Dhanbad: A two-day Innovation, Design, and Entrepreneurship (IDE) Boot Camp for schoolteachers across Jharkhand kicked off today at the Penman Auditorium, IIT-ISMDhanbad. Organized under the auspices of the AICTE-Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell, New Delhi, the event is set to run on November 29th and 30th.
The boot camp was inaugurated by Shri Ravi Raj Sharma, Dhanbad Municipal Commissioner, who attended as the chief guest. He was joined by Shri Ayush Kumar, District Superintendent of Education, Dhanbad, as the guest of honour, along with Professor MK Singh, Dean Academic, IIT-ISMDhanbad. Also present were Shri S.M. Tripathi, Regional Coordinator of the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell, Government of India, and Shri Sheikh Wasim from the Wadhwani Foundation, who participated as a knowledge partner.
Over 250 participants, including principals, vice-principals, and teachers from various schools in Jharkhand, are attending the camp. The program also includes 10 trainers and faculty members identified by AICTE, along with two AICTE officers. IIT-ISMDhanbad has been designated as the Mentor Institute (MI) for this initiative, providing support to nearby educational institutions.
The first session of the boot camp centered on a Human-Centered Approach to innovation and problem-solving. Shri S.M. Tripathi gave an overview of the program and introduced participants to innovation and design thinking principles. Teachers then took part in a session on “Discovering Your Entrepreneurial Skills,” where experts outlined the essential competencies needed for entrepreneurship.
In the afternoon, a lecture on “Entrepreneurial Innovation: A Path to Problem and Opportunity Identification” was held, followed by a session on “Mentoring the Next Generation Entrepreneurs,” which was specifically tailored for educators. Participants also had the chance to visit IIT-ISMDhanbad’s incubation center as part of the “Innovation in Action” program.
The second day of the boot camp, taking place on November 30th, will feature sessions on “Ideas to Impact: Crafting a Path to Business Success.” Workshops will cover topics such as customer discovery, an introduction to prototyping, and financial literacy basics.
Professor Vikas Mahto, Professor in Charge of AICTE activities at IIT (ISM), emphasized, “This program is designed to empower educators with the necessary skills in innovation, design thinking, and entrepreneurship.”
Professor (Dr.) Pradip Kumar Sadhu, Professor (HAG) in the Department of Electrical Engineering and IEEE Senior Member & Fellow of IE (I), added, “IIT-ISMDhanbad is proud to serve as the host Nodal Institute for this transformative initiative. Our goal is to inspire and equip educators in Jharkhand with the tools to foster innovation in their schools.”
