Institutional
Distinctiveness

Cultivating Innovation and Entrepreneurship:
A Distinctive Approach at Ajeenkya DY PatilUniversity.

Introduction

Ajeenkya DY Patil University (ADYPU) stands out as a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship, fostering an ecosystem where creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking are encouraged. The university’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Cell (EIC) and its forward-thinking T-shaped learningmodel are key pillars that equip students with the skills necessary to navigate the dynamic challenges ofthe modern world. ADYPU’s unique approach emphasizes interdisciplinary learning and a deepcommitment to creating a supportive environment for budding entrepreneurs. This holistic framework ensures students are not only well-versed in theory but also prepared to thrive in practical and real-worldapplications.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Cell (EIC):
Nurturing Future Innovators

At the heart of ADYPU’s innovation ecosystem is its Entrepreneurship and Innovation Cell (EIC). This initiative has been developed to mentor students and faculties, helping them develop solutions to real-world problems through entrepreneurial approaches. The EIC supports students from ideation to thesuccessful demonstration of products or services, extending financial assistance when necessary through the Ajeenkya Innovation Foundation (AIF).

The EIC fosters innovation by building strong relationships with external experts, industry leaders, and top management professionals. The team regularly visits key industry organizations and governmentagencies to secure funding, collaborate on projects, and explore new opportunities. Through formalpartnerships and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), the EIC connects ADYPU’s buddingentrepreneurs with external stakeholders, providing them with critical resources to take their ideas from concept to market. The establishment of the EIC reflects ADYPU’s commitment to cultivating an innovative mindsetamong students and faculty across its schools. The EIC addresses pressing social and industry-orientedproblems by fostering entrepreneurship at every level of learning. Through the Ajeenkya InnovationFoundation, a Section 8 nonprofit company, the university has created an infrastructure to support startupdevelopment, research, and innovation.The EIC’s mission is to cultivate a culture that encourages problem-solving, the development ofinnovative products and services, and commercialization efforts. By identifying “focus sectors” forinnovation, the EIC helps guide students toward impactful, real-world solutions. Students are takenthrough a rigorous process of ideation, design thinking, proof of concept (POC), and ultimately, productdevelopment.The next phase involves exploring opportunities for commercialization. The EIC teaches students aboutintellectual property rights (IPR) protection, pricing strategies, and sales channels. The IPR policy hasbeen carefully framed, and subject matter experts are brought in to guide students through thecomplexities of market entry. In addition, professional advisors work closely with students to reviewtheir progress and provide continuous feedback on the commercialization process. To support its entrepreneurial mission, the EIC provides students with access to labs, workshops, andprototyping resources. External partners, such as TiE Pune and AIC Pinnacle, offer additional incubationservices to help students establish their startups. The ultimate goal is to guide these young entrepreneursover an 18–36-month period, during which time they develop their products, register their businesses, andbecome independent entities.

T-Shaped Learning: An Interdisciplinary
Approach to Education

In addition to the EIC, ADYPU has embraced T-shaped learning as a fundamental component of itseducational model. T-shaped professionals possess a breadth of knowledge across various disciplines (represented by the horizontal bar of the “T”) and deep expertise in a specific field (represented by thevertical bar). This approach is essential for developing professionals who can adapt to the complex, ever-evolving challenges of the 21st century.

Objectives of
T-Shaped Learning

The T-shaped learning approach at ADYPU serves three main objectives:

  • To enhance problem-solving and critical thinking skills while fostering innovative solutions.
  • To promote collaboration and teamwork through interdisciplinary learning.
  • To encourage continuous learning and resilience, preparing students to face new challenges withconfidence.ADYPU recognized the need for its students to be well-equipped to face the uncertainties of the future.

In response, the university adopted the T-shaped learning model to ensure that students develop a well-rounded understanding of various disciplines while also honing their expertise in specific areas. Thisinterdisciplinary approach encourages collaboration across fields, helping students generate innovativesolutions that are applicable in real-world scenarios.

Practice of
T-Shaped Learning

The university’s undergraduate programs integrate T-shaped learning by dedicating 25% of thecurriculum to General Education courses (15% for Engineering and Design). These courses are designedaround four key themes: Expression, Identity, Logic, and Innovation, and are delivered through acombination of approaches.

  • MOOCs: ADYPU partners with leading educational platforms like Coursera and edX to offer a wide range of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) to its students.
  • Course Mapping: Courses are mapped within the respective schools to ensure alignment with program outcomes across semesters.
  • Faculty-Curated Courses: Faculty members design General Education courses based on their expertise, and students are encouraged to select courses that align with their interests and passions. To further promote interdisciplinary learning, the university introduced over 40 minors during the2022-2023 academic year, encouraging students to explore subjects outside their core disciplines. Immersive learning experiences, such as studio projects, field visits, internships, and portfoliodevelopment, are also encouraged at ADYPU to foster a hands-on, experiential approach to education.

Impact of
T-Shaped Learning

The T-shaped learning model has already demonstrated significant success. ADYPU graduates havesecured higher education opportunities at prestigious national and international institutions. Many havealso obtained gainful employment in diverse fields, benefitting from their interdisciplinary skill sets. Most importantly, the T-shaped learning model has helped students develop a strong sense of self-identity, positioning them to succeed as innovators and leaders in their respective fields. Ajeenkya DY Patil University has distinguished itself through its commitment to fostering innovationand entrepreneurship. Through the EIC and its T-shaped learning model, ADYPU equips student’s withthe knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to succeed in a rapidly changing world. By integratinginterdisciplinary learning with a focus on real-world problem-solving, the university has created anenvironment that nurtures the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators. ADYPU’s dedication tothis mission sets it apart as a leader in promoting educational innovation and empowering its student’s toshape the future.