Academicians Uphold the Winning Parameters
For entrepreneurship to flourish and garner unconditional acceptance as a career option, it is important to have the right kind of processes, a strong and reliable base of knowledge infrastructure and intermediation between various government and private institutions. Amidst such networks and ecosystem, academicians play a major role in creating a fertile ground to make people believe in the power of entrepreneurship, impart them the courage to take risks and engage them in creating start-ups on new-age ideas. EDII has been sensitizing and orienting the faculty group since long on the aspects of imparting such training to students. Over the last three months some of the important programmes conducted to impart a perspective to the faculty group towards entrepreneurship teaching, include as below:
Faculty Development Programme in Biotechnopreneurship
Health became a priority in the recent times. Several health startups also emerged during the COVID times and successfully sustained on their innovative ideas. Biotechnology based enterprises successfully integrate science and business to address problems gripping society.
With an aim to empower ‘Life Sciences and Biotechnology faculty’ in nurturing entrepreneurship among their students, EDII in association with Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission (GSBTM), Govt. of Gujarat, designed a two-week residential Faculty Development Programme for faculty of Life Science and Biotechnology discipline.
The programme trained 19 faculty members who had a minimum teaching experience of 10 years in Gujarat-based Universities / Institutes offering courses in Life Science and Biotechnology. The programme objective was to equip the participants with requisite skills, knowledge and competencies for creating awareness about the need and importance of entrepreneurship and organize specialized programmes to develop knowledge, skills and attitude among the beneficiaries. To gain insights into the practical aspects of classroom learning, the faculty members also undertook industrial visits to Savli Technology & Business Incubator, Savli Biotech Park, Zytex Biotech Private Limited and Lincoln Pharmaceuticals.
Participants of Faculty Development Programme in Biotechnopreneurship at the Industrial Visit to Lincoln Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Mr. S. B. Sareen, Programme Director, said, “To accomplish the objective of the programme, EDII with GSBTM designed this customized course module which was replete with interactive sessions and visits so impart first-hand experience to the participating faculty group. The programme was well received.”
The Chief Guest of the Valediction, Ms. Gargi Jain, IAS, Mission Director & Deputy Secretary Biotechnology, Govt. of Gujarat, presented the certificates to the participants and shared her thoughts, saying, “These courses are crucial. In a biotechnology firm, innovation is considered as both a creative process and an essential component of an effective management structure and strategy for achieving growth. While on that front, the functionaries are well equipped, complementing such skills with entrepreneurial competencies, could lead to even mega
achievements.”
Dr. Anasuya Bhadalkar, Jt. Director HRD, GSBTM, in her keynote address emphasized on how apprehensions had to be fought about floating a programme on entrepreneurship for the faculty of biotechnology. She added that the results are heartening and today everyone is aligned with the need and significance of such a programme.
Faculty Training in Entrepreneurship Curriculum Design & Development
EDII has been closely associated with All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in introducing several innovations and developments in the sphere of education and learning. Against the backdrop that entrepreneurship is the driver of economy and needs to be promoted, EDII and AICTE designed and offered a short-term training programme to develop faculty skills in the areas of entrepreneurship, curriculum design and development & delivery of entrepreneurship course. Faculty members can play a key role as resource person in the area of entrepreneurship and thus motivate young students to take up entrepreneurship as a career.
The programme trained 35 participants from across India over 6 days on the topics of Entrepreneurship Course Curriculum Design and Development with focus on creativity & innovation for entrepreneurs, achievement-motivation, entrepreneurship teaching model, business opportunity identification & business plan preparation, contemporary pedagogies for entrepreneurship teaching, case-based teaching of entrepreneurship, guidance on business plan preparation and game-based approach to teaching entrepreneurship. The programme also exposed the faculty group to the significance of experiential learning and interactions with successful entrepreneurs as a methodology to drive in learning.
Faculty Step Forth to Promote Women Entrepreneurship
The entrepreneurship landscape is replete with women creating landmark successes. Yet entrepreneurial aspirations of women have been seen to be taking a backseat when it comes to taking the plunge as an entrepreneur.
