Less number of takers for start-up incubation policy of Kerala Technological University

The proposal by the KTU was not implemented so far and even many government engineering colleges did not have incubation centres.
APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (formerly  Kerala Technological University) (Photo | ktu.edu.in)
APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (formerly Kerala Technological University) (Photo | ktu.edu.in)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as the Kerala Technological University (KTU) chalked out a start-up incubation policy to promote entrepreneurship among engineering students in the state three years ago, the implementation in many colleges hit a rough weather.

Sources said only very few engineering colleges have incubation centres and a major chunk of the colleges were not even informed about the policy. The policy was to cover students and alumni, irrespective of their streams, from all engineering colleges affiliated with KTU. However, the top government colleges in the state are struggling too to function the incubation centres owing to the lack of support from faculty members.

As per the policy, every KTU programme was to set aside a few hours of its academic time where students and teachers will pursue certain activities for inculcating and amplifying the spirit of entrepreneurship. KTU had also extended financial support to the individual college Technology Business Incubator (TBIs) and student projects based on merit "within the availability of funds". The policy has also directed all the affiliated colleges to be provided with core infrastructure facilities like 5000 square feet floor area at their own colleges for entrepreneurship activity. Fully-furnished and ready-to-use plug-and-play infrastructure facilities, including minimum 100 Mbps internet connectivity were the infrastructure instructed to the colleges to set up incubators.

According to office-bearers of Kerala Self- financing Engineering College Management's Association, the proposal by the KTU was not implemented so far and even many government engineering colleges did not have incubation centres.

"Self-financing engineering colleges never get a support from KTU. In fact, many colleges have started the incubation centres on its own by collaborating with Kerala start-up mission. For instance, 'Entrepreneur clubs' were started in some colleges with the financial assistance of Industries department. Similarly, 'Technolodge', a start-up incubation concept with the larger involvement of faculty members was also begun at some colleges with the help of start-up mission. But the KTU's proposal is still hanging in balance", said KG Madhu, Secretary, All Kerala Self- financing Engineering College Management's Association.

The association members said that only below 30 engineering colleges have a start-up ecosystem to promote entrepreneurship.

KC Chandrasekharan Nair, former Chief Marketing Officer of Technopark and CEO of a Technolodge at Trinity College of Engineering at Thiruvananthapuram, said the incubation centres are must for the engineering students as most of the start-ups have been failed to hit the target.

"The faculty members in the colleges are not well trained so that they could share their knowledge in entrepreneurial skills to the enterprising students. Sadly, most of the colleges have not taken any steps to follow the policy. It is learnt that College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram (CET) 's incubation centre is not functioning properly due to lack of guidance from the faculty members. Hence KTU should give strict instructions to the colleges for the implementation. Once it is implemented, we could see a change in the start-up scene in the state", Nair said.

Meanwhile, top officers of KTU told Express that the students should take up the initiative in beginning the incubation centres in their colleges rather than the college management.

"We have initiated the policy and it is functioning successfully in some colleges. But we know that many colleges did not implement it. We can't force them to implement. The fund for starting such initiatives should be taken care of by the management itself. So it is the prerogative of the colleges to go on with the incubation policy. However, some private colleges have incubation centres", said GP Padmakumar, Registrar, KTU.

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