Ocean Literacy and Blue Entrepreneurship in Vocational Education: A Systematic Bibliometric and Network Science Analysis

Abstract

Background The transformation of the global marine economy towards a blue economy requires a workforce integrating marine literacy, technical competence, and entrepreneurial capacity. Although ocean literacy research has developed rapidly in general education, its engagement with maritime vocational education, the blue economy framework, and entrepreneurship education remains unclear. Methods This study employs Systematic Literature Network Analysis (SLNA), integrating systematic review following PRISMA 2020 guidelines with bibliometric keyword co-occurrence analysis using VOSviewer. A Scopus database search (November 2025) yielded 302 records screened using structured PICO criteria. Bibliometric analysis of 202 articles (2008–2025) used modularity-based clustering (resolution = 1.0, minimum occurrence = 2) to identify thematic communities and temporal overlay analysis to map research evolution. Results Systematic screening identified 34 studies (11.3%) meeting multi-domain integration criteria, with very low representation for vocational contexts (0.33%), blue economy integration (1.99%), and entrepreneurship education (0.00%). Bibliometric analysis revealed eight thematic clusters with clear domain separation between blue economy and education. No vocational education or entrepreneurship keywords were found across 17 years of research (0 out of 147 terms), providing quantitative validation of persistent research gaps. The blue economy cluster exhibited structural isolation (modularity 0.78, path length 4.2) with minimal connectivity to established education clusters. Conclusions This study validates that the integration of ocean literacy, blue economy, and maritime vocational education represents a transformational gap requiring evidence-based frameworks for blue economy workforce preparation. The convergent SLNA methodology provides stronger gap validation than single-method approaches, demonstrating that these gaps are structurally embedded rather than transient, particularly in archipelagic countries such as Indonesia.