INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW AND BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS (2016–2026)

Background: The adoption of information systems (IS) within vocational education and training (VET) institutions has accelerated substantially over the past decade, driven by the dual imperatives of educational quality improvement and workforce alignment with the demands of Industry 4.0 and Society 5.0. Despite a growing body of empirical evidence, no comprehensive synthesis has yet examined the full scope of IS applications in vocational school and TVET contexts. Objectives: This study aims to: (1) map the publication landscape and bibliometric dynamics of IS research in vocational education (2016–2026); (2) identify dominant thematic clusters and research trajectories; (3) synthesise empirical evidence on IS implementation outcomes; (4) examine theoretical frameworks governing IS adoption and success; and (5) identify research gaps warranting future investigation. Methods: A systematic literature review (SLR) adhering to PRISMA 2020 guidelines was conducted across four complementary Scopus search queries, yielding a reduplicated corpus of 7,566 peer-reviewed articles (2016–2026). Bibliometric analyses encompassed publication trend analysis, journal performance mapping, geographic distribution profiling, keyword co-occurrence analysis, and thematic synthesis. Results: Publication volume grew from 202 articles (2016) to 1,355 (2024), a 571% increase. Six thematic clusters emerged: IS/MIS in Education (n = 3,039), AI and Machine Learning (n = 2,066), E-Learning and LMS (n = 1,762), TVET/Vocational IS (n = 1,521), Learning Analytics (n = 839), and Digital Transformation (n = 333). China, Indonesia, and the United States account for ~44% of institutional affiliations. The DeLone & McLean IS Success Model and TAM/UTAUT are the dominant theoretical frameworks. Conclusions: IS integration in vocational education has transitioned from basic infrastructure provision to sophisticated AI-mediated adaptive learning ecosystems. Critical gaps persist regarding longitudinal impact assessment, interoperability standards, and context-sensitive IS success metrics tailored to TVET competency frameworks.