FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on Innovation and Entrepreneurship was jointly organized by the Department of ICT and the PDEU Innovation & Incubation Centre (PDEU IIC) from March 24 to 28, 2025. Sponsored by the AICTE and the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell,  the programme brought together educators, startup founders, and industry experts to exchange ideas and promote best practices for building a thriving startup ecosystem within academic institutions.

Over five days, the programme included a blend of expert talks, interactive sessions, and startup engagements. Key sessions covered topics such as idea generation, lean startup methodology, business model canvas (BMC), finance for startups, and go-to-market strategies. Eminent speakers like Dr. Dhaval Pujara, Ms. Kruti Patel, Mr. Karamjit Bihola, and Mr. Jatin Kataria led the sessions. Participants also had the chance to interact with numerous startup founders including Mr. Aditya Dave (Cibos Technologies Pvt. Ltd. ), Dr. Samir Patel (Deed Mobility), and Mr. Vraj Gohil (DevSquirrel Technologies Pvt. Ltd.), gaining real-world perspectives and entrepreneurial insights. Additionally, visits to the university’s incubation centre and sessions on institutional innovation practices enriched the learning experience.

The final day featured the sharing of action plans and feedback by Mr. Abhinav Kapadia- CFO-PDEU & Director PDEU IIC, and Dr. Dhaval Pujara- Director SoT, PDEU, summarizing key takeaways and outlining future implementation. The programme concluded with certificate distribution, celebrating the active participation and commitment of the attendees. Overall, the FDP served as a dynamic platform to promote innovation and entrepreneurship, and equip faculty members to mentor the next generation of changemakers.

The five-day programme blended expert talks, workshops, and startup interactions. Key themes included:

• Foundational Knowledge: Idea generation, lean startup methodology, business model canvas (BMC), and customer discovery.

• Business Operations: Finance for startups, go-to-market strategies, and intellectual property rights.

• Institutional Frameworks: Sessions on leading innovation and entrepreneurship on campus, including pre-incubation and incubation frameworks.

• Practical Engagement: Participants interacted with various startup founders and toured the university's incubation centre to observe real-world entrepreneurial journeys.

The programme concluded with the sharing of action plans, feedback, and certificate distribution.

Sponsored by the AICTE and the Ministry of Education's Innovation Cell.

Participants : 50+ Faculty Members