An Analysis of Engineering Students’ Perceptions of and Educational Needs for Digital Literacy

This study aims to analyze engineering students’ perception and educational needs related to digital literacy—an essential competency in the era of digital transformation—and to propose educational directions based on the study’s findings. The researchers conducted a survey with 596 engineering students at K University. The survey assessed the perceived importance of and self-assessed proficiency in digital literacy across four components and their sub-components. The Borich Needs Assessment Model and the Locus for Focus (TLfF) Model were used to derive educational priorities. The results show that students generally have a low level of digital literacy awareness. In particular, they lack confidence in technical understanding and application. The data indicate high educational needs in digital thinking skills, information management, critical thinking, and problem-solving. These findings suggest the need for a comprehensive and practice-oriented curriculum for engineering students that goes beyond technical training to include critical thinking, information ethics, and digital citizenship.