ABSTRACT Engineering education is a cornerstone of national development in the Maldives, driving technological progress and supporting essential infrastructure growth. However, the steady decline in student enrolment in engineering programs has become a growing concern. This research examines the key factors influencing students' interest in engineering by analyzing responses from students, faculty, and the public. Using data analysis techniques such as descriptive statistics, correlation, regression, and predictive modelling, a total of 48 factors were evaluated, of which 15 emerged as the most influential. These include financial support, career awareness, and the relevance of the curriculum to industry needs. The predictive model demonstrated strong reliability, achieving 75% accuracy, an F1‐score of 80%, and an R 2 value of 0.89. The analysis showed that financial barriers (mean = 4.76 ± 0.98), limited awareness (95.6%), and insufficient industry exposure (87.6%) were the most significant challenges. Other issues, such as inadequate employer sponsorship, job market uncertainty, and gender imbalance, also contribute to low enrolment. Based on these insights, the research recommends introducing scholarship programs, updating curricula to reflect current industry standards, and strengthening collaboration between academia and employers. The findings offer practical guidance for policymakers to make engineering education in the Maldives more accessible, relevant, and capable of preparing a skilled workforce for future national needs.
Noortheen et al. (Mon,) studied this question.