THE POWER OF REAL-WORLD LEARNING

Hands-on education is becoming essential as employers demand job-ready graduates

- By Chiranti Sengupta

Real-world learning is now a defining part of university education.

Employers want graduates who have already worked on projects, solved problems, and understood workplace expectations. In the UAE, this shift is even more pronounced as the country builds a knowledge-driven economy that relies on job-ready talent. Higher education institutions are incorporating practical learning into their core programmes to ensure graduates enter the workforce with job-ready skills.

At BITS Pilani Dubai Campus, long-duration internships have been part of the institute's DNA for years, where the 7.5-month internship is built into the curriculum as a major component of student development.

"BITS Pilani Dubai’s 7.5-month internship is one of the biggest strengths of its programmes," says Prof. Swarnalatha Rajaguru, Associate Dean, Admissions and Marketing.

"Students spend real time inside companies, working on live projects, understanding workplace expectations, and learning how engineering decisions are made on the ground."

The focus on hands-on experience is equally strong at DeMont Institute of Management and Technology.