Review of Industry 4.0 Competencies and Virtual Learning Environment in Engineering Education

Universities all over the world are considering the utilization of virtual learning environments (VLEs) in engineering education to meet the demands of Industry 4.0 for future employment. A systematic review was conducted to display the current state-of-knowledge in strengthening educational competencies, tackling the challenges of Industry 4.0. This article was designed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and the Joanna Briggs Institute Method for Systematic Review. Articles published from 2004 to 2019 were sought from six electronic databases: SCOPUS, Science Direct, Emerald Insight, Ebscohost, ERIC, and IEEE. All papers were critically appraised, and quality assessment was performed. Eight studies were selected for potential eligibility. Data were extracted and synthesized using a narrative juxtaposition to provide a consolidated, comprehensive, and summarized evidence. Compared with physical or other types of online learning, the review recognizes the effectiveness of VLEs in enhancing knowledge and cross-functional skills needed for real-world industry settings. Therefore, it is paramount that engineering education courses required to be integrated with VLE targeting the development of competencies towards Industry 4.0.