In this article, we aim to remedy the effects of skill-biased technological change within maintenance engineering and enable productivity gains from novel digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence. We do this by outlining the critical role of education and the need for renewal and increased access to higher education within maintenance, followed by reviewing the literature on maintenance engineering education over the past two decades (2000–2020). In our systematic literature review, we identify nine key themes that have occupied maintenance researchers in their educational efforts, e.g. design and development of curricula, programs, and courses; identification of competence requirements and learning characteristics; and new educational formats such as gamification and innovative laboratory sessions using novel digital technologies. Following our review, we propose research- and policy-oriented recommendations for the future of maintenance engineering education.