Hyderabad: In a major step towards strengthening the academic and entrepreneurial ecosystem in Telangana, the Telangana Council of Higher Education (TGCHE) and the National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (ni-msme) have announced a collaborative framework to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and skill development across the state.
K. Surya Prakash Goud, Director (SED) of ni-msme, met Prof. V. Balakista Reddy, Chairman of TGCHE, to discuss areas of joint action. Prof. Reddy emphasised the need to integrate technology and entrepreneurship into higher education curricula. He proposed introducing courses such as Introduction to Technology & Ethics, Applied AI & Emerging Technologies, Business and Startups, Law, Governance & Policy, and Experiential Learning. These modules, he noted, would be credit-based to encourage student participation.
Prof. Reddy further elaborated on experiential learning initiatives, including mandatory internships, sector-specific projects, case studies, and fieldwork. He stressed that offering credits for such programs would motivate students to pursue them with greater enthusiasm, thereby bridging the gap between academic learning and industry needs.
Goud highlighted ni-msme’s plans to establish new incubation centres in rural colleges under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. These centres would focus on livelihood skills and on generating rural employment. Additionally, ni-msme aims to set up Centres of Excellence (CoEs) at the district level in collaboration with industry partners, linking startups across Telangana. Faculty development programs and workshops will also be organised to build educators’ capacity.
The collaboration is expected not only to enhance academic innovation but also to strengthen industry connections, improve employability, and foster a culture of entrepreneurship among students. Both institutions reiterated their commitment to creating a robust ecosystem that supports innovation-driven growth and prepares students for future challenges.
