Systematic Literature Review on Needs Analysis in ESP within Higher Education: Implications for Future Research

Abstract

Needs analysis is a critical step in designing an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course, as it can ensure language courses are aligned with students' specific requirements. This article conducted a systematic review to explore the current status of needs analysis in ESP within a higher education context. It aims to analyze the application of various needs analysis models in recent research and identify future research directions. The review employed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) method, using keywords in Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) databases. Articles were selected based on strict criteria, including publication date within 3 years and content related to the needs analysis of ESP in higher education. A total of 21 articles were included for detailed analysis. The findings highlight significant gaps in the existing research, such as an imbalance in the geographic regions and disciplines examined and the use of single needs analysis models. Future research can address these gaps by expanding the disciplines and regions covered as well as combining different needs analysis models. Research can also employ multiple sources of information to better understand students’ language needs within specific fields.