IIT Gandhinagar launches credit-bearing semester-long industry exposure program for BTech students

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar has launched a new elective that enables BTech students to spend an entire academic semester working with companies, research organizations, academic institutions, or startups while earning credits toward their degree.

The initiative, offered through the course "IN 498 – External Exposure," allows undergraduate students from all BTech disciplines to replace their seventh semester of classroom instruction with structured professional experience.

Students who opt for the program can earn up to 16 academic credits, which count toward their graduation requirements.

According to the institute, the program is designed to integrate industry and research exposure into the academic curriculum instead of treating it as an extracurricular internship.

Students may choose placements in industries, research and development laboratories, academic institutions, startups, or recognized incubation centers, giving them the opportunity to work on long-term projects while continuing their academic progress.

Unlike conventional summer internships that typically last only a few weeks, the semester-long format is intended to provide deeper exposure to workplace practices and engineering or research projects.

Since the program was introduced, 18 students have participated. They have been placed with organizations including 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.

Explaining the purpose of the initiative, Prof. Bhaskar Datta, Dean of Academic Affairs at IIT Gandhinagar, said, “The semester-long external exposure program is part of IIT Gandhinagar’s commitment to nurturing future-ready students who are capable of contributing to a technology-driven economy.”

Students are evaluated through a formal academic assessment process. Host organizations provide performance feedback, while the relevant academic departments at IIT Gandhinagar conduct periodic reviews to ensure the work meets the institute's academic standards.

One participant, Bhoumik Patidar from the BTech Computer Science and Engineering class of 2026, completed his external exposure semester at Qualcomm, where he worked on software projects.

Reflecting on the experience, he said, “Working on a production-grade open-source project has definitely sharpened my problem-solving skills and reinforced my passion for systems programming and building the foundational software that modern computing relies on.”

Another student, Tejas Zunjare, a BTech Electrical Engineering student, undertook his external exposure at HapiHygi Innovations as an Electronics Engineering Intern.

His work included embedded systems, electronic circuit design, battery charging and management circuits, PCB design, sensor integration, circuit simulation, component testing, and hardware troubleshooting.

Speaking about the experience, Zunjare said, “The internship helped me see how the stuff you learn in a classroom can be applied to solve real engineering problems.”

He added that the experience strengthened his interest in embedded systems and hardware design while boosting his confidence to work on real-world engineering projects.

The institute said the initiative builds on its existing summer internship model by making industry exposure a formal part of the undergraduate curriculum.

By integrating a full semester of external work into the academic framework, students can undertake substantial industry or research assignments without extending the duration of their degree or sacrificing academic credits.

The program remains optional, allowing students to choose between a semester of external exposure and the traditional on-campus academic schedule based on their educational and career goals.