The Entrepreneurship Development Cell (ED Cell) at Silicon University organized a two-week Faculty Development Program (FDP) from 13 January to 25 January 2025 supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.
The program aimed to foster entrepreneurial thinking among faculty members, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to promote entrepreneurship in academic settings.
The session began with a warm and thoughtful welcome address by Dr. Jaideep Talukdar, Vice-Chancellor of Silicon University. This was followed by an insightful overview of the program’s objectives by Dr. Mahendra Prasad Agasty, Program Director and Faculty-in-Charge (FIC) of the ED Cell. He highlighted the importance of cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset among faculty members, fostering innovation and leadership. The keynote address was delivered by Mr. Chittaranjan Pattanaik, former Regional Coordinator of the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad. He motivated the participants to embrace entrepreneurship not just as a career choice, but as a dynamic and continuous way of life.
The training program featured a series of insightful and well-structured sessions aimed at enhancing entrepreneurial skills and fostering awareness among the participants. One of the key highlights was the ‘Achievement Motivation and Management Games’ session conducted by Mr. Pattanaik, which focused on building self-motivation through engaging and interactive activities. This was followed by a session on ‘Opportunity Identification and Business Plan Development’ by Mr. Deepak Chaudhury, Founder of Success Leaf, where participants learned practical techniques for recognizing entrepreneurial opportunities and formulating effective business plans.
Dr. Vishal J.C. from the KIIT Technology Business Incubator (KIIT-TBI) led a session on ‘Design Thinking’, emphasizing creative and human-centred problem-solving approaches essential for entrepreneurial success. An interactive session with Mr. Subrat Kar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MotorFloor, provided participants with invaluable real-world insights into the entrepreneurial journey, challenges, and strategies.
Additionally, the program featured expert-led sessions by distinguished resource persons, including Mr. S.K. Ratha from the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Institute (MSME-DI), Government of India, Dr. Amaresh Panda from KIIT-TBI, Professor Arabinda Mishra, Former Professor at TERI University, and Professor T.K. Pani from Ravenshaw University. Each expert shared their specialized knowledge, enriching the participants’ understanding of different dimensions of entrepreneurship.
The program culminated with the curriculum presentation on 25 January 2025, led by Dr. Agasty. During this concluding session, faculty members presented the entrepreneurship curriculum they had collaboratively developed over the course of the program, demonstrating their enhanced capacity to inspire and guide students in their entrepreneurial pursuits.
The FDP effectively enhanced participants’ understanding of entrepreneurship in academia. Through interactive sessions and expert insights, faculty members gained skills to mentor students and promote entrepreneurial thinking. The program equipped them with practical tools to foster innovation within their institutions.
