Assessing Students’ Digital Competencies for Industry 5.0: Bridging the Gap between Education and Market Needs
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Summer 6-29-2026
Abstract
The transition toward Industry 5.0 has intensified the need for advanced digital competencies among engineering graduates, as industry increasingly relies on human–machine collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and resilient cyber-physical systems. This study investigates the alignment between the digital competencies required by industry and those self-assessed by engineering students, addressing the growing digital skills gap identified at global and European levels. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional design, data were collected from 46 engineering students and 26 company representatives through standardized questionnaires covering four competency dimensions: Basic Digital Skills, Data Analysis and Technological Design, Emerging Technologies, and Security, Adaptability and Technological Learning. Statistical analyses including descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, reliability testing, independent-samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and gap analysis were performed using Minitab 22. Results indicate a strong internal consistency of student digital competencies (α = 0.9606) and a coherent competency structure among employers (α = 0.7421). Significant differences were found across academic years, with final-year students demonstrating substantially higher digital proficiency (p < 0.001). Perceived importance of digital competencies emerged as a key predictor of higher performance across all categories (p < 0.001). Importantly, the comparative analysis revealed no statistically significant gap between students’ self-assessed competencies and industry expectations (p = 0.743), suggesting a positive alignment between engineering education and labor market needs. However, employers prioritized advanced skills, such as cybersecurity, IoT, AI/ML, and data engineering, highlighting areas where curricula could be strengthened.
Recommended Citation
S. Moica, N. Mostafa and D. Ștefănescu, "Assessing Students’ Digital Competencies for Industry 5.0: Bridging the Gap between Education and Market Needs," 2026 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON), Cairo, Egypt, 2026, pp. 1-7, doi: 10.1109/EDUCON67543.2026.11574487.