Title: A bibliometric retrospection of talent development from the lens of metaverse

Authors: Parikshit Joshi; Anshu Singh; Priyanka Rastogi; Pooja Joshi

Addresses: Department of HR&OB, Fortune Institute of International Business, Plot No. 5, Rao Tula Ram Marg, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi, 110057, India ' Amity Business School, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Sector 125, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201301, India ' Department of Business Administration, MJP Rohilkhand University, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, 243006, India ' Department of Commerce, Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand, 263002, India

Abstract: This study explores the application of the metaverse in talent development using a bibliometric analysis (BA) methodology. The primary objectives are to evaluate the current state of literature, identify key thematic clusters, and highlight emerging trends in the field. Data for this analysis were sourced exclusively from the Scopus database, resulting in 851 relevant studies. The analysis was conducted in two phases: generating a pool of usable studies through the PRISMA protocol and analysing the data to uncover intellectual, conceptual, and social structures. Key findings include the identification of prominent authors, articles, and journals shaping the field. 'Rehabilitation', 'simulation-based training', and 'virtual reality training' emerged as the most prominent themes under the intellectual and conceptual structure. Limitations of the study include the reliance on a single database and the use of only BA methodology, suggesting future research could benefit from a mixed-method approach incorporating systematic literature review (SLR). This study contributes to the human resource development (HRD) literature by providing a comprehensive overview of the intellectual landscape and identifying promising areas for future exploration.

Keywords: metaverse; talent development; rehabilitation; simulation-based training; bibliometric analysis; virtual reality training.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEB.2026.150465

International Journal of Electronic Business, 2026 Vol.21 No.1, pp.1 - 27

Received: 06 Oct 2023
Accepted: 06 Aug 2024
Published online: 15 Dec 2025 *

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