Trends and Challenges in the Use of Simulation Technologies in Electronics Education in Nigeria: A Bibliometric and Content Analysis Study

As the global educational landscape shifts towards Industry 4.0, the integration of simulation
technologies in electronics education has become a strategic necessity. This study employs a dual
methodology approach bibliometric mapping via VOSviewer and qualitative content analysis to
evaluate the trajectory of simulation adoption in Nigerian higher education between 2000 and
2025. Analysing 185 peer-reviewed articles, the study identifies a significant implementation gap:
whilst research output increased by 45 per cent following the COVID-19 pandemic, actual
laboratory integration remains hindered by systemic socio-technical barriers, including erratic
power supply, prohibitive software licensing costs, and lecturer resistance. The study proposes the
Hybrid-Simulation Instructional Model (HSIM), a practical, context-sensitive framework designed
to overcome infrastructure deficits in Nigerian polytechnics and technical colleges.

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