Dumka, Jharkhand: Dumka Engineering College (DEC), a constituent institution of Techno India Group, organised an awareness programme titled Developing Entrepreneurial Skills at PM SHRI National +2 High School, Dumka, on October 1, 2026, under the Developing Innovation Culture and Entrepreneurship (DICE) initiative of the School Innovation Council (SIC). The programme aimed to nurture innovation, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking among school students.
The initiative witnessed enthusiastic participation from 237 students, including 129 boys and 108 girls, along with eight teachers. It focused on introducing students to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, encouraging problem-solving abilities and creating awareness about startups and self-employment as potential career opportunities.
The interactive session was conducted by Prof. Pankaj Sarkar, Prof. Tasaul SK and Prof. Rajendra Prasad Roy of Dumka Engineering College. The resource persons discussed key aspects of entrepreneurship, including identifying business opportunities, creative thinking, innovation and transforming ideas into potential business ventures. Students were also encouraged to identify challenges within their local communities and explore socially relevant and economically viable solutions using locally available resources.
Addressing the gathering, Principal Dr. Ganesh Shankar emphasized that innovation and entrepreneurship are essential drivers of economic growth and national development. He stated “that educational institutions must encourage students to think creatively, identify societal challenges and develop innovative solutions rather than limiting themselves to conventional career choices.” He further remarked that “early exposure to entrepreneurship can empower young students to become future job creators, innovators and responsible contributors to society.”
Vice-Principal Dr. Ratan Kumar Bose highlighted the importance of experiential learning and skill development in school education. He observed that “programmes of this nature provide students with an opportunity to discover their creative potential, develop confidence and understand the practical journey from an innovative idea to a successful enterprise.” He encouraged students to develop problem-solving, teamwork, communication and leadership skills, which are essential for becoming successful entrepreneurs.
IIC President Prof. Pankaj Sarkar highlighted the importance of developing an innovation-driven mindset from the school level. He emphasised that “with appropriate mentoring, guidance and institutional support, students could transform their creative potential into meaningful innovations.” He also underlined the role of awareness programmes in introducing young learners to startups, business models, opportunity identification and self-employment.
The programme further highlighted that entrepreneurship need not always begin with large-scale businesses but can emerge from small, innovative solutions to everyday community challenges. Discussions also covered calculated risk-taking, decision-making, leadership and effective communication, alongside the growing startup ecosystem in India.
The session concluded with an interactive discussion, during which students engaged with the resource persons, shared their ideas and explored possibilities for developing innovative concepts into entrepreneurial ventures.
Through initiatives such as DICE, Dumka Engineering College continues to extend its innovation-driven activities beyond the campus, strengthening the connection between school education and higher technical education. The programme marked another step towards fostering a culture of innovation, ideation and entrepreneurship among young learners, contributing to the broader vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.