Introduction:

The level of economic growth of an economy finds its strong roots into the level, strength and intensity of the entrepreneurial activities on its soil. In order to sustain the entrepreneurial activities, there are requirements for the able support and promotion of emerging technological and knowledge-based innovative ventures that may imbibe the nurturing of ideas from professionals beyond the traditional/ conventional activities of the enterprises. The entrepreneurial ideas have to be fostered and developed in a conducive environment before they become attractive for the purpose of commercialization; besides a continuous technological and managerial support have to be provided.

In the above perspective, the SMVDU has established Entrepreneurship Development Cell, SMVDU. The academic institutions, which are leaders in developing human resources with some modulation and change in focus could churn techno-entrepreneurs on a continuous basis, which accelerates the process of economic development and growth. On the same lines, EDC SMVDU in the campus, undertakes this role and blend technical inputs with entrepreneurial and managerial skills in academic programmes and train the students as well as youth of the state for entrepreneurial challenges through entrepreneurial awareness/motivation development program. It provides effective linkages with various departments of the campus to bring about entrepreneurial culture for optimal utilization of the expertise, resources and know-how available. It also networks with other agencies involved in entrepreneurship development and conducts short term courses, MDPs, FDPs, ESDPs, Business Plans Competitions, Entrepreneurship Awareness Programs/Camps etc. in association with various government and non-government bodies.

Major objectives of EDC, SMVDU includes to provide entrepreneurial training to the youth in the region; to promote rural and women entrepreneurship in the region; to provide rigorous training for entrepreneurial development in the courses being taught in different schools/ departments in the University and to make the unemployed youth of the region familiar about starting and running small and rural industry successfully.

Activities of Entrepreneurship Development Cell, SMVDU

• Organized Four-Week duration ‘Entrepreneurship Development Programme’, Sponsored by DST-NIMAT Project, GoI from 27th- 23rd December, 2017. (Participants were from different M. Tech. B. Tech. streams; MBA, research scholars, etc.)
• Organized Entrepreneurship Awareness Camp, Sponsored by DST-NIMAT Project, GoI from 15th-17th September, 2017. (Participants were from different M. Tech. B. Tech. streams; MBA, research scholars, etc.)
• Organized Two-Week duration ‘National Faculty Development Programme on ‘Entrepreneurship Development’ Sponsored by DST-NIMAT Project, GoI from 12thDecember to 24th December, 2016.(Participantswere faculty members, research scholars from different other institutions as well as SMVDU)
• Organized ‘Entrepreneurship Skills Development Programme’ (ESDP) in association with Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Institute, Jammu from 7th October, 2016 to 21st November, 2016 at Entrepreneurship Development Cell, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra.(Participants were from different B. Arch; B.Tech., MBA, research scholars, etc. from SMVDU).
• Organized workshop on "How to Write a Good Business Proposal?” in association with SMVDU-Technology Business Incubation Centre on Saturday 17th September 2016. (Participants were from different B. Tech., MBA, etc. from SMVDU).
• Organized Two-Day National Management Development Programme (MDP) on ‘Developing Individuals as an Instrument for Organization Excellence’ from 10th to 11th September, 2016.(Participants were middle level management employee from Industry, practitioner’s faculty members, research scholars from different organization).
• Organized One Day workshop on ‘Fundamentalsof Business Analytics’ in April, 2016. (Participants were from students of MBA, research scholars from SMVDU).
• Organized 2nd National Level Business Plan Competition at SMVD University on 9th February, 2016. (Participants were students of B. Arch; B.Tech., MBA, M.Sc. of SMVDU and other Universities and Institutions of J&K and other states).
• Organized Ten-Day Workshop on, “Retail Training” under STAR Scheme of National Skills Development Council from 1st to 11th April, 2014 at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University.(Participants were students of B. Arch; B.Tech., MBA, M.Sc. of SMVDU and other Universities and Institutions of J&K and other states).
• Organized Training Programme on, “Soft Skills & Telecom Customer Care Executives” under STAR Scheme of National Skills Development Council from 11st to 25th April, 2014 at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University. (Participants were students of B. Arch; B.Tech., MBA, M.Sc. of SMVDU and other Universities and Institutions of J&K and other states).
• Organized One-Day Awareness/Sensitization Program on “Intellectual Property Rights for Students of SMVDU in association with MSMEDI on 28th January, 2014.
• Organized One-Day Entrepreneurial Fair for all the students of SMVDU on 22nd February, 2014
• Organized Three-Day Workshop on “Student Enterprise” from 22nd to 24th March, 2013 in the College of Management, SMVDU. (Participants were students of MBA of SMVDU).
• Conducted Business Plan Competition on 27th February, 2013 in the College of Management, SMVDU.
• Organized Three-Day Workshop conducted on “Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme from 16th to 18th January, 2013 in the College of Management, SMVDU. (Participants were students of B. Arch; B.Tech. streams; MBA, M.Sc. of SMVDU)
• Organized One-Month duration (15th September-14th October, 2011) Business Skill Development Programme in collaboration with Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Institute, Jammu in the College of Management, SMVDU, Katra. (Participants were from different B. Tech. streams; MBA, research scholars, etc. from SMVDU).
• Organized Three-Day, “Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme”, at SMVDU, 19th -21st February, 2010. (Participants were from different B. Tech. streams; MBA, research scholars, etc. from SMVDU).
• Organized One-Day workshop on, “Motivational Tools and Soft Skills Development”, at SMVDU, 13th March, 2010. (Participants were from different B. Tech. streams; MBA, research scholars, etc. from SMVDU).