Decoding TVET: A Decade of Research Trends Revealed Through Topic Modeling

Abstract

This study uses topic modeling of Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) to analyze the evolving landscape of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) research from 2013 to 2023, using metadata from 298 Web of Science-indexed articles. The analysis reveals five main research themes, Skills Development and Employability, TVET Policy and Governance, Technology Integration in TVET, TVET Teacher Training and Competencies, and Gender and Equity in TVET. In particular, technology integration exhibited the most significant growth, increasing from 19.5% prevalence in 2013 to 27.0% in 2023 with a marked acceleration after 2019. At the same time, the study on skills development and employment decreased from 28.3% to 21.6%, suggesting a shift toward more integrated approaches. The study also identified emerging intersections between themes, particularly in the integration of technology and skills which increased from 5.2% in 2013 to 15.5% in 2023. These trends reflect the responsiveness of TVET research to global socio-economic and technological changes, highlighting a growing recognition of the interconnected nature of TVET challenges. The findings underscore the need for adaptive TVET systems that incorporate digital competencies and address the complex interaction between skills development, policy and equity in an increasingly technology-driven educational landscape.