National Education Policy: Impact on Innovation & Entrepreneurship in the Campus

On 29.07.2024 to Celebrate 4th Anniversary of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 a session was organized on the title “National Education Policy: Impact on Innovation & Entrepreneurship in the Campus” by the Entrepreneurship Development Cell and IIC in association with the Electronics and Communication Engineering department. The session was handled by Dr. G. Rajakumar, Controller of Examinations, IIC Vice President, Professor/ECE, Francis Xavier Engineering College. 56 students and 2 faculties participated. This event was coordinated by Dr. R Prem Ananth, IIC Convener, IIC Innovation Ambassador for "Design thinking & Innovations", Assistant professor, Francis Xavier Engineering College.

The program commenced with a warm welcome from Dr. R. Prem Ananth, who emphasized the transformative impact of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, launched by the Government of India. He noted that on this 4th anniversary, it is crucial to reflect on the key changes and the significant impact of NEP. To delve deeper into this topic, Dr. R Prem Ananth introduced the guest speaker Dr. G. Rajakumar, Controller of Examinations, IIC Vice President, and Professor of ECE at FXEC.

The guest speaker began his address by proudly noting that our college has maintained the highest star status since 2018, a clear indication that innovation and entrepreneurship are flourishing in our campus. He attributed this success to NEP 2020. As the evidence of this, he cited the achievements of Ms. Dharshini from the final year of CSE, who received Rs. 2 lakhs from EDII TN for the development of smart wheel chair for the physically challenged people, and Mr. M. Praveen, also a final year CSE student, who received Rs. 1 lakh from the EDII TN through TNSI competition to develop the smart glass for the visually challenged people. The speaker highlighted these student accomplishments as a testament to the NEP 2020's goal of transforming India’s educational landscape by fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among both students and faculty.

He elaborated on how the NEP’s focus on multidisciplinary education has seamlessly integrated innovation and entrepreneurship into the curriculum. This shift has encouraged students to think creatively and apply their knowledge to solve real-world problems. He also pointed out that the establishment of EDC cells and incubation centers on campus is a direct outcome of NEP 2020. These centers provide students with essential resources, mentorship, and support to turn their ideas into viable ventures.

Furthermore, the speaker discussed the policy's emphasis on vocational education and skill development, which has led to a significant increase in student-led startups on campus. He proudly named the six startups currently operating within the campus, noting the surge in entrepreneurial activity as more students leverage the incubation facilities to launch their own businesses.

In conclusion, the speaker emphasized that this celebration not only highlights the achievements of the past four years but also sets the stage for future initiatives that will continue to drive innovation and entrepreneurship on our campus.