Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Skill development at Higher Education Institutes

By Dr. Mushtaque Shaikh

Associate Professor and HoD (Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry)

Vivekanand Education Society’s College of Pharmacy

A renowned management consultant, educator, and author, Peter Drucker once quoted that "The enterprise that does not innovate ages and declines. And in a period of rapid change such as the present the decline will be fast." 

The same holds true for research and higher education institutions. These days, the education industry is likewise becoming extremely competitive due to 1) an increase in educational institutions and 2) a student population that is highly informed.

Students will almost always select a school that offers chances for skill development and prepares them for the future. Let's talk about what the future means right now.

India has surpassed China to become the world's most populous nation. Providing enough for all of these folks will undoubtedly be difficult. We'll need to think differently than ever before. Here, innovation and research are crucial.

The way the world is changing is also a challenge at the same time. People like myself, who were born in the 1980s and 1990s, have seen this sudden change. Even the younger generation is aware that their smartphones undergo periodic hardware and software upgrades.

Both of these circumstances call on creating a national inventive culture. My opinion is that educational institutions, and higher education institutions in particular, are in charge of this. As teachers, we occasionally grumble about the time needed and the time available for teaching and learning. We need to employ technology to close the gap as well as to enable us to comply with the curriculum.

In addition, I perform my obligations as the National Accreditation and Assessment Council's application and compliance coordinator at VESCOP (NAAC coordinator). The NAAC makes explicit reference to experiential learning. Skill development is also emphasized in the New Education Policy 2020. Research and innovation skills are valued at professional degree-granting institutions like those for pharmacy, medicine, and engineering. Additionally, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data analytics are new skill sets in all scientific groups for the future.

In summary, it is imperative that professors and students collaborate on research and innovation. The Government of India has developed a number of initiatives to aid in this cause, including the creation of thousands of Institution Innovation Councils at HEIs throughout the nation, the implementation of ranking frameworks like the AICTE-CII survey, NIRF, ARIIA, and accreditation procedures like the NBA and NAAC. The Indian government has also played a key role in hosting events like the Innovation Contest and Smart India Hackathon, providing support for new businesses and a variety of grants for conferences, workshops, and research.

Therefore, the long-term nation-building contribution to research innovation and entrepreneurship growth will come from both HEIs and students.

Let's get this role-play between the two parties from HEIs underway first. The culture of research and innovation needs to be established first and foremost. Mentoring our students in public speaking, creativity, and helping them become job creators rather than just job seekers is the best way to address the situation at hand right away. The HEIs' main duty will be to equip students with not only the fundamentals but also practical skills and keep them current in their specialties through contact with business. holding occasions that give participants the chance to showcase their innovative abilities. The second stage should cover starting a business, intellectual property rights, business skills, obstacles, and next steps. The emphasis must be on some progress that is taking place in the appropriate direction, regardless of the students' level of education, whether they are UG, PG, or PhD students. Since the development won't occur all at once, institutions must focus on one product at a time, assisted by the staff members responsible for doing market research and designing products and processes. In view of the NISP-2020 proposed by the government, the institutes must create and adopt an innovation and start-up policy. The icing on the cake will be adding one IPR policy. The students should be encouraged to take part in research competitions and conventions at the local, state, and national levels (such as Pharmacy Council of India's Smart India Hackathon), which will not only give them exposure but also help them become more self-assured, skilled, and product-driven. Such events may present opportunities. However, the institutions need to set aside funds and resources for the same. I'm thrilled to report that the VES College of Pharmacy has already implemented all of these actions. Establishing a pre-incubation cell, adopting a national innovation and startup policy, and constructing an incubator—for which a seven-story structure is being built—are the three steps we have taken.

From the perspective of the student, they must acknowledge that change is unavoidable. In the approaching hard and competitive times, only those who adapt to the change will survive. In the future, one needs to have a variety of skill sets. Only working hard and consistently might not be enough; smart work and an understanding of cutting-edge scientific and technological developments will be crucial. Some people may view the present internet development of automation and artificial intelligence tools as a threat, but I see them as brand-new job chances. Therefore, I kindly ask all young people to select educational institutions offering them opportunity for this modern learning carefully. They must choose their course of action in advance. Their advantage is that they are in the learning stage in a time when everything is accessible online, including shark tank movies and social support. They need to identify a social issue and turn it into a business concept. Here's a word of caution: Don't make your own issues; else, you'll simply suffer. I want to commend the eager VESCOP students who, in the academic year 2022–2023, excelled in competitions like the CIIA, SIH, Aaviskar, etc., not only brought honour to the school but also presented some of their ideas to the governor of Maharashtra and an industry representative, which is a huge accomplishment in and of itself. However, it would be uncommon for students to always be given the best platform to directly enter the market or to aid society through R&D and entrepreneurship, thus the process would be gradual. Having such a mindset is necessary at the moment.

Note : The views presented in this article are independently made by the author himself.