Minimizing Doctoral Attrition: Insights to realize the Education 5.0 (E.D. 5.0) vision for STEM fields.

Doctoral Attrition (DA) is the phenomenon of graduate students discontinuing Ph.D. studies due to individual or combined factors, such as lack of academic integration, insufficient supervisor support, immense publication pressure, gender bias, burnout, and inadequate financial assistance. DA rates vary from 25-40% in Science, 36% in Engineering, and 57% globally. As current pedagogical landscapes evolve to incorporate Education 5.0 (E.D. 5.0) goals, it becomes imperative to support and provide resources to graduate students that foster positive Ph.D. experiences, preparing them to meet Industry 5.0 (I.D. 5.0) competencies post-graduation. Using bibliometric analysis based on our hypotheses-derived Research Questions (RQs) on Scopus, we map out key factors and attributes perceived as most valuable for successful Ph.D. journeys over the past decade, particularly in STEM fields. Recognizing these gaps will help (i) improve student dynamics, (ii) empower personalized learning to meet E.D. 5.0 objectives, and (iii) promote best practices for graduate student success.