Tracing the Evolution of Workplace E-Learning Transfer Research: A Bibliometric and Thematic Review

As workplace learning increasingly shifts toward digital platforms, the growing complexity of e-learning environments has generated renewed scholarly attention. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global research on workplace e-learning transfer published between 2003 and 2026. Using Scopus-indexed data and employing VOSviewer and Publish or Perish software, this review maps the intellectual structure of the field, identifies influential authors, journals, institutions, and countries, and uncovers thematic clusters and emerging research trends. The study analyses 236 documents over a 23-year period. The findings reveal five major clusters associated with workplace e-learning transfer: (1) learner and workplace context; (2) knowledge management and organisational learning; (3) educational technology and instructional design; (4) digital learning environments and social interaction; and (5) knowledge economy and dissemination. The results indicate a gradual shift from individual-level determinants of transfer toward more integrated technological, organisational, and socio-economic perspectives. In addition, this review highlights prevailing theoretical foundations, identifies underexplored frameworks, and proposes a structured research agenda to guide future empirical and theory-driven investigations in digitally mediated workplace learning contexts.