Guwahati: A three-day Regional Mentoring Session (RMS) on Innovation aimed at promoting entrepreneurship in school education concluded on February 6 at Girijananda Chowdhury University (GCU), bringing together teachers and students from PM SHRI schools across Assam.
Organised jointly by the Department of School Education and Literacy, the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell (MIC), and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the programme focused on integrating innovation, design thinking and entrepreneurial skills into classroom learning. Nearly 100 participants attended the intensive mentoring session.
The programme began on February 4 with sessions on design thinking and the application of artificial intelligence in school-level innovation. Experts discussed ethical considerations, problem identification and the use of AI tools to address real-world challenges. Faculty members from higher education institutions and innovation practitioners guided participants through structured learning modules.
The second day focused on product development through a “build-learn-measure” framework, enabling students to translate ideas into physical or digital prototypes. On the final day, sessions on financial modelling and pitching helped participants refine their ideas and present them before evaluators.
The programme concluded with a valedictory session on February 6, attended by the vice-chancellor of Girijananda Chowdhury University and senior representatives from the Innovation Cell. Mentorship support throughout the programme was provided by innovation coordinators and entrepreneurship coaches from the Wadhwani Foundation.
As part of the exposure component, participants visited the university’s incubation centre and centre of excellence, gaining insight into startup ecosystems, applied research and industry-linked innovation.
Organisers said the initiative aims to strengthen innovation-driven learning in schools and encourage students to develop problem-solving skills aligned with industry and societal needs. The programme also reinforced the university’s role as a regional hub for fostering innovation in education.