measure the impact of ESP interventions.