Gujarat Technological University plans to launch student startup literacy programme online

On the 15th of August this year, Gujarat Technological University will be launching a student startup literacy programme through a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC): “Six ways: Introduction to Student Startups”.

The platform will help Indian students understand how other students from across the world have made inspiring efforts and created technological innovation-driven startups right in their colleges.

The platform will create awareness about the nuances of making a technology startup, primarily based on the innovative final year projects. This course will also inspire students to become job creators and contribute significantly to the economy and employment generation.

The first-of-a-kind initiative is aligned with the PM’s Start-up India, Stand-up India initiative. Dr. Rajul Gajjar, Vice Chancellor of GTU, said that this would rejuvenate the Yuva Shakti in the state and each of them would play a pivotal role towards Gatisheel Gujarat. He also added that, recently, AICTE took notice of GTU startup efforts and is trying to scale such initiatives across the country.

“One of the key objectives of this programme is to see entrepreneurship training /exposure as an alternative vehicle of skill development. Even if students try hands on and fail in their college days, it will equip them with modern skill sets which the academic environment does not teach,” said Hiranmay Mahanta , Director of GTU Innovation Council.

He added that, in a country with more than 5 million students across more than 700 universities, democratisation of the startup movement is of the utmost importance. They wish to integrate the incubation value chain right back to the university systems so that more and more students would get a chance to take risks at the ages of 20 and 21.

GTU is also building startup culture across its campuses, which number in excess of 500, through different initiatives. Recently, GTU launched a full-fledged Technology Business Incubator (TBI) from NSTEDB, Govt. of India. Furthermore, the GTU Innovation Council also developed and implemented the University Student Startup Policy at GTU, which is now being implemented in states like Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.

The to-be launched programme will share success stories of unique student startups from across the country and information about the startup ecosystem in India. The students will be evaluated at the end of every module and will receive nine activity points.

Startup village will host this online program exclusively for GTU students to start with. While the programme will be mandatory for all 3rd semester students, it can be availed by all other students who want to benefit from this. This program will also create virtual interfaces between successful startups in Silicon Valley and GTU students.