EDII in conjunction with AICTE Training and Learning (ATAL) Academy, conducted a virtual National Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on ‘Women Entrepreneurship: Opportunities from Ideation to Implementation’. The aim of this programme was to create a cadre of Women Entrepreneur trainer -motivators by developing knowledge, skills and competencies so that, in turn, aspiring and nascent women entrepreneurs could be encouraged and empowered to initiate enterprises. Such a trend is expected to greatly strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the country. In the five-day programme, 110 participants from across the country received comprehensive understanding on women entrepreneurship with focus on the frameworks and the tools that can strengthen the phenomenon. Dr. Baishali Mitra, Programme Coordinator, opines, “I hope this programme has given the participants a clear perspective on identifying right business ideas for women entrepreneurs, and the methodologies to be adopted to develop necessary knowledge and skills in them to run a business.”
Dr. Baishali Mitra, Faculty, EDII conducting a virtual session on Women Entrepreneurship: Opportunities from Ideation to Implementation
Faculty Develop a Perspective on Promoting Social Entrepreneurship
Just as the economy needs commercial entrepreneurs; the society needs social entrepreneurs. A social entrepreneur’s work embodies Strategy, Innovation, Sustainable Development and Impact.
EDII conducted a virtual Faculty Development Programme on social entrepreneurship in association with AICTE with the objective to train and develop professionals in the area of Social Entrepreneurship so that they can act as ‘Resource Persons’ in guiding and motivating young students to take up Social Entrepreneurship as a career.
77 faculty members from different colleges / universities, across India were trained in the discipline of social entrepreneurship with focus on imbibing knowledge on traits, competencies and attitude required for Social Entrepreneurs. The curriculum targeted accomplishing the objective through case studies on social entrepreneurship, strategies to develop a winning pitch for the business idea, design thinking & business model canvas for social ventures, understanding of social business ecosystem and incubation and acceleration support, among other relevant topics.
The participants understood how social entrepreneurs can effect changes in needy communities; analysed various social enterprise business models, including microfinance, microenterprise development, etc. The participating faculty members got trained and equipped with requisite skills, competencies and contemporary teaching tools and methodologies to conduct courses on social entrepreneurship and counsel students for career in the domain.
The virtual inauguration ceremony of the programme took place in the presence of Chief Guest, Mr. Dinanath Kholkar, Vice-President & Global Head, Tata Consultancy Services and Guest of Honour, Prof. Anil D Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, AICTE. Dr. Mamta Rani Agarwal, Adviser-I, ATAL Academy and Dr. Amit Dutta, Deputy Director, ATAL AICTE were also present at the ceremony.
“Times are constantly changing and the entrepreneurial ecosystem is also evolving rapidly. Faculty members who are key contributors to an amiable entrepreneurial environ, need to remain updated at all times. AICTE has, therefore, planned these FDPs to create an upbeat space where students can learn from faculty members who are abreast with what’s new in the discipline.”
– Prof. Anil D Sahasrabudhe,
Chairman, AICTE
“The best thing to do in the domain of social entrepreneurship is to nurture resilient young entrepreneurs. I am thankful for ATAL Academy and EDII for coming up with a customized programme based on the needs and requirements of the market and the educators and professionals.”
– Mr. Dinanath Kholkar,
Vice-President & Global Head, Tata Consultancy Services
“Social entrepreneurs are agents of positive change who use an entrepreneurial approach to address societal problems. Faculty members developing social entrepreneurs and mentoring budding social entrepreneurs have an important role to play. They are partakers in creating a balanced society.”
– Dr. Mamta Rani Agrawal,
Advisor-I, ATAL Academy
“The objective of this programme is to orient young entrepreneurs towards adopting social entrepreneurship as a career. Their job is challenging as they are expected to deal with social challenges and find innovative solutions. Faculty-mentors can impart them the necessary learning, build in them the relevant traits and mentor them to develop an eye to spot challenges and come out with outcome-based answers.
– Dr. Amit Dutta,
Deputy Director, ATAL AICTE
“Perhaps only social entrepreneurship education has the ability to sustain inclusive economic growth which has an impressive tilt towards social and environmental values. Social Entrepreneurship education has the potential to provide unique opportunities to young people so that they experience what it is to make a difference to the lives of people and do business at the same time.”
– Dr. Sunil Shukla
Director General – EDII
“In all ways, EDII is into the task of building a robust economy and so we very well understand the relevance of social entrepreneurs as much as commercial entrepreneurs for a wholesome society. EDII wishes to reach out to as many faculty members as possible so that they in turn can reach out to potential social entrepreneurs and ensure creation of a balanced society and economy.”
– Dr. Amit Dwivedi,
Programme Director
FDP on Social Entrepreneurship
