Empowering Students of Engineering and Technology with Entrepreneurial Aspirations and Knowledge: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

Importance of Engineering and Technology cannot be over emphasized in the development of a nation. However, most engineering and technology students do not have the necessary entrepreneurial skills to start their own business and have very limited understanding of how even a small business venture works. Sadly, they have no understanding of how to convert their innovative technological ideas into useful products and have to be satisfied as job seekers and being technically good at their jobs. This deprives them from the opportunity of contributing to the nation's economic development, as possible techno-entrepreneurs. All the world over entrepreneurship is considered as one of the most powerful engines of economic growth, contributing greatly towards economic advancement of a nation and poverty alleviation. With more than one million student population at engineering and technology courses, India stands to immensely gain if its ongoing efforts to promote entrepreneurship are further aligned and integrated with technical education. This paper reviews such ongoing efforts both nationally and internationally and attempts to provide pointers to enhance such entrepreneurial interventions.