Corporate university model: enhancing competitiveness in firms from emerging economies

Purpose – Corporate universities (CUs) serve as a strategy to strengthen corporate competitive advantage in developed economies. Their effectiveness is related to knowledge management (KM), the adoption of emerging technologies and collaborative work (CW). However, in current models of CUs, these aspects are partially and individually considered, and no model focuses on firms in emerging economies. Therefore, this study aims to address this gap by setting forth a holistic model of CUs by considering KM, technologies, such as Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and Industry 5.0 (I5.0) technologies, and CW concurrently to enhance firms’ sustainable competitiveness in Latin America. Design/methodology/approach – The model proposed in this paper was developed after a comprehensive systematic literature review and subsequent content analysis was conducted on 64 articles sourced from the Web of Science and Scopus databases, exploring publications from 1995 to 2025. Findings – The interrelation among KM, technologies such as I4.0 and I5.0 and CW supports the CU model, as it enables continuous innovation, efficient KM processes and adaptability to dynamic market conditions. Research limitations/implications – CU is a constant changing phenomenon, it is suggested to validate the proposed model and consider aspects such as corporate university (CU) types and KM environments in emerging economies and to compare it with developed economies. Practical implications – The model could provide firms a practical tool to help design, implement and manage CU with an emphasis on KM, Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 technologies and CW. Social implications – The forms of KM in CU are changing over time. Human talent is essential in KM. It is crucial to take into account the factors influencing training and development of their abilities. Originality/value – This study contributes to KM and I4.0/I5.0. It demonstrates how the CU model fosters firms’ competitive advantage in emerging economies while enabling knowledge creation and exchange with stakeholders and society. By integrating KM activities and I4.0/I5.0, this study advances the development of a CU model for Latin American and Caribbean firms, strengthening their human resource capabilities.