Mangaluru: St Joseph Engineering College (SJEC), in collaboration with SI8 Foundation, successfully hosted a three-day Faculty Development Program (FDP) titled “Acharya – Innovation & Entrepreneurship” from 24th to 26th July 2025. The programme aimed at equipping faculty with the tools and knowledge necessary to foster innovation, promote start-up culture, and establish incubation centres within Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs).
Focus on experiential learning and innovation tools
The FDP commenced with a warm Meet & Greet and ice-breaking session using Menti Meter to capture participant expectations. Dr. Mouli, CEO of AIC-SKU, along with Mr. Aravind from SI8 Foundation, initiated the programme by contextualising the role of innovation and entrepreneurship in academic ecosystems.
The first day’s sessions were dedicated to experiential learning strategies and user-centric innovation. A hands-on Design Thinking Workshop allowed participants to develop practical problem-solving frameworks. Later sessions introduced start-up incubation ecosystems, and key frameworks such as the Lean Canvas, Business Model Canvas, and Incubator Model Canvas (IMC). Participants also received guidance on IIC handholding and how to align institutional processes with innovation objectives.
Understanding incubator design and sustainability
The second day focused on the operational aspects of establishing incubators in educational institutions. Dr. Mouli and Mr. Aravind delivered sessions on incubator structures, goals, key performance indicators (KPIs), and sectoral pipeline development.
Participants engaged in activities to map institutional resources, infrastructure, and stakeholder alignment for effective incubation. Later discussions centred on creating sustainable incubation models, including revenue strategies, outreach plans, and the use of digital and AI tools to aid faculty in managing innovation centres.
Exploring policy, funding, and IPR frameworks
The final day was led by Dr. Shivakiran and concentrated on the National Innovation and Startup Policy (NISP), Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), and institutional incubation guidelines. Sessions included detailed discussions on technology transfer, IPR protection, and how to tap into government funding sources such as BIRAC, DST, DRDO, and MSME.
In alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), the governance structures of incubators were reviewed, offering faculty a vision of how innovation can support global development goals. Participants also presented their Incubator Model Canvas pitches, receiving feedback from mentors before concluding the FDP with a feedback-sharing session.
The initiative underscored SJEC’s commitment to nurturing a culture of innovation in academia and highlighted the increasing importance of institutional ecosystems in building India’s entrepreneurial future.