BHUBANESWAR: In a bid to promote entrepreneurship as a career choice among youth from their student days, the State Government is set to formalise partnership with universities and technical institutions for greater industry-academia involvement.
The MSME Department is working on a plan where students will take up summer projects in MSMEs that would encompass involvement in whole gamut of operations, management and other aspects of the enterprise concerned.
The effort is to provide a hands-on experience on the working of an enterprise, its advantages, USPs as well as problems and drawbacks. A direct involvement with an enterprise can encourage many participants to choose entrepreneurship as their future career choice rather than running after jobs. The knowledge gained will guide them in setting up successful enterprises, Secretary, MSME Panchanan Dash said.
The MSME Department will identify enterprises that will take in students for their summer projects. Both the entrepreneurs concerned and faculty of university or technical institutions will be sensitised on the projects and interventions. While the entrepreneurs will enable direct involvement of students in their functioning, the latter will identify problems afflicting the units and suggest revival plans that could be worked upon.
The MSME-academia collaboration will be of mutual benefit. There are many operational bottlenecks of small and micro enterprises which can be overcome through fresh ideas and innovative thinking. “And, who better than the youth bubbling with ideas? Small technical and managerial solutions like a brand specific website or marketing ideas can do wonders for units. On the other side, by directly engaging with the enterprises, the young minds will be motivated towards entrepreneurship,” Dash said.
The initiative is being worked out on the lines of Gujarat and Kerala where it has met great success. There, the student groups were also encouraged to take up sick industries and study them. Based on their recommendations, many have been revived.
Stressing closer coordination between MSMEs and technical institutions, the Department has also pressed for establishment of Entrepreneurship Development Cells with basic infrastructure and facilities to motivate students.
The Entrepreneurship Policy, which will be released soon, has laid special focus on orienting academics towards entrepreneurship development. Plans are to allow fund creation in universities through Corporate CSR assistance for establishing incubators, extending support to start-ups and innovation by students.
Trade tricks
■ MSME Dept is working on a plan where students will take up summer projects in MSMEs
■ The effort is to provide a hands-on experience on the working of an enterprise
■ MSME Dept will identify enterprises that will take in students for their summer projects
■ The initiative is being worked out on the lines of Gujarat and Kerala where it has met great success