Building Critical System Thinking Capability in Engineering Students: A Case for Long- Term Tech Internships on Campus

Authors

  • Ankur Gupta Model Institute of Engineering and Technology, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir
  • Sahil Sawhney Model Institute of Engineering and Technology, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir
  • Ankita Nanda Model Institute of Engineering and Technology, Model Institute of Engineering and Technology, Kot Bhalwal, Jammu
  • Adit Gupta Model Institute of Education and Research, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.16920/jeet/2026/v39is2/26020

Keywords:

Critical System Thinking; Engineering Education; Experiential Training; Engineering Systems Thinking Assessment (ESTA); Graduate Employability; Long term Internships.

Abstract

The rapidly evolving technology and business landscape necessitates the development of critical systems thinking skills among graduates to tackle complex, real-world challenges. This quantitative longitudinal study, spanning two years, explores the effectiveness of on-campus tech internships in enhancing systems thinking skills among 30 selected STEM students. Guided by expert mentors in system design, the internships addressed authentic problems with clear deliverables, supported by training, resources, access to facilities, and incentives for attaining pre-defined outcomes. Critical systems thinking was assessed using two parallel versions of the Engineering Systems Thinking Assessment (ESTA) to avoid familiarity bias, complemented by project journal evaluations on a continuous basis. Statistical analyses, including paired t-tests and ANOVA, demonstrated a significant enhancement in ESTA scores (p < 0.001), alongside notable outcomes: qualitative improvements in placement quality, patents filed, and improved standing in external hackathons. These results highlight the potential of long-term tech internships as a viable strategy to bolster graduate attributes, at least in small cohorts to begin with.

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Published

2026-02-18

How to Cite

Gupta, A., Sawhney, S., Nanda, A., & Gupta, A. (2026). Building Critical System Thinking Capability in Engineering Students: A Case for Long- Term Tech Internships on Campus. Journal of Engineering Education Transformations, 39(Special Issue 2), 159–165. https://doi.org/10.16920/jeet/2026/v39is2/26020

Issue

Volume 39, Special Issue 2, January 2026

Section

Articles
Crossref
Scopus
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Europe PMC

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