Block Chain, IoT & Cyber Security: Student Awareness and Engineering Choices

The document already contains an explicit abstract section. Cleaned up, it reads: The increasing prominence of emerging technologies is reshaping career landscapes and academic priorities within engineering education. Fields such as Blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Cybersecurity are recognized for their disruptive potential across sectors, influencing student aspirations and curriculum development. This study investigates the extent of undergraduate students' awareness regarding these three domains and analyzes how this awareness shapes their selection of specialized engineering courses. Through a survey administered to senior high school students and first-year engineering undergraduates, the research identifies key drivers behind academic preferences and evaluates the depth of students' conceptual understanding versus their general perceptions of each field's viability. Findings indicate that course selections are predominantly motivated by broad perceptions of lucrative career pathways and industry growth, rather than by a nuanced comprehension of the technical distinctions and demands inherent in Blockchain, IoT, or Cybersecurity roles. This gap between perception and understanding highlights a critical opportunity for enhanced educational outreach. The study suggests that early, structured interventions such as introductory workshops, detailed career pathway sessions, and interactions with industry practitioners could lead to more informed academic decisions. By aligning student awareness with the actual competencies and requirements of these evolving fields, educational institutions can better prepare graduates for the future technological workforce and guide more deliberate career planning.