In the modern day world where the fabric of the technical industry is shaped by innovation and the spirit of entrepreneurship, St. Mary’s Group of Institutions, being a leading engineering college in Hyderabad, has gone a long way in creating good opportunities for entrepreneurship among the engineering students. Understandably, computer science engineering is no longer restricted to the stereotyped desk-bound jobs, and therefore, the course curriculum of St. Mary’s includes entrepreneurship as its core component in its computer science engineering program.
There are multiple layers on how the institution encourages entrepreneurship and the following are some of them Ideally, entrepreneurship courses are introduced in the computer science engineering study programm. These are courses like the business model innovation, funding processes in the start-ups, and the protection of intellectual property among others which give the students the knowledge of the business aspect of the technologies.
Another one of the important strategic projects of the University is an advanced incubation centre at St. Mary’s. It is a home to all startups where students participating in Entrepreneural Launch Pad are provided with premises, guidance and seed capital to execute their ideas and create companies. The incubation center has especially benefited the students of CSE-AIML program which stands for Computer Science Engineering-Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning program because the students get an opportunity to understand commercial usability of AI and ML technologies.
St. Mary’s also encourages students to participate in hackathons and ideathons as part of it’s competitions and events where students must create innovative solutions to several problems. These events not only enhance the process of thinking out of the box as well as problem solving skills but also offer the students a chance to present their ideas to the investors and other like minded partners. Almost all the successful student-business enterprises that have been identified at St. Mary’s have started from these hackathons as a testimony of this form of approach.
The institution has also engaged with this community to establish partnership whereby successful startups are invited to give guest lectures and conduct mentorship on the campus. Such interactions help students to gain understanding of the problems and opportunities in this type of activities, and therefore make them think of becoming an entrepreneur as a possible future occupation in computer science engineering.
Furthermore, that St. Mary’s has created a special ‘Entrepreneur in Residence’ program in which actual entrepreneurs spend a semester at the school helping students with the implementation of their business plans. This program offers practical support in almost all aspects of starting a tech based business or conceiving, designing and commercializing a new product.
Understandably, cross functional skills remain paramount in any type of venture thus the cross engineering or interdisciplinary integration at St. Mary’s. For example computer science engineering students may form a group with electronics and groups of engineering students to come up with IoT products or smart gadgets. It is somewhat common to tap ideas from different fields and ends up creating unique cross-overs.
Project based learning has also been incorporated with entrepreneurship in the institution. One of the distinguishing features of the education is that in the last year students can develop a Startup Project as a replacement for an academic project. Frese and Project Team (1997) for instance noted that this approach provides students with an opportunity to use technical knowledge in solving business problems an aspect that brings together the theory from the classroom and practice of entrepreneurship.
St. Mary’s has gone a step further by introducing a minor in entrepreneurship for engineering students. This program allows students to gain in-depth knowledge of business fundamentals alongside their technical education, preparing them for the dual role of a technopreneur.
The institution’s efforts in fostering entrepreneurship have yielded impressive results. Several successful startups have emerged from St. Mary’s in recent years, particularly in areas like AI, blockchain, and IoT. These success stories not only validate the institution’s approach but also serve as inspiration for current and future students.
Furthermore, St. Mary’s has established partnerships with venture capital firms and angel investor networks, providing students with opportunities to pitch their ideas to potential investors. This exposure to the funding ecosystem is crucial for students looking to turn their ideas into full-fledged businesses.
The institution also organizes an annual ‘Startup Showcase’ event, where student entrepreneurs can exhibit their products and services to a wider audience, including industry professionals and potential customers. This event has become a highlight of the academic calendar, attracting significant attention from the tech community in Hyderabad and beyond.
St. Mary’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship extends to its faculty as well. The institution encourages professors to engage in entrepreneurial activities and even take sabbaticals to work on their startup ideas. This not only brings real-world entrepreneurial experience into the classroom but also creates a culture where entrepreneurship is valued and celebrated.
The institution has also introduced flexible academic policies to support student entrepreneurs. For instance, students working on promising startup ideas can opt for a deferred placement option, allowing them to focus on their ventures without losing out on job opportunities in Computer Science Engineering placements.
Moreover, St. Mary’s has established a dedicated fund to support student startups. This fund provides seed capital to promising ventures, helping them overcome the initial financial hurdles that often derail early-stage startups.
The institution’s efforts in fostering entrepreneurship have not gone unnoticed. St. Mary’s has been recognized as one of the best engineering colleges in India for promoting student entrepreneurship, further cementing its reputation as a forward-thinking institution.
In conclusion, St. Mary’s Group of Institutions’ approach to fostering entrepreneurship among engineering students is comprehensive and forward-thinking. By integrating entrepreneurship into the curriculum, providing infrastructure and mentorship support, and creating a culture that celebrates innovation, St. Mary’s is preparing its students not just for jobs, but for creating jobs. As the tech industry continues to evolve, the entrepreneurial skills instilled in students at St. Mary’s will undoubtedly prove invaluable, whether they choose to start their own ventures or drive innovation within established companies. Through these efforts, St. Mary’s is not just shaping the future of engineering education, but also contributing to the growth of India’s startup ecosystem.