Developing a Competency-Based Assessment Kit for Malaysian Culinary Arts Vocational Education: A PRISMA-Guided Systematic Review and CiteSpace Knowledge Mapping Analysis

Abstract

The transformation of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) toward competency-based education has intensified the need for standardized assessment systems that accurately measure learners' occupational competence and align with evolving industry expectations. Despite the implementation of competency-based curricula within Malaysian TVET, the development of comprehensive assessment instruments for Culinary Arts education remains fragmented and lacks empirical synthesis. This study aimed to systematically map the global knowledge structure of competency-based assessment research and establish an evidence-based foundation for developing a Competency-Based Assessment Kit for Malaysian Culinary Arts Vocational Education. A systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, with publications retrieved from the Scopus and Web of Science databases covering the period from 2015 to 2026. Following the screening and eligibility processes, 56 peer-reviewed publications were included in the final analysis. Bibliometric knowledge mapping was performed using CiteSpace to examine publication trends, author and institutional collaborations, co-citation networks, keyword co-occurrence, thematic clusters, citation bursts, and emerging research frontiers. The findings identified eight dominant research domains: competency framework development, authentic assessment, performance assessment, assessment rubric development, industry competency standards, workplace-based assessment, assessment validity and reliability, and digital competency assessment. The knowledge mapping further revealed an increasing emphasis on technology-enhanced assessment, learning analytics, competency verification, and stronger collaboration between educational institutions and industry. The proposed framework contributes to improving assessment quality, graduate employability, and curriculum alignment while supporting the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) through equitable, inclusive, and industry-responsive vocational education, and Sustainable Development Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by strengthening workforce competencies and employability within the hospitality and culinary sectors.