STARTUPS AND INNOVATION: TRANSFORMING THE LANDSCAPE OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

Universities are always considered seat of knowledge dissemination and academic research, and currently NEP 2020 recommends HEIs to become ecosystems promoting entrepreneurial thinking, technological innovation, and socio-economic development. The reason behind this is need for industry-academia collaboration, become strong player in global arena, and teaching learners 21st-century skills. HEIs are functioning as incubators and accelerators which provide infrastructure, mentorship, seed funding, promoting student-led startups. Author investigates how innovation and startup in universities are changing academic landscape, under initiatives as India's National Innovation and Start-up Policy (NISP). To promote startups, HEIs are undergoing transformation in the form of interdisciplinary curricula, innovation cells, and industry-linked research hubs. Findings of this qualitative study exhibits HEIs support startups are witnessing increased student participation, enhanced employability, and positive societal change. Though hurdles of fund constraint, demotivated faculty and lack of entrepreneurial mindset in learners exist, but future holds a promise. Author concludes with role of faculties in making university startups successful.