A three-day Faculty Development Program (FDP) titled "Acharya – Innovation & Entrepreneurship" was successfully conducted from 24th to 26th July 2025 at St Joseph Engineering College, in collaboration with SI8 Foundation. The FDP aimed to empower faculty members with essential knowledge and tools to promote innovation, design thinking, startup culture, and the establishment of incubators within Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs). The sessions were led by Dr. Mouli (CEO, AIC-SKU), Dr. Shivakiran, and Mr. Aravind from SI8, who delivered insightful and practical sessions covering the entrepreneurial landscape, methodologies to identify innovative ideas, business model canvases, and best practices in setting up incubation centres.
Day 1: Thursday, 24th July 2025
The FDP began with a warm welcome during the "Meet & Greet" session, followed by an ice-breaking activity using Menti Meter to gather participant expectations. Dr. Mouli (CEO, AIC-SKU) and Mr. Aravind (SI8 Foundation) initiated the session by setting the context for innovation and entrepreneurship in academic institutions. The morning sessions focused on experiential learning approaches and exploring the innovation landscape. A hands-on Design Thinking Workshop was conducted to help participants understand user-centric problem-solving. Post-lunch sessions covered the Startup and Incubation Ecosystem, methodologies to identify promising ideas ("Founder Spark"), and frameworks like the Lean Model, Business Model Canvas, and Incubator Model Canvas (IMC). The day concluded with a session on IIC Handholding, emphasizing institutional support systems.
Day 2: Friday, 25th July 2025:
The second day focused on the design and operational framework of incubators in HEIs. Sessions led by Dr. Mouli and Mr. Aravind provided deep insights into the dynamics of incubator structure, objectives, key performance indicators (KPIs), and sector-wise pipeline creation. Participants explored mapping of resources and facilities required for incubation centers. In the afternoon, discussions moved toward sustainable incubator design, revenue generation strategies, and outreach planning. The role of digital and AI tools to assist faculty in managing innovation centers was demonstrated. The day emphasized practical tools, institutional alignment, and ecosystem partnerships needed for a successful innovation hub.
Day 3: Saturday, 26th July 2025
The final day delved into policy support systems and funding landscapes. Dr. Shiva Kiran led sessions on NISP, IPR, and institutional incubation policies, helping participants understand the legal and strategic framework for supporting innovators. Topics such as IPR management, technology transfer, and leveraging government grants (BIRAC, DST, DRDO, MSME, etc.) were covered in detail. The governance structure of incubators and their alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) were also discussed. In the concluding sessions, participants presented their IMC pitches, received mentoring feedback, and shared their learnings during the final feedback and closing session, marking a successful culmination of the FDP.
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