What if engineering students could spend an entire semester solving real workplace problems instead of sitting in classrooms?
That is exactly what IIT Gandhinagar is doing. Through its External Exposure Activity, BTech students can work full-time with companies, startups, research labs and academic institutions while earning academic credits towards their degree.
The initiative reflects a growing shift in engineering education, where practical experience is becoming just as valuable as classroom learning.
LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Offered during the seventh semester, the programme allows students to spend several months working in professional environments before they graduate.
Unlike conventional internships that take place during summer breaks, this is built into the curriculum. Students can earn up to 16 academic credits through the course module IN 498 – External Exposure, with their work assessed jointly by the host organisation and IITGN faculty.
The programme remains optional, allowing students to either pursue external exposure or continue with regular classroom courses.
STUDENTS WORK WITH TOP ORGANISATIONS
Since its launch in the 2025-26 academic year, 18 students have participated in the initiative.
They have worked with organisations including Qualcomm, Samsung Electronics Research & Development, Oracle, Indian Institute of Science, California Institute of Technology, Tower Research Capital and startups such as HapiHygi Innovations.
One student contributed to an open-source software project at Qualcomm, while another worked on embedded systems and electronics for hygiene automation products at a startup.
ALIGNED WITH NEP 2020
The programme also supports the goals of National Education Policy 2020, which encourages experiential learning, interdisciplinary education and stronger links between academia and industry.
According to IITGN, the idea is to help students understand workplace culture, collaborate across disciplines, solve practical engineering challenges and make better career decisions before graduation.
WHY IT MATTERS
As industries increasingly seek graduates who can apply knowledge rather than simply recall it, engineering colleges are rethinking how students learn.
By making industry, research and startup exposure part of the academic curriculum, IIT Gandhinagar is testing a model that could influence how engineering education evolves in India, producing graduates who enter the workforce with both technical knowledge and real-world experience.
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