Mapping the Intellectual Structure and Emerging Themes of Education 5.0: A Bibliometric and Abstract-Based Thematic Analysis

Abstract

This study examines research trends and emerging themes in Education 5.0 through a bibliometric and thematic document analysis. The data were collected from the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database using a structured search strategy within the SSCI and ESCI indexes. The search was limited to English-language articles published between 2016 and March 2026. Following the screening process, 57 articles directly related to the educational context were included in the analysis. Bibliometric analyses were conducted using VOSviewer to examine keyword clusters, country collaboration, temporal publication trends, research areas, and cited publications. In addition, the abstracts of the selected studies were analyzed to identify the most frequently occurring abstract terms and the emerging themes reflected in the abstracts. The findings suggest that Education 5.0 is a relatively new and emerging field that has shown a visible increase in publication activity after 2023.  The literature reflects a multidisciplinary structure situated at the intersection of education, computer science, engineering, and sustainability-related perspectives, while international collaboration remains limited and fragmented. The thematic analysis revealed six major themes: transformation of education, technology integration, competency and skills development, implementation challenges, sustainability, and institutional transformation. Overall, the study provides a systematic overview of the intellectual structure and thematic directions of Education 5.0 research and offers implications for future research in the field.