Secretary of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Shri K. Sanjay Murthy virtually launched the ‘Capacity Building on Design and Entrepreneurship (CBDE)’ program today. The event was attended by Department officials, members of the Program Advisory Council, CBDE; industry mentors; representatives from selected Higher Education Institutions (HEIs); Prof. Sudhir Varadarajan, Program Director, CBDE; and Principal and Co-Principal Investigators. Over 130 participants attended the virtual meeting.
In his address, Shri K. Sanjay Murthy emphasized the program’s focus on collaboration between industry and academia. He noted that industry experts are offering guidance and support to HEIs through various initiatives promoting industry-academic linkages. He highlighted the rigorous selection process that identified 30 HEIs to implement the program.
The Capacity Building Program is designed to empower selected HEIs and faculty members to prioritize design and entrepreneurship development in their institutions with the guidance of industry mentors. IIITDM Kancheepuram, a Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Center (MMTTC), serves as the program’s nodal center. The program aims to instill a problem-solving approach in students, encouraging creative and innovative solutions to complex challenges, and providing stage-wise support from industry mentors. Faculty will receive one-on-one mentoring, fostering dialogue among faculty, student teams, and HEI partners, facilitated by expert mentors.
During the meeting, industry experts such as Shri Manoj Kohli, Chairperson, Program Advisory Council, CBDE, and Smt. Debjani Ghosh, President of NASSCOM, expressed optimism about the program’s outcomes. Shri Kohli emphasized the importance of establishing linkages and support for startups from global investors and industry. Smt. Ghosh highlighted the need to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset in students to complement the technical skills provided in traditional educational approaches.
Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, spoke about the importance of addressing locally relevant challenges to develop sustainable solutions and achieve global recognition.
Mentors from industry, including Dr. Miftahul Barbaruah from the Confederation of Indian Industry, Assam Chapter, and Shri Chandrasekaran Balakrishnan, former Chief Digital Data and Innovation Officer at Marsh McLennan Asia, discussed the program’s potential to transform students into entrepreneurs who can tackle pressing societal challenges.
Prof. Sudhir Varadarajan, Program Director at IIITDM Kancheepuram, outlined future plans for the program and guided participating HEIs on its implementation.
