50th Annual Conference in September 2022 1547 Devika Sangwan, Rajni Singh and Kuldip Singh Sangwan Experiential learning: integrating learning and experience in shaping the future of the engineers - 10.5821/conference-9788412322262.1408 doi:10.5821/conference-9788412322262.1408 Experiential learning: integrating learning and experience in shaping the future of the engineers D. Sangwan 1 Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, India 0000-0003-3698-3101 R. Singh Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, India 0000-0002-9997-5830 K.S. Sangwan Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, India 0000-0003-4838-734X Conference Key Areas: Engineering Skills and Lifelong Learning Keywords: Experiential learning, hands-on approach, engineering education, skills, learning ABSTRACT The industry demands skill-equipped engineering graduates who could be efficient enough to adapt to face the challenges of uncertainty posed by a lack of skills and resources. Accreditation boards have identified problem-solving, teamwork, communication, etc. as the workplace required skills. However, industry/employers feel that the engineers seem to lack problem-solving, teamwork, etc. To groom these skills, experiential learning (EL) platform provides hands-on practice. Thus, the study aims to gain insights into the need of experiential learning to integrate learning and experience. The study, qualitative in nature, focuses on the essential skills, specifically problem-solving skills, against the applicability of experiential learning. Experiential learning allows engineering students to get a hands-on approach to practise their acquired skills to understand industrial needs and constraints. In the given context, problem solving helps in knowing what is learnt and what needs to be learnt. 1 Corresponding Author D. Sangwan devika@pilani.bits-pilani.ac.in