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Science Mapping of Lifelong Learning in the Digital Age: Current Trends and Future Prospects

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Title: Science Mapping of Lifelong Learning in the Digital Age: Current Trends and Future Prospects
Language: English
Authors: Hui Li (ORCID 0009-0002-5181-2730), Ziting Suo (ORCID 0009-0009-9129-895X), Changhe Wu (ORCID 0009-0001-4602-6332), Walton Wider (ORCID 0000-0002-0369-4082), Muhammad Ashraf Fauzi (ORCID 0000-0003-2137-4602), Hao Wu (ORCID 0009-0004-9853-8796), Sharmin Kutty Sivaraman (ORCID 0009-0001-4080-3858)
Source: European Journal of Education. 2026 61(2).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Information Analyses
Descriptors: Lifelong Learning, Educational Trends, Electronic Learning, Digital Literacy, Faculty Development, Educational Innovation, Equal Education, Individualized Instruction, Privacy, Microcredentials, Bibliometrics
DOI: 10.1111/ejed.70655
ISSN: 0141-8211
1465-3435
Abstract: This study maps the intellectual landscape of lifelong learning in the digital age and identifies directions for future research. A bibliometric science-mapping approach was applied to 969 English-language journal articles indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection up to 2024. Using VOSviewer 1.6.20, bibliographic coupling was employed to identify major thematic clusters and research linkages. At the same time, co-word analysis of author keywords was utilised to examine the conceptual structure and emerging topics. The bibliographic coupling results reveal three dominant clusters: digital competence and online learning in lifelong education, governance and ethical frameworks in digital lifelong learning and technological integration and pedagogical innovation. Co-word analysis identifies four research fronts: the digital transformation of learning models, the development of digital literacy across the life course, faculty development and institutional challenges and the evaluation of learning effectiveness in digital environments. These clusters highlight persistent tensions between innovation and equity, personalisation and privacy and the rapid proliferation of micro-credentials and their reliable recognition. The findings underscore the need for coordinated policy frameworks, robust institutional governance and ethically informed technology design to support inclusive and sustainable digital lifelong learning. The study also outlines avenues for future work, including multi-database and multilingual extensions, mixed-method triangulation and closer linkage between bibliometric patterns and real-world learning outcomes.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1507093
Database: ERIC
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hui+Li%22">Hui Li</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5181-2730">0009-0002-5181-2730</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ziting+Suo%22">Ziting Suo</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9129-895X">0009-0009-9129-895X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Changhe+Wu%22">Changhe Wu</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4602-6332">0009-0001-4602-6332</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Walton+Wider%22">Walton Wider</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0369-4082">0000-0002-0369-4082</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Muhammad+Ashraf+Fauzi%22">Muhammad Ashraf Fauzi</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2137-4602">0000-0003-2137-4602</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hao+Wu%22">Hao Wu</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9853-8796">0009-0004-9853-8796</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sharmin+Kutty+Sivaraman%22">Sharmin Kutty Sivaraman</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4080-3858">0009-0001-4080-3858</externalLink>)
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Lifelong+Learning%22">Lifelong Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Trends%22">Educational Trends</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electronic+Learning%22">Electronic Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Digital+Literacy%22">Digital Literacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Faculty+Development%22">Faculty Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Innovation%22">Educational Innovation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Equal+Education%22">Equal Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Individualized+Instruction%22">Individualized Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Privacy%22">Privacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microcredentials%22">Microcredentials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bibliometrics%22">Bibliometrics</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1111/ejed.70655
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  Data: 0141-8211<br />1465-3435
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: This study maps the intellectual landscape of lifelong learning in the digital age and identifies directions for future research. A bibliometric science-mapping approach was applied to 969 English-language journal articles indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection up to 2024. Using VOSviewer 1.6.20, bibliographic coupling was employed to identify major thematic clusters and research linkages. At the same time, co-word analysis of author keywords was utilised to examine the conceptual structure and emerging topics. The bibliographic coupling results reveal three dominant clusters: digital competence and online learning in lifelong education, governance and ethical frameworks in digital lifelong learning and technological integration and pedagogical innovation. Co-word analysis identifies four research fronts: the digital transformation of learning models, the development of digital literacy across the life course, faculty development and institutional challenges and the evaluation of learning effectiveness in digital environments. These clusters highlight persistent tensions between innovation and equity, personalisation and privacy and the rapid proliferation of micro-credentials and their reliable recognition. The findings underscore the need for coordinated policy frameworks, robust institutional governance and ethically informed technology design to support inclusive and sustainable digital lifelong learning. The study also outlines avenues for future work, including multi-database and multilingual extensions, mixed-method triangulation and closer linkage between bibliometric patterns and real-world learning outcomes.
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  Data: 2026
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      – SubjectFull: Electronic Learning
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