Entrepreneurship Development Cell & Institution’s Innovation Council “Cultivating Campus Startups: The Role of Institutional Support in Student Entrepreneurship”

On September 25, 2024 a session on “Cultivating Campus Startups: The Role of Institutional Support in Student Entrepreneurship” was organized by the Entrepreneurship Development Cell and the Institution’s Innovation Council in association with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, from 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM. The session was conducted by Mr. S.David Blessley, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering at Francis Xavier Engineering College, Tirunelveli. 41 students and 1 faculty participated in the program, which was coordinated by Dr. K. Vinukumar, AP/MECH. The event was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Lourdes Poobala Rayen, EDC Director.

The resource persons discussed the vital role of institutional support in fostering student entrepreneurship. It emphasizes the importance of mentorship and guidance, access to resources like funding and office space, and networking opportunities to connect students with investors and peers. Additionally, integrating entrepreneurship into the curriculum and establishing incubators and accelerators can significantly enhance support for startups. Best practices include creating an entrepreneurial culture, tailoring programs to meet diverse student needs, engaging alumni and community partners for mentorship, providing financial support such as grants, and encouraging cross-disciplinary collaboration to drive innovation. Ultimately, effective institutional support empowers students to transform their ideas into successful ventures, contributing to economic growth and innovation on campus.

Students found this session extremely valuable and encouraging, providing positive feedback about how it motivated them to pursue their goals with renewed enthusiasm. The session concluded with a Q&A segment, where clear and helpful answers were provided to address participants' questions.