Is it Possible to Support the Transition from Education 4.0 to Education 5.0 by Gamification of Education?

The transition from Education 4.0 to Education 5.0 challenges educational institutions to adopt approaches that are technologically advanced, but at the same time are human-centered, sustainable, ethical, and interdisciplinary. Gamification emerges as a promising tool to facilitate this transformation by reshaping the learning process. Building on prior empirical research, this study extends the analysis of a survey among university teachers to examine how game design aligns with the values and strategic goals of Education 5.0. Findings highlight a strong emphasis on human-centricity, reflected in didactic goals such as adaptivity, teamwork, competencies, communication, leadership, and personal development. However, interdisciplinarity, sustainability, and ethics are largely absent in current pedagogical practices. To ensure methodological rigor, the study details the sampling process, inclusion criteria, and response consistency, and employs a content coding framework with examples for the dominant Education 5.0 pillar. Based on these insights, an expanded conceptual framework is proposed, alongside directions for future research aimed at promoting full integration of gamification in Education 5.0. The study’s scholarly contribution lies in identifying key thematic areas that illustrate the substance of human-centricity, providing a foundation for future development and transformation into gamified educational models. Additionally, situating the findings within an international literature context strengthens theoretical interpretations and highlights gaps in interdisciplinary, ethical, and sustainable teaching practices. This research underscores the potential of gamification to support human-centered learning while pointing to critical areas for further pedagogical innovation in Education 5.0.