Abstract
The rapid advancement of virtual reality (VR) has significantly transformed engineering education by enabling immersive, interactive, and practice-oriented learning environments. However, the expanding and multidisciplinary nature of VR research has created a need for a comprehensive mapping of its intellectual structure and emerging trends. This study aims to analyze the development of VR research in engineering education through a Scopus-based bibliometric analysis. A total of 292 publications published between 2020 and 2025 were retrieved from the Scopus database and analyzed using VOSviewer through co-occurrence, network, overlay, and density visualization techniques. The findings reveal a steady increase in publication output, with engineering and computer science representing the dominant research areas. Major research clusters revolve around virtual reality, engineering education, immersive learning, simulation, e-learning, and learning systems, while recent trends increasingly emphasize artificial intelligence, digital twins, Industry 4.0, and the metaverse. The intellectual evolution demonstrates a shift from technology-oriented studies toward learner-centered and industry-relevant applications. This study provides a comprehensive knowledge map that identifies dominant themes, conceptual relationships, and emerging research directions, offering valuable insights for researchers, educators, and curriculum developers in advancing digitally transformed engineering education.
Keywords - Virtual Reality, Engineering Education, Bibliometric Analysis, Immersive Learning, Metaverse