Global Scholarship Funding, Educational Access, and Applicant Barriers: Structured Comparative Evidence Dataset
Description
This dataset provides a structured and reusable evidence layer derived from the research archive supporting the PRISMA-ScR scoping review, “Scholarship Funding Systems, Educational Access, and Applicant Barriers in Developing Economies.” It brings together evidence across four geographic streams: Africa; India; Latin America; and South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. The dataset covers scholarship and funding systems, educational access, applicant barriers, research funding, digital access, student mobility, and related structural evidence recorded in the published master data extraction table. Release 1.0 contains 62 structured evidence extraction records linked to 57 reference records. The dataset is intended as a comparative evidence resource covering selected developing economies across multiple regions. It does not claim exhaustive statistical coverage of every developing economy. Reference years, geographic coverage, source types, and evidence density vary across observations and are retained as part of the evidence record. Source provenance, evidence strength, limitations, and identified data gaps are preserved. Missing evidence is not estimated or fabricated. This dataset is distinct from the associated review paper and its complete research archive. The paper provides the research synthesis and interpretation, while this dataset provides a structured and reusable evidence-data layer derived from the underlying research archive. Associated research archive: OSF DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/T63E4. A machine-facing representation of this evidence layer is intended for parallel publication through Hugging Face.
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Steps to reproduce
The dataset was prepared from the published research archive supporting the associated PRISMA-ScR scoping review. The Master Data Extraction Table was used as the primary structured extraction source, with the Master Reference Library used to establish reference-level provenance. Evidence records were retained with their original study/reference identifiers, geographic classification, evidence fields, findings, limitations, and evidence-strength information. The resulting records were organised into a consolidated comparative dataset and linked to the reference register. Data gaps and methodological qualifications identified in the regional evidence dossiers were retained separately rather than replaced with estimates. Reference years and geographic units were not silently harmonised where the underlying evidence used different definitions or periods. Quality control checked record counts, Study IDs, Ref IDs, required fields, reference-register coverage, and consistency between the source extraction workbook and the generated dataset. Release 1.0 contains 62 structured evidence extraction records and 57 reference records.