UoP to set up centre to foster entrepreneurship

Varsity working on plan to introduce 'entrepreneurial incubation centre' to give students hands-on training in setting up businesses

To encourage entrepreneurship among students, University of Pune (UoP) plans to set up an entrepreneurial incubation centre, where students from the university and affiliated colleges will be given practical experience in trade and commerce on their respective campuses.


Catch 'em young: The University of Pune main building. File Pic

The proposal, which has been sent by the state's higher and technical education department, will be initiated across major universities in the city, Mumbai and Aurangabad. A committee will be set up to study the scope and the need for such a centre, which will work towards bridging the gap between industry and academia. The centre aims to give students and budding entrepreneurs a chance to learn the subject.

Last week, the process of setting up the centre in the UoP was discussed in a board meeting in the presence of Minister for Higher and Technical Education Rajesh Tope, acting vice-chancellor Sanjay Chahande and Dr W N Gade, director of the Board of Colleges and University Development (BCUD), UoP.u00a0

Speaking to MiD DAY, Gade said: "Though we are yet to make final decisions, we are in the process of putting up a centre in the University to teach students about setting up businesses. These centres will also boost the small-scale industries."

Once the incubation centre is set up, the university has reportedly planned to invite professionals from different sectors and industries, such as marketing, manufacturing, shipping and consultancy, to endorse trade and business ideas among students. Education department officials said that the department will support the university and will provide all sorts of facilities for setting up the centres. Since the proposal is in the nascent stage, no funds have been allocated by the department yet.

A senior official from UoP said: "There are certain policies to be made and we'll have to wait for the committee's report. Since the Education Ministry keeps changing its plans, we'll have to wait and watch."