Second Edition of IDE Bootcamp inaugurated for Student Innovators, Teachers, and Principals of PM-SHRI Schools

This initiative, aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurial skills among secondary and senior secondary school students, teachers, and principals of PM-SHRI schools, will be conducted in three slots from 4 to 19 September 2024 across ten locations.

The bootcamp was virtually inaugurated by TG Sitharam, Chairman of AICTE, along with Vipin Kumar, . Abhay Jere, Vice Chairman of AICTE and Chief Innovation Officer of the Ministry of Education Innovation Cell, also attended the event.

During the inauguration, AICTE Chairman TG Sitharam highlighted that the bootcamp aims to develop innovation, design, and entrepreneurial skills among student innovators and innovation ambassadors from PM-SHRI schools. He further highlighted the bootcamp's role in opening doors for students to become patent holders, start-up founders, and company creators, ultimately contributing to job creation and economic growth.

Vipin Kumar, Additional Secretary of DoSEL, expressed enthusiasm about the program, noting that it has attracted 1,800 registrations from students, teachers, and principals nationwide. He emphasized the importance of bootcamp in deepening participants' understanding of the Indian entrepreneurial landscape and the opportunities available to school children.

Abhay Jere, Vice Chairman of AICTE, in his address to the participants, emphasized that the IDE Bootcamp initiative aims to empower young minds with the skills and mindset essential for thriving in today's fast-changing global environment.

The two-day bootcamp, held in three phases, commenced today. The first phase (4-5 September) is taking place in Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Dehradun, and Gandhinagar. The second phase will be conducted on 11-12 September at Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jamshedpur, Patna, and Baddi (HP), and the final phase will occur on 18-19 September in Vijayawada.

Participants will receive training in human-centric opportunity identification, design thinking, and the essential skills needed to create customer-centric products and services.

They will explore basic business models, conduct initial evaluations of their startup ideas, and gain insights into the Indian entrepreneurial landscape, opportunities available for school children, and government support mechanisms.

The bootcamp will feature interactive group activities, immersive sessions, and workshops focused on creativity, problem-solving, and the essence of innovation. Attendees will learn practical strategies for driving change and integrating entrepreneurial thinking into education. The event is organized in partnership with the Wadhwani Foundation, recognized for its support of entrepreneurship education.

Alongside the IDE Bootcamp, the AICTE, in collaboration with DoSEL and MIC, launched KAPILA: Kalam Program for IP Literacy and Awareness for schools. This program aims to create widespread awareness about intellectual property (IP) filing, the mechanisms involved, and the importance of IP protection among students, teachers, and faculty of schools and higher education institutions.

For the academic year 2024-25, AICTE will extend funding support for 15,000 patent filings across higher education institutions, while the Department of School Education and Literacy will provide funding for 1,000 patent filings for schools. AICTE has also signed an MoU with the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks (CGPDTM) to promote patent awareness and educate participants on the filing process in India and globally.

Through these initiatives, AICTE, DoSEL, and MIC aim to inspire young minds, equipping them with the skills and knowledge required to navigate the evolving landscape of innovation, design, and entrepreneurship. (ANI)