Trends and Developments in Engineering Education: A Bibliometric Analysis of Students' Competencies Research (2015-2024)

In this study, CiteSpace and VOSviewer bibliometrics software were used to analyze 257 papers on the topic of student competencies in engineering education included in the Core Collection of Web of Science databases from 2015 to 2024, revealing the research hotspots and development trends in this field. The study found that innovative research in engineering education mainly focuses on the areas of interdisciplinary integration, technology application and sustainable development, especially the application of project- based learning (PBL), augmented reality (AR) technology, and modeling tools have shown significant results in enhancing students' practical ability and innovative thinking. the extensive application of models such as BIM and LCSD further enhances students' professional skills in system analysis and engineering design. Meanwhile, the innovative curriculum design and the cultivation of innovative self-efficacy played an important role in the development of students' creativity. This study not only summarizes the hotspots of existing research, but also proposes future research directions in technology integration, global competency development and social responsibility education, providing a strong theoretical basis for the future development of engineering education.