VTU's 'She Innovates' Initiative Aims to Foster Entrepreneurship Among Female Engineering Students
In a significant move to boost entrepreneurship, Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) has launched the 'She Innovates' programme, specifically targeting pre-final-year female engineering students across its affiliated colleges. This ambitious initiative is designed to train approximately 4,000 students in essential entrepreneurial skills, with the ultimate goal of identifying around 100 participants to develop and launch their own start-ups.
Programme Structure and Registration Details
The 'She Innovates' initiative is being implemented under the Visvesvaraya Research and Innovation Foundation (VRIF) of VTU. To ensure effective participation, a limit of about 80 students per college has been established. So far, the programme has seen strong interest, with around 3,400 students already registered, reflecting a high level of engagement from the student community.
Corporate Partnerships and Training Framework
The training for these students will be conducted by a diverse group of corporate partners, providing a robust learning environment. Key collaborators include:
- Wipro
- JAN AI
- UN Women
- Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM)
- TiE Chapters from Hubballi, Bengaluru, Mangaluru, and Mysuru
According to Santosh Ittanagi, head of execution and operations at VRIF, "They will be equipped with learning and insight into industry that would help them in their journey as an entrepreneur." This comprehensive training aims to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world business challenges.
Hackathon and Internship Integration
Following the three-month training period, students will participate in a hackathon where they will be tasked with developing real-world solutions to problems identified in rural settings. This practical component can be considered as their final-year internship, offering hands-on experience in innovation and problem-solving.
Focus on Support and Family Engagement
Santosh Ittanagi emphasized the programme's commitment to supporting aspiring entrepreneurs, noting, "The motto of She Innovates is to identify the 100 people who really want to become entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship is not an easy journey. Society will discourage you from looking for regular placements and from taking risks. The survival rate is very low." To address this, the programme will engage with families to ensure that the selected 100 students have a supportive home environment, crucial for their entrepreneurial success.
VTU's Commitment to Gender Equality and Practical Education
VTU, which has a student batch of approximately 80,000 with about half being women, designed this programme to recognize and honor female talent in engineering. Prof S Vidyashankar, vice-chancellor of VTU, stated, "We designed this programme to recognise and honour the talent of women by giving them greater priority in the engineering field. Many companies came forward to support this initiative. We will also provide mentors to the female students. Priority will be given to students from rural areas."
In a related address at a principals' meeting organized by VTU and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Prof Vidyashankar highlighted the importance of practical education, saying, "Engineering colleges must prepare students for the job market by providing practical education. It is not that there are no job opportunities today. However, students suitable for the job market are not readily available. As much as possible, emphasis should be placed on practical education." This underscores VTU's broader educational philosophy, aligning with the hands-on approach of the 'She Innovates' programme.
