Weiguaju Nong

By Yanxuan Liu, Jian-Hong Ye and Weiguaju Nong

The integration of vocational education and training (VET) and lifelong learning (LLL) has garnered increasing scholarly interest over the past two decades. This study conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research published between 2005 and 2025, employing CiteSpace to examine 212 journal articles from the Web of Science-Core Collection and Scopus databases. This chapter outlines the intellectual structure of this research domain through publication trend analysis, keyword co-occurrence networks, cluster identification, and burst detection. The results indicate that: (1) temporal distribution of published papers reveals a clear three-stage evolution – the initial incubation stage (2005–2014), the rapid growth stage (2015–2017), and the consolidation and maturation stage (2018–2025); (2) research themes identify five core clusters, including qualifications framework, adult VET, labor market, institutional change and policy, and digital integration; (3) research evolution demonstrates three major paradigm shifts: from conceptual separation to systemic integration, from initial vocational training to adult and continuing education emphasis, and from exploring technological enablers to addressing contemporary demands such as digital skills and economic growth; (4) research frontiers highlight the transition from early interests in e-learning and policy to current emphases on digital skills, adult education, and economic growth. By systematically mapping the literature on VET–LLL integration, our study contributes to the existing knowledge base and provides valuable insights for both researchers and policymakers interested in advancing this field.

Part of the book: Construction of a Learning Society