The modern industry requires graduates who are not only theoretically competent but also possess technical skills, problem-solving talents, and job preparedness. However, a large gap still exists between classroom learning and industry requirements. This study examines the practicality and effectiveness of the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM)-based Project-Based Learning (PjBL) approach for helping students improve their skills in fabrication and manufacturing technology and prepare for jobs in the industry. The study involved 64 students, 10 lecturers, and 10 industry practitioners in the Diploma III Mechanical Engineering Program at Universitas Negeri Padang, Indonesia. The research was conducted using the Research and Development (R&D) method based on the Borg and Gall model, which Puslitjaknov simplified into six stages: data collection, planning, initial product development, preliminary field testing, product revision, and main field testing. The data analysis prioritized practicality, efficacy, and industry preparedness. The STEAM-PjBL approach dramatically improved students’ technical competencies, capacity for problem solving, design innovation, communication, teamwork, and project management skills—all of which are important in the manufacturing industry. The pretest findings revealed no significant difference between the control and experimental groups (p-value = 0.91), indicating equivalent starting positions. However, the posttest results showed a substantial improvement in the experimental group (p-value = 0.00), indicating that the model successfully enhanced learning outcomes. Thus, including STEAM-PjBL in the curriculum is a viable method for closing the gap between higher education and industry demands. © 2025 by the authors.
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