BTech students at IIT Gandhinagar are permitted to switch subjects for an entire semester in order to gain exposure to the industry.

In a major step towards making engineering education more practical and industry-oriented, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IIT Gandhinagar) has introduced a new academic initiative that allows BTech students to spend an entire semester working in industries, research laboratories, startups, or academic institutions instead of attending regular classroom lectures. The programme aims to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world professional experience.The new initiative is offered through a credit-bearing course called IN 498 – External Exposure. Under this programme, eligible seventh-semester BTech students can earn up to 16 academic credits, which will count towards their graduation requirements. This means students can gain valuable workplace experience without extending the duration of their degree or losing academic progress.Unlike conventional summer internships that usually last a few weeks, this programme enables students to work on long-term projects and become part of ongoing industrial or research activities. Participants can join leading companies, research and development laboratories, startups, incubation centres, or academic institutions, allowing them to develop technical expertise, teamwork, problem-solving abilities, and professional skills in a real working environment.

According to IIT Gandhinagar, 18 students have already completed the programme by working with renowned organisations such as Qualcomm, Samsung R&D, Oracle, the California Institute of Technology, the Indian Institute of Science, Tower Research Capital, Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited, and startup HapiHygi Innovations. These experiences have helped students strengthen their practical knowledge while contributing to meaningful projects.The institute has also established a structured evaluation process to ensure academic quality. Students' performance is assessed through feedback from the host organisation along with periodic reviews conducted by their respective academic departments at IIT Gandhinagar. Institute officials believe this model will produce industry-ready graduates equipped with both strong theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience, preparing them for the evolving demands of the global technology sector.