Author – Ritesh Ranjan: Success in engineering today is no longer defined only by strong classroom performance. While technical knowledge remains important, students also need practical exposure, workplace confidence, problem-solving ability and the chance to understand how engineering works beyond textbooks. Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) is addressing this need through its External Exposure Activity, a semester-long initiative that gives BTech students the opportunity to learn in real professional environments while earning academic credits.
The programme is designed for seventh-semester BTech students and allows them to spend an entire semester working with industry organisations, research laboratories, academic institutions, startups or recognised incubation centres. Instead of treating such exposure as an optional add-on, IIT Gandhinagar has made it a structured part of the academic journey. Students can earn credits for their work, helping them move closer to graduation while gaining valuable real-world experience.
This makes the initiative an important model for modern engineering education in India. As employers increasingly look for graduates who can apply knowledge in practical situations, programmes like IITGN’s External Exposure Activity help bridge the gap between academic learning and professional expectations.
A Bridge Between Classroom Learning and Career Readiness
The External Exposure Activity gives students the chance to apply what they have learned in lectures, laboratories and projects to real engineering challenges. During the semester, students work in professional settings where they are exposed to workplace culture, team collaboration, timelines, problem-solving under constraints and industry expectations.
This kind of experience is especially valuable for engineering students because it helps them understand how theory translates into practice. A concept learned in class may look very different when applied to a product, system, research problem or live project. Through this programme, students learn to adapt, communicate, take responsibility and contribute meaningfully to professional work.
The exposure also helps students make better decisions about their future. Some may discover a strong interest in industry roles, while others may become more inclined toward research, higher education or entrepreneurship. By experiencing these environments before graduation, students get a clearer understanding of their strengths, interests and long-term goals.
Opportunities Across Industry, Research and Startups
One of the strongest features of IIT Gandhinagar’s External Exposure Activity is its flexibility. Students are not limited to one type of placement. They can choose opportunities that align with their academic interests, career goals and personal aspirations.
A student interested in product development may choose an industrial internship. Someone inclined toward advanced research may work with a research laboratory or academic institution. A student with entrepreneurial ambitions may spend the semester in a startup or incubation environment. This flexibility makes the programme more personalised and meaningful.
Since the programme began in the 2025-26 academic year, 18 students have already participated. They have worked with leading organisations and institutions such as Qualcomm, Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited, Tower Research Capital, Samsung R&D, Oracle, California Institute of Technology and IISc Bangalore. Students have also engaged with startups such as HapiHygi Innovations Pvt. Ltd.
These opportunities expose students to different professional cultures and technical challenges. Whether they are working on software systems, embedded hardware, research problems, business technology or innovation-driven products, students gain experience that can shape their confidence and career direction.
Credit-Based Learning With Academic Value
The programme is offered through IN 498 – External Exposure, and students can earn up to 16 academic credits. These credits count toward their degree requirements, which means students do not have to choose between practical exposure and academic progress.
This is what makes the initiative different from a regular internship. Many internships provide industry exposure, but they may not always be integrated into the academic structure. IITGN’s model gives formal academic recognition to external learning while maintaining a strong evaluation process.
Students are assessed through feedback from host organisations and periodic reviews by their department at IIT Gandhinagar. This ensures that the programme maintains academic seriousness while giving students the freedom to learn in real-world environments.
By making external exposure credit-bearing, IITGN is recognising that valuable learning can happen outside the classroom too. It also shows a progressive approach to engineering education, where professional practice, research exposure and entrepreneurship are treated as important parts of student development.
Student Experiences Reflect the Programme’s Impact
The early student experiences from the External Exposure Activity show how meaningful this initiative can be.
Mr. Bhoumik Patidar, a BTech Computer Science and Engineering student, worked at Qualcomm on an open-source project. His role included contributing backend support to a linker tool. Through this experience, he sharpened his problem-solving skills and developed a deeper interest in systems programming. For a computer science student, working on such real technical challenges can provide clarity that goes far beyond classroom assignments.
Similarly, Mr. Tejas Zunjare, a BTech Electrical Engineering student, worked at HapiHygi Innovation Limited on embedded systems and hardware design. His work involved battery management circuits, PCB design and sensor integration. The experience helped him connect classroom concepts with real engineering problems and boosted his confidence in handling practical challenges.
These examples highlight the core value of the programme. Students are not just observing professional work; they are contributing to it. They are learning how to solve problems, collaborate with teams, meet expectations and understand the demands of engineering careers.
Supporting NEP 2020 and Future-Ready Education
IIT Gandhinagar’s External Exposure Activity aligns closely with the goals of the National Education Policy 2020. NEP 2020 encourages hands-on learning, interdisciplinary exposure, industry collaboration and flexible academic pathways. IITGN’s programme reflects these principles by giving students structured opportunities to learn through real-world engagement.
The initiative also builds on IITGN’s earlier success with internships that have led to pre-placement offers and research publications. By formalising such exposure into a credit-bearing academic activity, the institute is creating a stronger pathway for students to become career-ready before graduation.
In today’s fast-changing world, engineering graduates need more than subject knowledge. They need adaptability, curiosity, communication skills and the ability to work across different environments. IITGN’s External Exposure Activity supports this broader form of learning.
Why IITGN’s External Exposure Programme Matters
The External Exposure Activity is important because it gives students practical experience at a crucial stage of their academic journey. By the seventh semester, students have already built a strong foundation in their discipline. A semester-long external placement allows them to test that knowledge in professional settings and return with greater maturity, confidence and clarity.
For employers, such students are likely to be better prepared for workplace expectations. For students, the programme can open doors to future jobs, research opportunities, higher studies and entrepreneurial ventures. For engineering education in India, it offers a model that combines academic rigour with practical relevance.
By making external exposure part of the curriculum, IIT Gandhinagar is preparing students not just to complete their degree, but to thrive after graduation. The programme shows how engineering education can become more flexible, experience-driven and aligned with the needs of the future.
FAQs on IIT Gandhinagar’s External Exposure Programme
1. What is IIT Gandhinagar’s External Exposure Activity?
IIT Gandhinagar’s External Exposure Activity is a semester-long programme that allows seventh-semester BTech students to work in industry, research labs, academic institutions, startups or incubation centres while earning academic credits.
2. Who can participate in the IITGN External Exposure Programme?
The programme is designed for BTech students in their seventh semester at IIT Gandhinagar. It helps them gain practical experience before completing their degree.
3. How many credits can students earn through this programme?
Students can earn up to 16 academic credits under IN 498 – External Exposure. These credits count toward their degree requirements.
4. What kind of organisations have IITGN students worked with?
Students have worked with organisations and institutions such as Qualcomm, Samsung R&D, Oracle, Tower Research Capital, Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited, California Institute of Technology, IISc Bangalore and startups like HapiHygi Innovations Pvt. Ltd.
5. Why is this programme important for engineering students?
The programme helps students apply classroom knowledge to real-world problems, understand workplace culture, build confidence and make informed career decisions in industry, research, higher education or entrepreneurship.