From Self-Directed Digital Learning to Human Resource Development: Tracing the Knowledge Attainment Journey through a Bibliometric Lens

Self-directed learning has gained considerable importance in digital learning environments especially in the post pandemic era. As learning becomes more spontaneous, learner centered and technology mediated, this ability to independently plan, manage and evaluate their own learning process has become critical for academic success, professional development and organizational competitiveness. Despite this, research on SDL in digital learning contexts remains fragmented and under researched. Also, its implications for employee development and organizational learning require scholarly attention. The present study has adopted a bibliometric approach to map the thematic evolution, intellectual structure and research landscape of SDL in digital learning environments. 2268 articles retrieved from the Scopus database through the PRISMA framework, were analyzed through Biblioshiny (Bibliometrix R) and VOSviewer software. Productivity analysis, co-authorship analysis, co-citation analysis, thematic evolution, keyword co-occurrence analysis, and thematic mapping were conducted to identify major research trends, influential contributors, and emerging themes. Additionally, a subset of 109 studies was examined to explore the integration of SDL with employee development, workplace learning, and human resource development. The findings reveal an exponential increase in SDL-related research particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. Thematic analysis indicates the emergence of dominant subthemes like self-regulated learning, learner autonomy, motivation, metacognition, online learning, mobile learning, and e-learning. Co-citation analysis demonstrates that the field is theoretically grounded in social-cognitive, motivational, and technology-enhanced learning perspectives. Further analysis also revealed that more studies integrate SDL with workplace learning, continuous professional development and lifelong learning. The study finds that SDL is being positioned more as a strategic capability that can encourage continuous learning, workforce agility, and professional competence in technology-driven workspaces. These are quite relevant to the lifelong learning demands associated with emerging Industry 5.0 contexts.