Day 1 Update | Faculty Development Program (FDP) on Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Organised by Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell (MIC) & AICTE in collaboration with Assam down town University from 22nd April- 26th April, 2025.

The much-anticipated Faculty Development Program commenced today at Assam down town University with an inspiring inaugural ceremony attended by esteemed dignitaries. 

We were deeply honoured to welcome Shri K S Gopinath Narayan , IA&AS, Principal Secretary, Government of Assam as the Chief Guest. With an illustrious career including his tenure as Professor at the National Institute of Financial Management, Faridabad—Shri Gopinath delivered a thought-provoking address on the transformational role of Artificial Intelligence is currently playing in shaping the future. He urged faculty members to embrace innovation and leverage emerging technologies to build robust innovation ecosystems within their institutions.

The inauguration was also graced by Prof. N.C. Talukdar , Vice Chancellor, Assam down town University, along with the Pro Vice Chancellor and other dignitaries, who emphasized the importance of academic leadership in driving innovation-led growth.

Following the inauguration, the day unfolded with a series of powerful and engaging knowledge sessions.

Dr. Hirak Ranjan Das, Indovation Manager, AICTE, delivered the first session with a deep dive into “Entrepreneurial & Startup Mindset Creation for Faculty”. His insights laid a strong foundation for the week, emphasizing the need to cultivate a growth-oriented and innovation-driven mindset among educators.

The second session featured Dr. Vikramjit Kakati, Professor & Director, Research & Development Cell, Assam Don Bosco University, who delivered a compelling talk on “Identifying Problems Suitable for Solving through Entrepreneurial Ventures”. His session highlighted the role of faculty in identifying and nurturing entrepreneurial opportunities grounded in real-world problems.

The afternoon session brought an energetic and interactive session with Dr. Subra Mukherjee, a dynamic thought leader, who engaged participants on “Creative Thinking Techniques and Idea Generation”. Her session encouraged participants to explore various approaches to problem-solving and ideation—an essential skill in today’s rapidly evolving academic and innovation landscape.

Day 1 concluded with lively discussions and a renewed sense of purpose among participating faculty members from various higher education institutions across Assam. We look forward to an exciting week ahead filled with learning, collaboration and innovation.