Two-day faculty mentor development workshop was organized by Atal Incubation Centre BIMTECH in association with the University of Jammu Special Purpose Vehicle Foundation (UOJSPVF), the University of Jammu on December 9 and 10, 2022.
During the interaction, faculty members from more than 160 colleges affiliated with the university were invited, and several speakers from various industries shared their expertise on topics related to the promotion of student entrepreneurship and the enhancement of ecosystems in the state of J&K.
Prof. Unnat Pandit, Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks, Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and Professor, JNU,in his inaugural address focused on the significance of entrepreneurship in India and the expanding role of mentors towards creating an entrepreneurial environment. He emphasized the need for training and empowering the faculty towards mentoring and creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the University as well as the region. He further said that experiential learning can offer useful insights to the youth of the nation and create a roadmap for them to explore several entrepreneurial opportunities and tap their potential.
Prof. Parikshat Singh Manhas, who serves as the CEO and Director of the University of Jammu Special Purpose Vehicle Foundation (UOJSPVF) as well as the Director of SHTM, emphasized the significance of this programme in the development of “Super Mentors” to assist youth all over the country in becoming entrepreneurs. He spoke on the ways in which this programme may raise awareness and educate people about the impact that business has on society.He also talked about UOJSPVF’s young entrepreneurs’ leadership, capacity development, and mentorship programs.
Prof. (Dr.) Abha Rishi, CEO of the Atal Incubation Centre-BIMTECH, discussed the AIC-BIMTECH and the resources it offers to new businesses. She discussed the significance of the Startup incubation program and collaborating with incubators, investors, and other players in the startup ecosystem. She said that mentoring, direction, and a complementary team may assist budding entrepreneurs in shaping their entrepreneurial paths. She emphasized the significance of unconventional thought and implementation. She also underlined the importance of faculty mentoring and assisting students in idea formulation and effective execution in her presentation. She also underlined the value of networking as a means to expand business opportunities, expand personal connections, enter new industries, and forge partnerships.
Prof. Dr. Sankalp Pratap offered expertise regarding his experience working with students over the course of his career. He discussed how teachers can alter their teaching methodology and how they can engage more with their students in order to foster unique ideas & innovation during classroom learning.
Amit Singal, founding partner of Fluid Ventures, then took the stage and discussed his experience as a startup investor throughout the course of his career. He also helped the audience comprehend several basic financing terms and instruments.
During the presentation, Diksha Nigam, Senior Manager of Invest India, explained the various ways in which the government assists new businesses by providing handholding, finance, resources, and industry-academia cooperation. It was explained how Startup India operates and what advantages it provides, as well as the significance of startups to the Indian economy.
The need of establishing and cultivating E-cells on campus was brought to everyone’s attention by Sanyam Dhingra, Assistant General Manager of AIC-BIMTECH. In addition, he discussed their experience in operating an incubator as well as the ways in which incubators can assist entrepreneurs in moving from the idea stage to the commercialization stage.