This exploratory study addresses the shift in employment preferences among recent engineering graduates toward small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups, highlighting the importance of learning. Learning, instead of conventional training, has been pivotal for the sustainability of small businesses. The study evaluated industrial engineering students’ perception of learning following a 2023 change, which replaced traditional exams with professional presentations and business reports based on enterprise visits. Using a mixed-methods approach with 218 third-year students, the findings demonstrate that external engagement relates positively to the perception of learning. Given the rising interest among new engineering graduates in SMEs and startups, these findings offer useful background for preparing workplaces to support and sustain business operations.
Ongkunaruk et al. (Wed,) studied this question.