Guwahati: A major three-day Innovation Design & Entrepreneurship (IDE) Bootcamp for Principals and Teachers of PM SHRI Schools across Assam officially commenced on 17 December at Girijananda Chowdhury University’s Guwahati campus. This intensive program brings together more than 190 dedicated teachers and principals from various parts of Assam, marking a significant milestone in translating the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 into grassroots action.
This bootcamp is part of a massive national initiative spanning across 25 States and 4 Union Territories. Jointly organized by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), AICTE, Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell (MIC), and NCERT, the program is conducted in collaboration with the Wadhwani Foundation, a global non-profit dedicated towards driving large-scale job creation and entrepreneurship. The Guwahati chapter is led by Shri Nandajit Rabha, the Nodal Centre Head from the MoE Innovation Cell, in coordination with the university’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC), Dr. S. Robert Ravi, Dean of the School of Engineering and Technology.
Following the live broadcast of the Central Inauguration on Wednesday which featured dignitaries from AICTE and DoSEL, the event’s State Inauguration showcased prominent academic leaders who emphasized the importance of this major AICTE-MIC initiative. Shri Jashoda Ranjan Das, President of the Shrimanta Shankar Academy Society, spoke on the necessity of institutional support in nurturing young minds to think beyond traditional boundaries. Prof. Jayanta Deka, Chancellor of GCU, highlighted the university’s role in bridging the gap between classroom learning and the dynamic requirements of the global startup ecosystem. Shri Naranarayan Nath, Secretary of the Assam State School Education Board, added that integrating design thinking into school curricula is a fundamental pillar for India’s future.
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Building on the success of previous IDE Bootcamps that benefited 1,874 PM SHRI Schools, this new phase aims for a complete mindset transformation. To date, specialized programs such as SIATP, SIC, DTI, KAPILA, and NPPIS have connected with over 91,000 teachers and 1.18 lakh students nationwide. The current bootcamp expands this reach, involving 9,000+ participants and 210 expert speakers across India. The ultimate vision is to see every PM SHRI School become a mini innovation hub, where every student emerges as a confident problem-solver.
Technical sessions on Day 1 were led by expert speakers Shri Sree Vatsan and Dr. Bhawana Bardia from the Wadhwani Foundation. They introduced educators to the “Spark Quest” and the D.I.S.R.U.P.T model, a structured framework designed to help teachers guide students through the complexities of innovation. The day concluded with a collaborative “Find It, Frame It” activity and an inspiring panel discussion with young founders, preparing the educators for upcoming sessions on business modeling.