Katra, Feb 4: A week-long entrepreneurial skill development programme was inaugurated Tuesday at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) today, aimed at nurturing the entrepreneurial skills of students across various disciplines.
The inauguration ceremony saw Chief Guest Shri Sat Pal Abrol, Director of Palawan’s Group, J&K, emphasising the critical importance of consistency and quality orientation for startup success. He stressed that honesty is a key factor for maintaining a brand’s reputation and ensuring long-term business success.
In his address, Professor Javir Ali from IIM Jammu highlighted the vital role of startup ecosystems and entrepreneurial competencies in ensuring the success of any business venture. He pointed out that the ability to innovate and adapt in a dynamic environment is essential for entrepreneurs to thrive.
Professor Ashutosh Vashishtha, Dean of the Faculty of Management, spoke about the importance of business incubation centres in fostering entrepreneurial growth and the need for a dynamic business environment to support startups.
Earlier, programme Coordinator Professor Supran Kumar Sharma outlined the activities planned for the week, which include case study analyses, interactions with successful entrepreneurs, factory visits, and role-playing exercises. These sessions aim to provide practical insights into the entrepreneurial process and business operations. The programme, which will conduct four expert-led sessions every day, is tailored to students from various streams, including BBA, MBA, and B.Tech. It is being conducted with a financial grant under the PM-USHA scheme to promote skill development in entrepreneurship. Professor (Dr.) Pragati Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of SMVDU, extended his best wishes to the participants, encouraging them to utilise the opportunity to hone their skills in startup and entrepreneurial domains. Dr. Sunanda, Head of SoCSE at SMVDU, offered a vote of thanks, and Dr. Sanjay Mohan, CEO of TBIC SMVDU, gave a brief overview of the various activities being carried out by the Technology Business Incubation Centre (TBIC) at the university to support aspiring entrepreneurs.