Training Methods in Higher Education and the Workplace: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract The growing use of technology-supported training has increased the need to examine training methods in higher education and workplace settings more thoroughly. Although the literature includes many studies that report a growing use of technology-supported training, such as simulation-based and immersive approaches, it still presents important gaps because it remains fragmented. Many studies focus on isolated training methods, specific sectors, or single outcomes, which limits a broader understanding of how training has been designed, evaluated, and measured across different contexts. To address this gap, this systematic literature review analyzes research published between 2019 and 2024 on training methods in higher education and the workplace. Following the PRISMA framework, this review of the literature analyzes 36 articles to examine how training methods, learning theories, and evaluation practices are reported and combined in both higher education and workplace settings. The analysis suggests that constructivist, cognitivist, and behaviorist perspectives have commonly guided training design approaches, with limited hybridization across them, while assessment practices have varied across contexts and include different research methods and structured evaluation models. In addition, outcome measures have mainly focused on learning, performance, and skill development, while fewer studies have examined long-term impact. The findings highlight that these elements are not consistently aligned across studies. Therefore, from a technology and design education perspective, this review identifies patterns, implications for instructional design, variations, and gaps, providing a clearer account of how training has supported knowledge in action and the integration of theory and practice, providing an integrated overview of how training methods have been designed and evaluated across technology-supported higher education and workplace settings.