“Workshop on Design Thinking, Critical Thinking and Innovation Thinking”

On 27.01.2025 & 28.01.2025, a “Workshop on Design Thinking, Critical Thinking and Innovation Thinking” was organized by the Entrepreneurship Development Cell and IIC in association with the Department of MCA. The session was handled by Dr. R. Prem Ananth, Assistant Professor, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, FXEC from 9.30AM to 4.00 PM. 66 students and 2 faculties participated. The program was coordinated by Dr. M.Vijaya Maheswari, EDC Co-Ordinator Assistant Professor, Department of MCA, Francis Xavier Engineering College. This event was conducted with the guidance of Dr. Lourdes Poobala Rayen, EDC Director.

The program started with the welcome address by Dr. M.Vijaya Maheswari, Assistant Professor, Department of MCA and introduced the guest speaker. The seminar began with an overview of design thinking and critical thinking which aimed to foster creative thinking, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial skills among students. The speaker explained the need for the workshop as to equip participants with the essential skills needed to tackle complex problems, enhance decision-making, and drive innovation. The session focused on developing a structured mindset that enables professionals and students to approach challenges with creativity, analytical reasoning, and a solution-oriented perspective.

Speaker suggested, problem-solving skills through structured methodologies, to encourage creative and analytical approaches in professional and academic environments and to provide hands-on experience through practical exercises and case studies. The speaker explained the concepts of entrepreneurship, ideation, market research and marketing. Speaker presented the five stages of Design Thinking: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test with real world example and applications. The importance of questioning assumptions, Logical reasoning and argument analysis. Decision-making frameworks and identifying cognitive biases were also taught by the speaker. The speaker suggested different ideas in innovation thinking and its applications which included, the role of innovation in modern industries, Brainstorming techniques for generating creative ideas and encouraging a culture of experimentation and risk-taking. A strong understanding of how to approach problems using Design Thinking frameworks, improved critical thinking abilities for better decision-making and problem analysis. the ability to foster innovation in their respective fields by thinking outside the box and Practical experience through engaging activities and discussion was conducted on the second day of the workshop. The workshop proved to be highly beneficial in fostering a mindset of innovation, creativity, and analytical reasoning. Participants provided positive feedback on the hands-on approach and real-world applications discussed. Moving forward, further workshops and advanced sessions could be organized to deepen participants' understanding and application of these concepts in their professional and academic journeys. This initiative not only prepares students for future challenges but also equips them with the tools to contribute meaningfully to the society.