Strengthening Digital Defences: Evaluating the Impact of Cybersecurity Awareness Workshops Among First-Year Engineering Students in Bhutan

Abstract

With Bhutan’s rapid digital transformation, cyber threats have increased, creating an urgent need for cybersecurity education among young adults. This study evaluates the effectiveness of cybersecurity awareness workshops delivered to first-year students across three technical colleges under the Royal University of Bhutan. Using a quasi-experimental design, pre- and post-workshop surveys were administered to 300 students to measure changes in awareness and understanding. Pre-workshop findings showed that only 34.6% of students had high cybersecurity awareness, and more than 70% had never attended related training. Post-workshop results indicated substantial improvement: 81.4% rated the workshop as effective or very effective, and 76.9% felt confident in practising cybersecurity measures. Students demonstrated enhanced practical knowledge, increased awareness of cyber threats, better familiarity with tools, and stronger recognition of personal online responsibilities. They also valued the real-life examples and interactive activities. The study highlights the need to integrate structured cybersecurity education into Bhutanese higher education and national digital strategies.