ArdorComm Media Bureau
April 24, 2026
At IIIT Vadodara, while students traditionally have an engineering mindset, there is also a growing entrepreneurial mindset. What initiatives are being taken to support this?
The scenario has completely changed now. Earlier, people were mostly focused on government jobs or traditional career paths, but today, most students want to pursue entrepreneurship.
An institute serves as a platform where students are guided on how to think big, think differently, and think out of the box. The key part is implementation. For implementation, two things are very important—funding and sincerity.
Institutes evaluate how sincere you are and then provide platforms, even up to TRL level 3 or 4, to support you. Today, across India, there are many platforms available. If you are truly sincere, you won’t face problems with funding or even accessing the market.
In the EdTech space, especially with Artificial Intelligence, do you see AI as a game changer?
Technology works like a sinusoidal wave—there are always ups and downs. Technocrats and market leaders continuously observe these changes.
This is a very critical time where policymakers must carefully think, especially considering global developments. We need to decide how much technology we should adopt.
AI is an amplifier. It can enhance what already exists, but it cannot replace the basics. You must provide the right input—without input, there will be no amplification.
We need to educate people to focus on the input side, not just the output. Nowadays, people are doing the reverse—they only look at outputs without understanding the inputs.
In terms of teaching, learning, and employability, what initiatives are being taken? Also, do alumni play an important role?
The first and most important thing is knowledge. As mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita: “Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana.”
Employability comes much later. At a young age, students should not be burdened with too much pressure about jobs. Let them first gain knowledge—this is where the real gap exists today.
From my 30–40 years of experience, including my time at IIT Roorkee, I have observed that there is no real problem with employability if knowledge is strong.
Earlier, even before campus placements became common, people still got jobs. The focus was on knowledge. Today, everyone is running after salary packages—but what will you do with money alone? You cannot “eat gold biscuits.”
What role do alumni and corporate culture play in an institution’s growth?
Every element in society has its own role—family, friends, corporates—all contribute differently.
When we were studying, we didn’t even know what the corporate world was. Around 1990, this concept wasn’t common, yet people succeeded and worked globally.
I appreciate the Government of India for focusing on the Indian Knowledge System (IKS). Our traditional system is unique. Like breathing involves oxygen and nitrogen, every component has a role.
The key concern today is peer pressure and excessive pampering of students. These should be reduced.
How important is teacher training, and what initiatives are being taken?
Teachers must continuously upgrade themselves—just like doctors. Otherwise, even a teacher may struggle in the classroom.
A teacher might appear confident outside, but in a 60-minute class, the real test happens. That’s why staying updated is essential—whether in technology, research, or societal developments.
Attending conferences and meetings is very helpful. What you may not learn from 100 books, you can sometimes learn in a single day through meaningful discussions.
Platforms like this summit bring together academia, corporates, and government. How does such collaboration help society?
Such platforms are useful only if there is proper follow-up. Otherwise, they lose meaning.
I am being very frank—there is usually no follow-up. School teachers don’t even participate actively. At our campus, we have adopted 14 schools because students come from there. If we don’t train them and their teachers, nothing will improve.
There must be continuous engagement. Organizers should identify a few people and ensure ongoing interaction. Otherwise, meetings happen, and then everyone forgets the next day.
That’s why the success of many programs is declining.
What is the solution to bridge this gap?
Earlier, organizers ensured follow-ups. Now, institutions need dedicated teams for this.
You must create a system where people regularly visit schools, interact with students, and build continuity. The impact may only be visible after 5 years, but that’s how real change happens.
What entrepreneurial or part-time programs are being introduced in your campus?
The mandate of a technological institute is to develop technocrats. Teaching from textbooks is just the foundation.
The real task is to transform that knowledge into market-ready solutions and technologies. We are working towards this through project-based learning, project-based courses, and modifying lab structures.
I believe we are moving in a very positive direction.
ArdorComm is a young organization in the digital media space. Any message or wishes for us?
My good wishes are always with anyone working in technology. That is why I am here—to encourage you.
You are working for a good cause. My suggestion is to build a strong core group and focus on meaningful initiatives, even if they are small initially. Over time, these efforts will grow and take you forward.
I feel that many people today are still confined within limited exposure. You should work on expanding their outreach and thinking beyond boundaries.